Code,999095
Subject,Thomas Sherman (part 1)
Date,6/10/2013
Interviewer,"Jim Lanese, Jim Dubelko"
Abstract,Tom Sherman relates his experiences as a Marine paratrooper during World War II. He fought in the battle of Iwo Jima and occupied Japan following the surrender.
Special Notes,A few telephone rings interrupt the early part of the interview (first 5 minutes).
minutes:,79
0,Introductions
1,Personal family history
2,Shermans from Canada to Ohio; Civil War vet of Sherman's March
3,1852 to Ohio; dad's family to IL after war
4,Born in 1924
5,Bought first rifle at age 12; very proficient; why I'm alive today
6,Followed radio news of war in Europe
7,His family perspective as farm boy with ingenuity and action oriented.
8,USMC enlist at 17 was a defining moment in life.
9,Learned teamwork at paratrooper school
10,Farm boy to soldier demanded strict regimen
11,Parachute training was hardest work of my life.
12,Only 50 men graduate
13,Value of discipline to survive
14,the corps waived height requisite to keep him as paratrooper.
15,Injury during training restarted school.
16,Recognized as a leader in second round of training.
17,Camp Gillespie in CA
18,Training towers and techniques of jumping.
19,Jumping from lanes.
20,
21,
22,"""Not average people"" are selected for parachute training."
23,Joined 5th Marine Division
24,Deployed to the Pacific theatre
25,Organized for Iwo Jima invasion
26,Sailed for 52 days
27,Listened to Tokyo Rose on way to Iwo--great entertainment.
28,3 AM wake-up for the invasion
29,Day of battle thoughts.
30,5tth landing wave; bombardment on the beach.
31,Red Beach near Sarabachi; bodies were jumping
32,Shelling during the invasion.
33,"I was wounded by shrapnel; artillery ""gets your attention"""
34,Tank story
35,Evacuated off island for a few days to recover from wound.
36,First on LST medical facility
37,"Moved to hospital ship and ""stored"""
38,Returned to duty on island
39,Artillery barrage the next day
40,
41,Missed five days; sighting mortar fire
42,Used yankee ingenuity during battle
43,"Equipment: flamethrowers, explosives, tetratol. etc."
44,
45,Bazookas versus tanks
46,Squad leader with 13 men
47,Passed on promotion from corporal so others advance
48,Pay/rank info; did not loose men during battle
49,Battle cycles
50,Strategy during battle
51,Gain ground and hold; no night movement
52,Machine gun placement; almost shot own soldier
53,First encounter w Japanese Soldier--stumbled in wounded then died
54,
55,General Kurabachi used underground fortifications (civil engineer)
56,"Small island, but a month to capture it."
57,
58,Organized island after capture
59,Shot American soldier who was in wrong place.
60,Thompson sub-machine gun; confront grenades
61,Confronted Japanese soldier and killed him during final days on island
62,Relieved after a few final days.
63,"Sherman tank fired on me and friend, I survived, he did not."
64,Still fought killing 5 Japanese soldiers after battle
65,Another friend blown up by land mine
66,Japanese were noble v vermin in battle; killed 12-13
67,"Read ""Rising Sun"" after the war and gained much respect."
68,Propaganda: atrocities vs Chinese
69,Marine leadership issues
70,Invading main island of Japan
71,Some unglued guys
72,Dropped the bomb ended war
73,Sailed straight to Japan
74,Suicide boats (hearsay)
75,Landed on coral beaches
76,Hair on chest story
77,Kurumay island was fire bombed and city destroyed
78,Story of locals
79,K-rations were main meal
80,Close part one.