"The Pacific" Veterans Reunion

On Saturday, May 22, the Strategic Air & Space Museum hosted the largest gathering of World War II Marines who served with Eugene Sledge, Robert Leckie and John Basilone who inspired the HBO miniseries "The Pacific." The series is based on the books "With the Old Breed" by E.B. Sledge and "Helmet for My Pillow" by Bob Leckie. In attendance at the reunion were 18 combat veterans from all over the country whose battle experiences include such campaigns as Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. Also in attendance at the event was author and historian Hugh Ambrose, son of Stephen Ambrose. Hugh Ambrose is the author of the best-selling book "The Pacific." I had a chance to meet Hugh that morning and had him sign my copy of "The Pacific." But the real highlight of the day for me was meeting all of the old veteran Marines. Each man still had that swagger and passion in his eyes that I have seen with so many Marine veterans. And quite a few of these guys still have a hand shake like a vice grip. I had the tremendous honor of having 17 of them sign the same Marine Corps poster that I had the Iwo Jima veterans sign back in March. So my poster now proudly bears the mark of 23 heroes of the Pacific theater. It was a very touching and unforgettable day for me as a relative of an Iwo Jima survivor. Here is a listing of those who have signed the poster:

James Anderson - New Britain, Peleliu, Okinawa

Harry Bender - K/3/5 Okinawa

Jack Brosnan - B/1/27 Iwo Jima

Norman Casteel - Iwo Jima

John Dillon - K/3/5 Okinawa

Melvin Duncan - Iwo Jima

Robert Galloway - E/2/28 Iwo Jima

Richard Greer - D/1/7 Guadalcanal

Ralph Griffiths - Iwo Jima

Wayburn Hall - H/2/1 Peleliu, Okinawa

James Kerin - B/1/27 Iwo Jima

Sterling Mace - K/3/5 Peleliu, Ngesebus, Okinawa

James Martin - B/1/27 Iwo Jima

Sam Menzelos - K/3/5 Okinawa

Fred Miller - K/3/5 Cape Gloucester, Peleliu

Frank Pomroy - H/2/1 Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu

Clarence Rea - C/1/27 Iwo Jima

John Scheperle - Iwo Jima

Leo Schmittgens - H/2/1 Okinawa

Dave Severance - E/2/28 Iwo Jima

James Young - H/2/1 Guadalcanal, Cape Gloucester

Charles "Red" Womack - M/3/5 Cape Gloucester, Peleliu, Okinawa