-40%
1945 IWO JIMA US Marine's Death TELEGRAM Regret to Inform You Richmond, Ca WWII
$ 39.59
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Description
For bid is an original March 22, 1945 Western Union TELEGRAM sent to the mother of a US Marine reservist KILLED on IWO JIMA: Sent to Mrs. Willie Jones, the mother of Private Harold Jones, USMCR who died on Iwo Jima. Original Western Union telegram on brown pulpy paper with strips of brown paper glued onto it. This was a "Duplicate Copy" sent to the woman at a different address (changed in pencil) at 5208 Nevin Avenue, Richmond, California. The address of "150 Seventeenth Street" was crossed out in pencil. Jones "was killed in action 24 February 1945 at Iwo Jima..." Below the glued strips is a "Vets ____" date-stamped April 10, 1945."Telegram ha some holes, possibly from being stapled to something?
Private Harold B. Jones won the Navy Cross for his actions on Iwo. Navy Cross presented in August 1945 wit the following citation: "
The President of the United States of America takes pride in presenting the Navy Cross (Posthumously) to Private Harold B. Jones (MCSN: 478403), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Company Machine Gunner serving with Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on 24 February 1945. With his company pinned down and suffering heavy casualties under shattering hostile machine-gun fire, during an attack against well-concealed and deeply entrenched enemy emplacements, Private Jones voluntarily braved a withering barrage in a valiant attempt to wipe out the resistance. Boldly advancing alone to an area near the enemy guns and 100 yards forward of his company lines, he poured a steady stream of machine-gun fire into the entrenchments to silence two machine guns and at the same time designated other targets for his company weapons by the sustained, accurate use of tracer bullets. Although seriously wounded in the leg, he called for additional ammunition and grenades and gallantly continued to pit his devastating fire against the Japanese while his company consolidated for the night. With his ammunition again exhausted and the enemy rapidly closing to grenade range, he dauntlessly fought on, repeatedly seizing the deadly missiles and returning them until he was again severely wounded when one of the grenades exploded close by. Suffering severe pain and weak from loss of blood, he valiantly left his position in the foxhole and crawled back to his own lines under cover of darkness to make a complete report to his company commander on the location of the remaining hostile strong points, later succumbing to his wounds. By his outstanding fortitude, unwavering perseverance and great personal valor, maintained in the face of almost certain death, Private Jones contributed to the saving of many lives and to the success of his company's mission. His stout-hearted devotion to duty throughout reflects great credit upon himself and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
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Telegram has been glued in a scrapbook. The edges of the telegram were trimmed when this was clipped form a larger scrapbook page. Not sure why this was done...
Please note: The top line indicates this was a "duplicate copy" of the telegram... Back of the photo album paper has a newspaper clipping of the famous flag raising photograph on Iwo Jima in the Pacific. The fates of the raisers are noted...