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Frank Pomroy

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Frank Pomroy was late for the battle on Guadalcanal so he volunteered for a lot of patrols. He and a pal went on a lot of them, then they decided to take it easy for a day. That day turned out to be anything but easy. (Second interview) (9:47)

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The Japanese had another battalion on the way but they attacked the Marines at Tenaru River without waiting for them. They should have waited. Frank Pomroy was manning a 37mm gun and that was a big reason that Banzai charge after Banzai charge failed. (Second interview) (10:02)

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In combat, you have tunnel vision. Frank Pomroy experienced that when he faced waves of Banzai charges on Guadalcanal. They were intended to frighten you enough that you turned and ran but it didn't work on the young Marines. (Second interview) (3:47)

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Frank Pomroy and his fellow Marines were so tired and wracked with malaria that, when they shipped out, they were unable to climb the cargo net. Frank has a novel theory that there were three fronts in the war, the German Front, the Japanese Front and the Douglas MacArthur Front. (Second interview) (5:37)

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After recuperating for a while in Australia, Frank Pomroy's next engagement was at Cape Gloucester. There was a new platoon leader who was a mean Warrant Officer with little respect from the men. The battle kicked off when Frank woke him up because he heard the Japanese setting up in front of his position. Part 1 of 2. (Second interview) (10:05)

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It was called the Battle of Coffin Corner because of all the Japanese dead left in the aftermath. Frank Pomroy recalls how a friend of his died after the battle and how he actually made friends with a couple of Japanese prisoners. Part 2 of 2. (Second interview) (9:52)

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The next landing will be quick and easy. That's what Frank Pomroy was told in the run up to Peleliu. It was anything but easy from the moment he stepped on the beach. At the airfield he found himself staring down a Japanese tank coming straight for him. Part 1 of 4. (Second interview) (10:26)

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The Japanese had given up on the Banzai charges by the time of the Peleliu landing. Instead they would send raiding parties toward the beach and it was during one of these attacks that Frank Pomroy took a bayonet wound to his knee. It only slowed him down a little, he was not out of the fight. Part 2 of 4. (Second interview) (9:58)

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In an artillery barrage, if you're out in the open, you have to lay flat. Frank Pomroy tried to tell his friend that but the man was on his knees and got hit with shrapnel. This battle on Peleliu was the end of the line for a lot of Marines but not Frank. He joined in a patrol hastily organized by a lieutenant he encountered and they set out through a swamp. Part 3 of 4. (Second interview) (10:28)

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Frank Pomroy prepared his last stand. He had a bayonet wound and three machine gun bullets in his leg but he was still ready to fight. He lined up his hand grenades on the coral ridge in front of him and waited. At daybreak he heard Japanese voices coming. Part 4 of 4. (Second interview) (11:18)