Book Description

Description: Brown covers with gold designs. From the service of William Harold 'Jeff' Jeffrey, Navy corpsman attached to the 5th Marine Division for actions on Iwo Jima. Letters include: From Camp Pendleton, Sept. 16, 1944 writing about orders to prepare for going overseas, which are then countermanded; From 'an Island in the Pacific', Sept. 30, 1944 letter describing sea voyage and seasickness and arrival and description of unnamed island camp; Oct. 4, 1944 letter describing food on island and attendance at a USO show; Oct. 25, 1944 letter describing daily routine on island; October 19, 1944 letter describing sports activity on island; December 25, 1944 letter describing Christmas day and activities on island; Eight pages of Los Angeles Times articles about combat on Iwo Jima; Two pages of Life magazine photos and stories about combat on Iwo Jima; V mail from Iwo Jima, February 26, 1945 informing parents that he is still alive, but has had a lot of close calls with death; V mail from Iwo Jima, March 5, 1945; letter to parents saying he is still alive with comment about Japanese prisoners needing aid 'I would have just as soon killed them all as look at them.'; V mail from Iwo Jima, 5, 1945; letter to parents explaining his helmet with large dent from Japanese mortar shrapnel, how he was pinned down by a light Japanese machine gun and how he finally decided to run for it and made it to safety. He comments : 'I don't mind sniper fire, it's the mortars that make a Christian of you'; Los Angeles Times photo and story about American marine wounded being moved from Iwo Jima; Two page photo spread from Life magazine, May 29, 1945 depicting aftermath of Iwo Jima combat; Newspaper article entitled 'Marines Whet Knives and Sing Before Battle'; Newspaper article entitled 'Los Angeles Marks 168th Anniversary of Old Glory' with photo of photographer Joe Rosenthal posing before replica of Mt. Suribachi flag raising; Three page photo spread from Life magazine, April 9, 1945 about battle for Iwo Jima; Two page story with photos from Collier's, April 14, 1945 entitled 'Iwo: The Red-Hot Rock' by Marine Corps Combat Correspondents; Type written four page letter dated April 14, 1945 written from rest camp on island where the corps embarked for Iwo Jima. Jeffrey describes in detail his experiences as a corpsman and his feelings of being 'scared to death most of the time' during the battle. He describes the landing near Mt. Suribachi, as well as treating wounded Marines under constant Japanese mortar fire. He describes the death of a Marine from a sniper. He describes their first night on the island: 'That was the worst night I ever hope to spend--the weather was cold and windy, and the Japs poured artillery on us all night long. I believe artillery is the worst type of fire to be under, you can't fight back, you just have to sit there and pray the next one doesn't land in the same foxhole with you' Late infiltration of the aid station: 'That night a Jap infiltrated through our Aid Station, tossed a hand grenade and succeeded in wounding one man - the Doctor finally polished him off with the use of a forty-five slug.' A handwritten p.s. comments on how shocked he was at the news of President Roosevelt?s death; Poem entitled 'Suribachi' and words of Marine Corps hymn; Vogue magazine article, July, 1945 entitled 'Iwo Jima- lifesaving station'; Letter dated June 18, 1945 describing activities at unnamed base camp. Letter begins with: 'You asked for my prognosis on the war, so I'm going to give it you--put this date down somewhere so when it's all over we can see just how close I really came. December 1946. Those casualties recorded on that picture resulted from our original thirty nine corpsman'; Two page letter from September 26, 1945 describing arrival in Japan and impressions the country and the people; Letter from Fukucha, Japan dated October 5, 1945 describing arrival there. One comment about Occupation is 'There is one thing about this occupation duty that appeals to me, all the Japanese treat the American soldiers like kings. They bow and scrape, they salute even the lowest of peons. Oh yes, for a little while this is going to be all right.'; Letter from Fukucha, Japan dated October 10, 1945 describing bad weather and comments: 'Frankly, I haven't the slightest idea just what our job is supposed to be over here--from the time we arrived until now, we haven't done the slightest bit of typical 'occupation duty'' page also includes two small; Letter from October 27, 1945 complaining about his occupation duties.; Two page letter from November 1, 1945 describing his medical activities. Page includes two small photos, a Japanese man and woman and a shot of a Japanese man walking by a building; Type written letter on Fifth Marine Division letterhead paper, November 22, 1945 commenting on how the U.S. should be better prepared for the next war; Type written from November 26, 1945 informing parents of plans to return to the United States in December. On same page, small article from Los Angeles Times dated December 26 entitled '2000 Iwo Marines Arrive Tomorrow'; Type written letter dated June 23, 1945 commenting on movies and a decoration ceremony. He says: 'Both Doctors are receiving the Silver Star for the work they did there (Iwo), while several of the Corpsman who are wounded and now back in the States will also receive awards over there. Little Willie doesn't even get the Purple Heart --HURRAY!!!! I have already been given the only medals I want to come back with--my dog tags--both of them.'; Type written letter dated July 3, 1945 describing his golf game and radio broadcasts.; Type written letter dated July 25, 1945 describing his future plans for college attendance; Type written letter dated July 9, 1945, more comments about attending college; Type written letter dated November 15, 1945 commenting of stagnate feel written letter dated April 18, 1945 commenting on after battle activities on Iwo Jima. Includes comment on death of Ernie Pyle; Type written letter dated May 2, 1945 commenting on playing tennis, movies, and gambling; Type written letter dated May 18, 1945 commenting on the trip to and from Iwo Jima; Type written letter dated November 5, 1944 describing an incident at a church service; Type written letter dated December 29, 1944 to parents describing birth of puppies to camp dog; September 1944- November 1945 Library: Letters Home: The Iwo Jima memoir of William H. 'Jeff' Jeffery by Kyle Jeffery Ogilvie. 2010 (with unpublished memoirs on back shelves).