Morotai, N.E.I. - January 7-10, 1945 -American as well as Japanese wounded were floated down the Pilowo River. Because of the jungle denseness it was the most efficient way. Photo courtesy Charlie Munie, former division historian.

I had gone up to the front to photograph something of interest to General Clarkson. The night before we got there, we had surrounded several hundred Japs in a confined area. Our artillery fire completely eliminated their main resistance on the island.

The next morning, I ran into Colonel Frank Sackton who said it was all over and for me to go back down the mountain.

They had been up there quite a while and since I had just come up the trail, they suggested I lead them back.

Five or six of them comprised an 81mm mortar squad carrying their tube, base-plate and rounds. They decided it would be easier to put their gear on bamboo rafts that were normally used to float the wounded to an aid station on the river where I spent the first night.

They agreed and we got three rafts and started down the river about three in the afternoon. About six or seven we arrived at the aid station. However, we decided to keep going to where I knew three large trees had been felled to make a bridge across the stream. It was about a mile or so from the main perimeter on the ocean.

I didn't realize how far it was on the trail from the so-called bridge to the aid station. We didn't get there till about 11:00 pm. At that point it was decided we had best stop there until morning because if we approached the rear perimeter in the dark we'd probably draw "friendly fire."

I had been going back and forth between the rafts trying to keep them together. I bedded down as I was bushed and needed some sleep. The mortar squad set up a defense. I had no sooner rolled up in my poncho when someone yelled, "Japs!"

A Jap stepped on my poncho and bayoneted the guy next to me and all hell broke loose.

In the dark it was hard to tell exactly what was taking place. However, two or three of our guys took down the Jap. I heard people in the stream down an incline of 15 feet or so.

With the Jap down they were still struggling and talking about taking him prisoner. The Jap started yelling so they killed him with his own bayonet.

I was at the edge of this high bank along the river when the guys in the river called out.

Three of the guys got Purple Hearts. The guy that had been laying next to me suffered a bayonet wound in his side.

Those with me were from D Company of the 136th Infantry regiment and included: S/Sgt. James Passarelli, Pfcs. Rufus Bind, and Jerry Pepilis; Privates Fred Salmo, Nick Trojan and James Osborne and Captain W .E. Cushwa, 33rd Headquarters.

From the 31st Division were Pvt. Harry Lakovitch, Headquarters Battery; T/5 Richard Winchell,149th FA; and 1st. Lt Walter Adler, ADC 31st Infantry.

(Footnote: Henry van Westrop, division combat photographer, and his WWII photo layouts are in high demand in the Midwest where his talks and displays draw large crowds. Among his many interviews is one with Filipino-American Television.)

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