da63d416-75fe-42f4-b93e-dfa0b6dff8ee

Eddy, Jack_Z32_WAPA-246_WAPA 4170_OralHist_Audio_public.mp3

Jaron J. (Jack) Eddy took part in the July 21, 1944, American invasion of Guam. He was 23 years old, first lieutenant, platoon leader of the Second Platoon F Company, Ninth Marines. They were deck-loaded into Higgins boats, called LCVPs, and lowered down. They came to about a thousand yards off the reef and transferred to LVTs, which are amphibious tractors, and headed for the landing area under Japanese fire. They made it into the Navy Yard that day and into Cabras Island the next. About three days into the campaign they moved from the right flank over to the left flank. They took the place of A Company, Third Regiment. On July 25th they made an attack onto Fonte Plateau, which was the remaining high ground. It was imperative to cover all the high ground to get the Japanese observation of the beachhead eliminated. The attack was partially successful in their area. The Japanese launched a counterattack that evening, and Jack’s battalion was battered. The Japanese got down to the beach and into their division hospital and artillery. The Americans were able to maintain their positions and the Japanese could not break back through, although Jack’s unit was almost out of manpower and ammunition by the end of the night. The Americans didn’t know it, but they’d won. The balance of the fighting then would be almost a footrace to get up to the north end of the island, with the marines keeping the Japanese troops moving so they couldn’t set up a big last defensive line. Jack’s unit ended up on Patty Point on August 10th and that was the end of the active campaign. From their camp they ran patrols through the island seeking out Japanese stragglers. They stayed until sometime in February and then left Guam for Iwo Jima. Jack notes that what they were heading for looked grim, but fortunately they had to concentrate on the task at hand and not dwell on what the future might hold. He says that people wonder about the casualties, and that war is about killing each other, so he expected to see people killed and that didn’t make much of an impression. But he also says, “when you lose a friend . . . there is no such thing as acceptable.”

Sound - record describes a sound file

U.S. National Park Service, War in the Pacific National Historical Park

This digital asset is in the public domain. This digital version was made possible through the National Park Service by a grant from the National Park Foundation through generous support from the Mellon Foundation. When using this asset for any purpose, including online, credit 'Courtesy U.S. National Parks'.

Public domain

Audio

War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Code: WAPA

Guam , Guam
War in the Pacific National Historical Park, Guam , Guam
Latitude: 13.3905000686646, Longitude: 144.654006958008

ICMS (Interior Collection Managment System) : WAPA-00246
NPS Museum Number Catalog : WAPA 4178

War in the Pacific Oral Histories

2023/12/14

Sourced File: Video File (S:/WAPA_OralHist_0001_master.wav, 361,768 KB)

T. Stell Newman Visitor Center, Collections room, Safe and Shelf SLF D-01

Public Can View

Rose Manibusan, Jennifer Craig

Organization: American Memorial Park
Role: Chief Interpretation
Address: Micro Beach Road, Garapan, Mp 96950
Email: wapa_interpretation@nps.gov

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 12:34:38 PM

Tuesday, May 7, 2024 12:34:38 PM

Eddy, Jack_Z32_WAPA-246_WAPA 4170_OralHist_Audio_public.mp3

mp3

40.4 MB

Historic

War In The Pacific National Historical Park and American Memorial Park