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Marines Faced Jap Pillboxes Three Stories UndergroundCAREY, Jan, 26—Jap pillboxes three stories underground were Just part of what attacking American forces faced in such campaigns as the Gilbert islands, marine Pfc.Orvis Diiworth told the American Legion and auxiliary receptionand banquet honoring servicemen now home on furloughs.The banquet was held in Carey high school. A short program in- niI wn»TReluded a piano DILW0RTHduet by the Misses Lorraine Diiworth and Nelda Simpson, readings by Miss Lueen Kirkland and Mrs. John Burkhart and a talk, well illustrated by pictures and souvenirs, by Private Diiworth, who has been In New Zealand, New Hebrides, the Gilberts, Tarawa and Saipan islands the past* 26 months.“Between battles,” said Private Diiworth, “I was the company barber and the men accused me of burying buckets of ears every night after dark.Japs Well Entrenched“In the battle of the Gilberts we found -the Japs well entrenched. Their pillboxes were built three stories underground and when we bombed them. they went down to their lowest level—and later came up to shoot at us.“The natives on these islands could speak English very well. They were very honest*They never climbed a cocoanut tree which did not belong to them. Their food consists of bread fruit, fish and a few bananas.Saipan was a tough place to take,” said Private Diiworth, “but it was not as well fortified as Tarawa.”On Saipan Orvis had the walls of a fox hole blown in upon him.Navy Man Home From Sea DutyDECLO, Jan. 26—RM 2/e J. Roy Eames, jr., recently returned from 30 months duty aboard a destroyer in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean. He has been enjoying a two-week leave from duty by visiting friends and relatives at Declo and Elba.He has spent a year and a half ofWhen this explosion occurred, I instinctively jerked my helmet down over my face and it Is well that I did, for the next instant I was completely covered with dirt and debris.I was buried and for a full moment I wondered if I was really dead. I had quite a time deciding that I was really alive. Finally I worked an arm out through the rubble, caught hold of a tree trunk and pulled myself out.Plenty of Centipedes“On Saipan we found no snakes but wc found plenty of centipedes. Many men were bitten by them and, although their arms cr legs were severely swollen and they became seriously ill th£y did not die. These centipedes were from eight to 10 inches long.”Private Diiworth brought with him a Japanese diary taken from the body of a dead Jap and had it translated by several of his buddies. There was much repetition of the fact that this soldier, who was In the Japanese medical corps, knew that the fight on Saipan was hopeless. But he stated that though he could not live fco^see his home (he named over a great many of his relatives) again, or live to do more for his emperor, that should his bones be left on Saipan, a greater and more successful Japanese army would some day come and reconquer this island.Drum From Shinto TempleAmong things brought home by , the marine is a wooden drum carved • in the shape of a. fish with its head and tail touching. This round, hollow drum was taken from a Japanese Shinto temple. Another was the apron or strip cloth worn by the Japanese soldier about his waist. It is called the “thousand stitches” and worn for the purpose of giving him the courage to commit hara-kiri, Each of his friends adds a stitch and with it a prayer for his safe return or his honorable death.Other things are beautiful cat-eye pearls, shells, and much metal work which he had done in his spare hours off duty,A Japanese wrist watch of stainless steel has a double case to make jt water proof.Private Diiworth 3s the son of Mr. and Mrs. Joe Diiworth, Carey, and a graduate of Carey high school. He was granted a 30-day furlough.Last Sunday he was guest speaker in the L. D. S. church here and on Monday and Tuesday he gave short talks to several of the high school classes,
Newspaper Details
Twin Falls Times News
Twin Falls, Idaho, US
Fri, Jan 26, 1945
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
John D.
USA 17 Aug 2020
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