Wednesday, March 07, 2007

CHINA MARINES

NOTE:
This is from a search of my GyG Furl Archive for "china marines"--Numerous links/articles--dunno if this will work out posting to here or not...Please click on title, "CHINA MARINES," above...or, maybe even the tinyurl link, below...
;)

http://tinyurl.com/2mf8nz

Thanx
DickG
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Marine Reunited With Rifle

http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/BAYONET/message/4725
http://movies.groups.yahoo.com/group/BAYONET/message/4725

HARRY KENTON, USMC

HARRY A. KENTON, USMC (Ret) now aged 92, lives in Tucson, Arizona and is a close friend of mine. He related the following information to me along with the personal photographs and document scans which he gave me permission to use. Harry Kenton was born in 1914 in Chicago and enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1934. After undergoing his initial training at Parris Island, he was assigned first to Haiti and then in 1935 to Tiensing, China, as a consular Guard.


photo
Pvt. Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- 1934

The consular personnel were withdrawn due to the advancing Japanese Imperial army and he was transferred to Coascula, Balboa, in Panama.


photo
Sgt. Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- 1939

Following Pearl Harbor now Sgt. Kenton was transferred to E. Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Regiment, 1st. Marine Division and was assigned to Tutuila, Pago Pago (Pango Pango), Samoa in order to help train the Marine invasion force for Guadalcanal.


photo
Sgt. Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- Samoa, 1942

They were shelled by Japanese submarines and had to prepare a defensive perimeter. During the Guadalcanal landing and fight in 1942 Sgt. Kenton contracted Mosquito borne elephantitis and was transferred to a field hospital. After regaining his health he was assigned to destroyer duty in the Pacific theater of operations for the remainder of the war. At the end of WW2 now G/Sgt Kenton was assigned to Oahu, Hawaii, as a section NCOIC of small arms battlefield recovery and salvage. G/Sgt Kenton went on to serve in the Korean War and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer (Gunner) in 1957.

HARRY A. KENTON'S 1903 SPRINGFIELD RIFLE: Private Harry Kenton, new USMC enlistee, was issued a 1903 Springfield rifle (as were all US Marines at that time), serial number 1207769, on 10 April 1934.


photo
Pvt. Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- original issue slip for 1903 Springfield rifle SN 1207769, 10 April 1934

After the Guadalcanal operation in 1942 the US Marine Corps switched to the US Rifle, cal 30, M1 (Garand). Sgt Kenton (now in the hospital) had previously turned in his Springfield rifle. One day during his tenure as a section NCOIC of small arms battlefield recovery and salvage in Oahu, Hawaii, following the end of the war, a list of recovered rifle serial numbers -- mostly Garands, but including some 1903 Springfields (undoubtably carbines too) -- came across his desk. Among them was 1903 Springfield rifle number 1207769 -- the very rifle he had been issued in 1934! He immediately sent a crew out to look for it -- and they found it! There was no record of its history during the war. He applied to the USMC for permission to purchase the rifle and was eventually allowed to for $25 (in 1954).


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CWO Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- Receipt for purchase of 1903 Springfield rifle SN1207769 from the USMC

The battered stock was reconditioned and it was eventually fitted with an inscription plate bearing his name and "Guadalcanal 1942".


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CWO Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- Inscription plate on 1903 Springfield rifle SN1207769



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CWO Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- Serial number on 1903 Springfield rifle SN1207769



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CWO Harry A. Kenton, USMC -- Retirement - 1957

It is now displayed on the wall of his house with a retrofitted bayonet and sling. I am sure there are not many veterans who own the actual rifle they were issued and carried in battle!


photo
CWO Harry A. Kenton, USMC, Retired

Photo of the "Gunner", aged 91, holding his 1903 Springfield rifle, SN 1207769 -- taken in his backyard by me on 30 March 2005.



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*****


KEEP THIS UNDER YER HAT: Garrison Cap, Other Names, Etc.....

http://tinyurl.com/2vu5rp

For all the flak that Wikipedia gets, it is yet the only reference I have discovered which provides the full list of "other names" used by the troops. (C-Cap, PC, etc., as well as one more name I didn't know of/or had forgotten...) This alone ensures Wikipedia a place in my heart!

In my own experience I had always known it by its correct nomenclature, as garrison cap--although my DIs (1952) always called it a P-Cutter. Later, some of the older salts, I found, pretty much called it a C-Cap. Stationed at CJHP after boot camp, I recall that the MPs were always OTL for Marines w/sewn-up P-Cs! That is, the opening in the top of the cap sewed up/tailored. In those days it was the in-thing to have cutdown/tailored khaki shirts, unregulation (didn't need Brasso/Blitz for shining) belt buckles, double-soled/metal cleated dress shoes, etc.

Later, I learned that the garrison cap had been called "overseas cap"--back in the Old Corps--WW I, maybe.Just recently, I learned via Wikipedia that it had also been referred to as a C-Biter! (Imagine my surprise at this!)

(SEE BELOW!)
S/Fidelis
Dick G
aka: GyG

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FOR WIKIPEDIA: Re Garrison Cap...
CLICK-BELOW!!!!!
http://www.furl.net/item.jsp?id=17343746
http://www.furl.net/item.jsp?id=17343746


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R.W. "Dick" Gaines
(The Original "Gunny G")
GnySgt USMC (Ret.)
1952- (Plt #437-PISC)-'72
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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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~~~~~




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