February 24, 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1

Life of a Marine
http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_okinawa2.html#open

Enlisting in the Marine Corps

On February 24, 1922, a young lad was born in a small farming community of Anna, Ohio. His name, Vernon Frederick Hoying. As he developed into adolescence, it was his spirit and desire to serve his country faithfully that enticed him to sign up with the United States Marine Corps. On the 29 day of April, 1944 he signed up to serve for the duration and entered the Marine Corps
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through Cincinnati, Ohio. As a Pvt, he endured the rigors of Basic Training and resolved to become the best Marine this nation has to offer. Doing everything in his power to ensure that he was well equipped and ready to face the unknown that unfortunately awaited him in a far distant island thousands of miles from home.

Operation Iceberg
Special Interest Articles:
Enlisting in the Marine Corps. Operation Iceberg. A Marines special day.

The armed forces of the United States and Japan had met in a battle that had lasted eighty-two days where little quarter was granted and proved what had been known to both sides, that the one side who was to be victorious, would have to completely eliminate the other. Tenth Army was supported by numerous battleships, cruisers, aircraft, and the equivalent of forty-four artillery battalions. The Navy fired over a

half a million shells of 5in caliber or greater, while ground forces fired over 1.8 million shells (not including mortar rounds) at Japanese targets. In Okinawa, the enemy was well concealed and the weather generally poor and it took troops on the ground to spy out which targets were worth hitting. Rarely would the Japanese fire on small number of troops as they passed through, therefore, often battalions and regiments took heavy

casualties in areas small patrols were untouched. The US Marine Corps suffered 2,938 killed in action and or missing, while 16,017 Marines were wounded. The Army suffered 4,675 killed and missing, with another 18,099 wounded, while the Navy suffered its highest casualty rate of the war, with 4,900 dead or missing, and another 4,800 wounded. The United States lost 763 aircraft and

February 24, 2012 Volume 1, Issue 1

Life of a Marine
Operation Iceberg (cont.)
suffered 36 ships being sunk and another 368 damaged, with 43 being so badly damaged they were scrapped. committed ritual suicide outside their cave on the southern side of Hill 89. The U.S. estimated some 142,000 of the enemy were killed. The Japanese lost 7,830 Equally tragic was the aircraft, some 4,600 loss of Lt General Simon Kamikaze crew died B. Buckner, USMC, as a result of shrapnel wounds alongside many hundreds of other pilots, 16 on 18 June while observing the fighting from warships were sunk and a forward observation post four damaged while the st Imperial Japanese Navy in the 1 Marine Division lost over 3,650 personnel area after a Japanese in the Yamatos sortie. shell had exploded nearby.

My only answer as to why the

Marines get the toughest jobs is because the average Leatherneck is a much better fighter. He has far more guts, courage, and better officers... These boys out here have a pride in the Marine Corps and will fight to the end no matter what the cost. 2nd Lt. Richard C. Kennard, Peleliu, World War

It was on 18 June 1945, that LCpl Vernon F. Hoying was wounded in action and awarded the distinguished Purple Heart. At 03:40am on 22 June 1945, Lt General Ushijima and Major General Cho

II

A Marines Special Day!

On this day, 24 February, 2012, family, loved ones, and friends, gather before Vernon F. Hoying, paying tribute to not only the fact it was on this very day he was born, but celebrate a milestone so few others have obtained before us, and that is living to be 90 years of age. adventures in his lifetime, but more importantly we come to pay tribute to the greatest generation that ever lived, and most of all to a United States Marine! For there is no such thing as a former Marine. the elite of the world. Happy Birthday Marine, and may you have many more! Semper Fi

Admiral William Halsey, USN, once said The Marine Corps has just It is with great honor, and been called by the New privilege that we look York Times, 'The elite of upon not only a brave soul this country.' I think it is that has endured many