6/30/98

Dear Lenora Shope,
  I read in the Fourth Marine Division Association Newsletter that you wished to hear from anyone who served with your uncle, PFC. HC Stroud.
 It was my honor and priviledge to be counted as one who did so. As a matter of fact he and I, along with six other Marines, shared a tent during one of our rest and rehab periods at Camp Maui.
  I will always remember him for his easily gained friendship, pride, loyality, and especially his great sense of humor. The latter lightened our load during some perilous times. I used to kid him about why his parents didn't think enough about him to give him a whole name; I guess it was fate that he was just plain "HC". As usual, he took it in the good spirit for which it was intended.
  You may probably know the circumstances of his death, but briefly, he was struck by enemy shell fire as we were nearing the landing beach about dusk at Iwo Jima on D-Day, Feb.19, 1945. The shell burst near or at the water level and showered the landing craft with deadly fragments. For sure I know his passing was a sad day for all.
  We, as Marines, at that time did not have many opportunities to take snap-shots, but there might be some "floating" about. Possibly some of his battery-mates will contact you and have available photos.
  In closing, I hope you hear from other of HC's Marine buddies that will provide details of their service with him. I'll never forget HC Stroud.
  Appropriately ending:
  Semper Fidelis,
James T. "Jimmy" Bernardo, PFC



Photo made while on liberty in Maui.
Photo courtesy of Milton Harper


4/22/98
  Dear Lenora,
  Sorry to be so late in answering your letter, but things have been a little hectic around here. Things have calmed down so I can tell you what little I know of HC Stroud.
  Yes, I knew HC, but when there are over a 100 Marines in your battery you don't know all of them personally. You know how it is - there are numerous clicks that hang together. Also, so many years have passed & the memory gets weak - it's hard to remember all the details - However, the years I spent in 2-D-14 were among the best years ( and worst) of my life.
  HC did work on the Howitzers and he was a very fine young man - I knew him well enough to know that I would want him on my side in any situation - in other words, he was a Marine to the fullest extent.
  On Feb. 19, 1945 "D" Day, or the 1st day we landed on Iwo was a day that we will never forget. Our orders were to make our way to the 1st airstrip, which was about 400 yards from the beach, dig in, and wait for further orders. We barely got off the beach due to the volcanic ash and enemy fire power. When the tide came in, some of the fox holes were filled with ocean water. That night it rained hard and it was cold as h___. Because of the weight of the 105 Howitzers it was almost impossible to move them up the beach. Many fine young brave Marines gave the supreme sacrifice this very first day, and there were many more to follow them in the next month. On March 16, 1945, the Island was declared secured, however that only means that all organized resistance was over - there were still bands of Japs that wouldn't give up and had to be killed.
  Your uncle HC was a hero in every sense of the word, Lenora and you should well be proud of him, as I know you are.
  If I can help in any other way please feel free to ask.
  Semper Fi
Ed Donley


Photo made while on liberty in Maui.
Photo courtesy of Arnold Dethmers.

11/20/1998
Dear Lenora,
I am sorry I have waited so long to answer your request.
Yes, I remember your uncle. After boot camp we trained at Camp Pendleton. Several units of the 4th Division came from Camp Le June and we went on maneuvers out in the hills. Large camp, 228,000 acres, 40 miles across the front. Battery "D" had the 75mm Pac Howitzers. Stroud was on the guns, I was in motor transport. Later in '43 we'd go to San Diego and board ship and practice amphibian landing at San Clementi Island and also the shores of Camp Pendleton.
On Jan.05, 1944 we again loaded on an LST, but this time we had a longer ride. 30 days to combat in the Marshall Islands. We were only there about a week( Roi and Namur) then headed back and was stationed on Maui for a couple of months. That's when they decided they were going to form one more Battalion of artillery in the 14th for the next operation. They take so many from each unit to form the 5th Battalion, and I was one to go. We still trained and fought in the same Campaigns.
In May of 1944 we boarded ship and spent 45 days on it before landing on Siapan in June. After that, Tinian was just a couple of miles to the north, and we took that. We left there in early August and went to an advance base located on the Island of Hawaii. We trained there until Jan 1945 and left for Iwo Jima, which we invaded Feb.19, 1945 and took about 30 days.
I'm truly sorry your uncle lost his life there. An awful lot of them did - it was such a rock.
You probably have received more info from others, but if you have other questions that I can answer, feel free to write. I don't hear too good on the phone anymore, thanks to the artillery.
Sincerely,
Arnold Dethmers



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