Dorchester High School for Boys - Red and Black Yearbook (Dorchester, MA)

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him out the first night. All the fellows were relieved and glad to hear he came out OK. They loaded the Jap on the same Jeep and headed for the rear. This time we didn't even get to the car. The shooting was all around us. We had found out the previous day that a pistol isn't much good when a sniper's about one hundred yards or even fifty away. So we bumbed a ride to the rear. We tried to locate our supply dump to get some more film but no soap. We didn't take many pictures that day and stayed near the rear CP for any news of a break through. The second night in the hole was worse than the first. Sleep was very fitful in between the prayers. I must have gotten a full half hour's sleep at one time when our artillery opened up in the rear. The shells whistling over our heads really woke us up. I opened up a ration. This was my second meal in three days, the previous day I had some supper, and washed it down when our water came up. I looked over to my buddy's hole and he sat up rubbing his eyes and snifling. This was the first time I realized that I really stunk as did all the others. Mud and water and sweat can really make you smell. We packed up again and headed for the front. This time we worked our way through the snipers, headed into the main Jap fortifications. It was all over in this section. What Japs that were there were dead, and the others had retreated towards the extreme end of the island. It was an excellent chance for me to get some souvenirs but I came to take pictures, so pictures I took .... Boy, what a scene of devastation. I can't go into it too fully because of censorship. Boy, did those Japs stink. Almost as bad as I. I went to town and my best two items were, I say WERE, because I haven't got them any more, a sniper's rifle and a practice sword. Also numerous small items which I still have. Thatenight I bumbed a bunk for me and my buddy Ken aboard an LST that was unloading supplies. About ten- thirty we were awakened and told that we had to get off, that the boat was pulling out. Rather than walk around in the dark on the beach, we told them to pull out we didn't give a damn. Well, at five-thirty in the fplease turn to page ninety-six! page sixty-seven

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:gan .f 1 7 ff, - ,v gf If -Aix. 5-Ti li- I 1 , 51 X... I x A 5 v Q Nj 'XY ' t 'f Et? ' Q5 i fair . X f l X x l. ' N ' A byx ws 4 'kk T c ffff!fff I Ni x ' . , 2 I ,Li G HOTTOIAN a piece out of the trunk. Needless to say, I ducked. But this Jap seemed to be set on getting me. For about three hours I didn't move, with bullets cutting down bushes around me and the tree full of holes. Finally, someone spotted the skunk and opened up. Then it seems that everyone saw him because about every gun in that area was firing. That Jap didn't shoot any more. I learned later that most of the snipers were only about thirty yards away from us. That's only ninety feet. Yet I couldn't see them. I didn't fire a shot through the entire engagement. My arm was a .45 pistol and it earned me the name of Pistol Packin' Photographer. It was getting late so my buddy and I de- cided to move back and dig in for the night, We covered each other as we headed for the rear. We went back about two miles and dug our fox holes. Boy, then you find out what terror is. There is shooting all night long with Japs creeping up on you trying to find where you are. I didn't sleep all that night. I just prayed for morning to come. After what seemed like years, it got lighter. I waited for it to get damn good and light before I took my helmet off, and with my hand lifted it up to the edge of the fox hole, There wasn't any shooting, so I lifted my head and peered out. There six feet away from me was a grinning Jap. Whewf Boy, was I worried for a minute. It turned out he was one of our interpreters. Then I opened up a breakfast ration, while still sitting in about four inches of water in the foxhole, and was just starting page sixty-six to eat when - rat - rat - rat. The Japs had sneaked up with a light machine gun to within one hundred yards of our bivouac area and were firing into it. Down I went face first into the mud and water. Then our carbines opened up and got them. I started to eat breakfast again, and this time sat on the edge of my foxhole with my feet dangling in. Then splash, I was with my rations floating like an earthquake had a second later we heard Even though I lost my to know that the .Iaps sitting in my hole again in the water. It felt hit us. A fraction of very loud explosions. breakfast, it felt good were shaking from those bombs a lot more than we were. We had used up all our water the first day, and there was no sign of any around: so we took in our belts a notch and headed for the front. We were a hell of a lot more cautious than the first day because we knew that the Japs had infiltrated during the night. We saw our first signs of the Japs when we came upon a dead Jap and a wounded prisoner alongside of the road. Our boys were guarding them carefully though we thought the prisoner was going to kick off. A jeep came down the road carrying stretchers and we saw that one of the wounded men was our Catholic Chaplain, Father IVleany, who had been picked off by snipers about thirty yards in front of me during the first day. I-Ie was badly hurt, but he pulled through. I think everyone said a prayer for him the first night, myself included. He was a good guy, and we knew that he had been hit. Two of our men gave their lives to risk getting rf' 4 s 44,0 'F cali, cf' 1'1 i -'i,.,,,

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Faith in dy Qmdd The Ward War Implements Factory Was buzzing: men and Women Were busy at their jobs turning out parts of planes, ships, and guns by the thousands. Through this turmoil a messenger-boy cautiously made his Way. Paging Fred Rafferty! Paging Fred Raffer- ty! he hollered at the top of his lungs, trying to make himself heard above the incessant dim of machinery. At his call, one of the Welders extinguished his torch and raised his metal mask. Over here, son, he answered. A message for you, sir: sign here, he said. Sure, sure. The Welder signed the out- stretched pad and quickly opened the envelope. He read the message enclosed. Dear Mr. Rafferty: Please come to the city hospital immedi- ately. Your young brother Jack, has been injured. Jack, a fourteen year old boy, occupied a modest tWo-room apartment in one of the many tenement houses of the city With his older brother, Fred. Quickly shedding his Working clothes, the tall, blond, broad-shouldered Welder hastened to the hospital. I-Ie found that Jack had been hit by an automobile. A hit-and- page sixty-eight a Voice M Sem run driver, no Witnesses, and no record of registration number. .Iack's leg had been hurt badly. The doctor in charge told Fred that his brother Would never be able to Walk again unless an operation Were performed Within tWo Weeks. The doctor also stated that there Was but one doctor Who could perform such an operation-a Dr. Marcus. Dazed by the tragedy, Fred Went to Dr. Marcus. The doctor asked four hundred dollars for the operation, a trivial sum for this type of Work. Fred realized that it Would take him tWo months to save such an enormous amount. Not feeling in the mood for Work, he never- the less returned. Seeing the Welder's Worried expression, Tiger Mullins, an old time heavy- Weight boxing champion and Fred's best friend, approached the boy. What's the matter, Fred, did something happen? he asked. Fred explained the incidents of the preceding day. Four hundred dollars? Is that all that's Worrying you? I think I can get that much for you, giving Fred a friendly smack on the shoulder. Why, What do you mean you can get it for me, asked Fred. Well the tWo Ward Factories in this district are putting on a show for the Workers. The major event is a boxing match between a volunteer from each factory. The Winner of the match Will receive five hundred dollars. I Wasn't going to volunteer, but seeing as you need the money, I shall, explained Tiger. But I don't Want you . . . began Fred. Tiger. We'll 'ANonsense, I insist, broke in start training tonight. I shall go over and sign for the match this minute. The next eight nights Were gymnasium Where Tiger Was getting in trim for his forthcoming ordeal. Fred sparred a little With the boxer, Watching his every move. The members of both factories made small spent in the