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Post by Mark Johnson on Feb 14, 2007 4:33:35 GMT 8
My dad served on the USS Crosby, APD 17 and was on the boat landing of the 1st Bn on the second day. Since he was in the Pacific the entire war, some 38 landings, he had many interesting accounts but none as vivid as "The Rock". We went to New Orleans for the opening of the Pacific Wing of the D-Day Museum in 2001. Dad was on a duece and a half and I took off with a movie camera to shoot the parade. As I was waiting near Lafayette Square I saw a placard with "The Rock" and the Eagle on it. A few minutes later the truck carrying my dad came up and I was filming. I noticed that, for just a second, he actually broke down in tears. He was a tough old cookie and he recovered quickly. When I processed the movie I realized that he had seen that placard and that's what hit him. When they landed the second day he always told about the paratrooper that was hit by enemy fire getting out of the landing craft (or on the beach). Dad administered first aid and,in doing so, slipped the troopers field glasses over his neck. At some point later he Had to make a run for it and thought he was being hit. I turned out it was the field glasses hitting him in the chest. My old man had an tremendous respect for the troops that they landed throughout the war but none more than those who fought at Corregidor.
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