Some of you know that we lost my dad a few days before Thanksgiving. Mom and I have been going through some of Dad's belongings, and we discovered a letter Dad received in 1946. I had a strong feeling we would find medals or something related to his service in World War II. Mom had never seen this document in all the 64 years she and Dad were married.
Like most WW II vets, Dad spoke very little of his contributions. The letter comes from his duty in Occupied Japan, where he was part of a bomb and mine disposal unit. Prior to his time in Japan, he had been in the unspeakably bloody, 35-day Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. At the time Dad received this letter, he was 20 years old.
Job well done, Dad. We miss you.
Is there a reluctant hero in your family?
Is there a reluctant hero in your family?
HEADQUARTERS I CORPS
Office of the Ordnance Officer
APO 301 (Kyoto, Honshu)
25 May 1946
Subject: Letter of Appreciation.
To: Charles C. Bundick, Pfc, #xxxxx,
United States Marine Corps.
I wish to express my appreciation for your splendid performance of duty while engaged in disposal of explosive ordnance in Japan. During your service with units under First Corps, you assisted in the successful disposition of numerous stores of characteristically hazardous Japanese explosives and munitions, much of which was in a deteriorated and extra-sensitive condition. Your capable assistance was in many forms. You aided in the dumping of ordnance at sea, the destruction of dud U.S. high explosive and incendiary bombs, the burning of bulk explosive powders and pyrotechnics, and the classification of explosive ordnance at widely dispersed targets. Each of these was vital to the overall success of the disposal program, and your part in that task was well done.
Your activities, marked by a ready willingness to undertake all assignments and a faithful devotion to duty, materially aided in the successful elimination of the Japanese war potential. Your excellent service has reflected the highest credit on yourself and the United States Marine Corps.
A. G. STONE
Colonel, Ord. Dept.
Ordnance Officer.
Our dads might have known each other! Papa was a corpsman in the South Pacific. Mark, correct me if I am wrong, but I do think he was at Iwo Jima - along with the thousands of other young men. What sadness. I think our dad was 19 when he went into the service - just a kid from Detroit - the war left him physically okay but I am sure he suffered tremendously as a result.
ReplyDeleteOur dads may indeed have known each other, and certainly shared some similar experiences. Dad was fresh off the farm, a boy who loved baseball. I so respect what the corpsmen did and still do today. Yes, they may have come back in one piece, but their lives were forever changed. Thanks for helping to keep the memories of our dads' service alive.
DeleteMelanie, what a wonderful find for you and your mom! I'm sure you already knew your dad was a hero, but finding this letter must be so awesome for you both!
ReplyDeleteFinding it was and continues to be very emotional. The men and women who served in WW II rarely spoke about their experiences. Dad preferred to tell funny stories from his time in Japan, one that involved "relocating" some beer that belonged to the Army.
DeleteThanks for coming by today, Judy!
What a great discovery!
ReplyDeleteIt was-- there it was, in triplicate, no less, on old-fashioned onion skin paper. Amazing, and he had never said a word.
DeleteWhat a treasure this glimpse of your dad's past must be for you and your mom.
ReplyDeleteYes, we were deeply touched. How well do we ever know our parents? They did a lot of living before we came along.
DeleteYou are correct JT; he did not share his army anecdotes with you, but he did with me. I was the only one of his seven sons to serve. While in the Republic of Korea, I earned an Army Commendation Medal. It says lots of spiffy things about me and my contribution to the mission. I clerked in a personnel service company, and you know what I did? I revamped the entire filing system for redeploying all troops in and out of Korea. In other words, I showed them a better way to file their records. Always playing with letters and the alphabet, even then.
ReplyDeleteI love that you are posting every day, Melanie.
I'll go out on a limb and say if you got a Commendation, my friend, you EARNED it. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the support!
He did, Melanie - if mark undertakes any task, you can rest assured that the job will be a stellar one.
DeleteAh-hah!Thanks for confirming that bit of intel. These modest men-- well, I would be an idiot to complain about modest men. So I will be very quiet now. :)
DeleteWhat a wonderful piece of your dad to find..thats a blessing.
ReplyDeleteIt really was a blessing, and thank you for stopping by today!
ReplyDeleteI never knew my grandfather but, by all accounts, he was very quiet and reserved. However, my mother has the loveliest letters he wrote to her and her mother while he served in Italy during WWII. These are our family treasures.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous find!