The Real Pacific War: A Marine Rifleman's Trip Through Hell - Excerpt (from the cutting room floor)

Hello. Since this part is not making it into the book, I thought someone might enjoy it. I guess it is a "behind the scenes" look. Oh, it really happened, I just didn't think felt well within the context of the rest of the chapter

Sterling Mace K/3/5, Peleliu, Ngesebus and Okinawa

I’m not sure if the Navy guys take much notice of us, be we sure feel out of place—two green horseflies in the midst of all these blue dungarees and grey sailor tops.

No matter, we’ve got to find a victim. In order to get over on these swabos, you can’t pick out anyone who looks like they’re doing anything important. You have to spy out a couple of lazy looking ones and approach them with whatever you want. On the other hand, that won’t be a problem, since the majority of them fit that description—just as long as the victim isn’t a high ranking one.

Presently we spot a couple of real winners, and they see us too—a pair of rubes, first class—ensigns, or whatever the Navy equivalent of a PFC is.

“Hey, Marines, howya doin’ guys?”

(and this is where you lead them, so that they don’t ask too many questions.)

“Oh fine.” I say. “Listen I know you guys aren’t going to believe it, but we’ve been here since D-Day and—”

“—Bullshit!” The dumbest looking swabo says and laughs. “There’s no way you Marines have been here since D-Day!”

“Oh yeah.” I interject. “We’re from K Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines. In fact, this beautiful beachfront property of yours, if we didn’t take it, none of us would even be here.” I give him the whole Jim McEnery spiel and these sailors start nodding to each other, impressed. Hell, even I’m impressed!

“So, what do ya say, fellas? We’re headin’ up north to rejoin our company, and we just thought we’d stop by and see if you nice boys could give us a bite to eat.”

“Well…” The dumb one looks at the other swab, as if he's working out mathematical equations. “We’ve got spam!” He brightens.

“Fellas.” I beam. “Why, that’s our favorite meal!”

Gene is beside me, steadily nodding what a good deal this is. Neither Gene nor I have to say much else. Spam really is our favorite meal.

So we leave the Navy men, after we load up aboard ship on a meal of spam and dehydrated vegetables, then we take off northward...

 

Soo im guessing its not going to be one of those emotional pacific war books.

 

Well, in my experience combat holds the full measure of emotions. Outside of combat, however, like you see here, we're just trying to scrounge up a meal. Both Gene Holland and myself were native New Yorkers. We thought - right or wrong - that we could chisle a bunch of Navy monkies. Most of the time we were right.

We all thought the Navy boys were on easy street. Little did I know, when we got to Okinawa, how wrong we were.

Emotion? There's probably more waring emotions in my book than I could stand.

 

Nice sketch Mr. Mace, perhaps it may find its way into another part of the book.

Greg C.

 

Do dehydrated food even taste good?

 

Yes Greg, I hope so too. I'm lobbying for parts that didn't make it to the book to be put at the end of the book. If not, they will appear (edited - unlike here) on my web site.

The way it's looking now, there will be a lot of stuff in my early life that might get cut. Yet I feel it is important to understand what equipped my generation to fight a war like we did.

Just because it doesn't fit into the flow of the general narrative does not make it less important.

Would you like to read about my misspent youth growing up in Queens during the depression?

 

I understand your dilemma. But, I suppose publishing is a business,and it's all about targeting your audience, and sales profits. Personally, I think it is very important to illustrate how your generation was prepared to fight WWII. But unfortunately, many of your readers will want to "cut to the chase," and get right into your battle experiences. I took a writing class once, and I inserted a personal part about my father into a written assignment. The instructor noted on my paper: "This may be important to you, but not to your reader." I was a bit put off and insulted, but the more and more I thought about it, she was right. Writing a manuscript is the easy part. Organizing it into chapters so that it flows is not as easy as it seems. If you are working with a professional editor, that is a wise decision. Please keep feeding us tid-bits here and on Facebook.

Greg C.

 

Well, here's a quiz for you. you guys probably already know, but have any of you heard of the CMTC?

 

Citizens Military Training Camps? Yes, Citizens' Military Training Camp - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Started with the Plattsburg Movement in up-state New York. It came under some criticism for resembling militarism, almost like the Nazis in Germany. I don't know how much the CMTC really helped in the overall picture, but like the CCC, it gave some young men a sense of regimental teamwork, and for those who later found themselves in the armed forces, I'm sure it prepared them somewhat for military life. Wouldn't you agree that those who participated in the CMTC were a very small percentage compared with the millions who served during WWII?

Greg C.

 

Yeah, that's it. I was in the CMTC for a month in 1940, when I was 16. I got in trouble with the law and they wiggled me into the program because I was under aged. It was supposed to be 17-21 year olds. So they shaved off a lot of my probation because I went there.

It's true, I don't think there were many who went there and then made it to the armed forces, compared to all who served.

A good thing I got out of it was my first experience with a rifle. It was an Springfield 03. And unlike the Marine Corps, they even let me shoot it left-handed. The Marines tried turning me into a righty.

sm

 

In my opinion, I find little bits like this to be fascinating, not only because it adds some depth, but it also helps you get to "know" the author in the same way of character development is a big factor in novels.

Not to mention a bit of dry humor here and there can help lighten the mood a wee bit for the reader after parts where it is down and dirty.

 

Thank you for adding excerpts here, Mr. Mace. For me it is the human side (amusing or poignant) of the story of service men that grounds any book I read about their experiences. I would like to hear more about your experience preceding WWII. I believe it is important to know the experiences that made it possible for the WWII generation to face what was to come.

 

No. If they are crap today, just imagine what they were like in 44!

 

That's funny, I shoot left handed also, even though I am right handed. When I was a kid, I could not close my left eye and keep my right eye open, but I had no problem vice-versa. So I just naturally began holding a rifle left handed. It is so true that once you develop a bad habit, it is almost impossible to break it.

Greg C.

 

Well, I'm a natural born lefty and I barely qualified right handed. As soon as I was able to, I started shooting left handed again.

 

Mr.mace, thank u for providing the safe world I bring my children up in every day. I am a 27 year old nurse, who's only hobby is ww2. My uncle (a medic in the pacific fleet) left a yearining hole in my heart (we were close, but he wouldn't talk about the war despite my infatuation), and I have been searching for someone just to talk to; a vet willing to befriend a younger girl so she can pass their legacy to her children. If u ever just feel like writing someone, and having actual conversation, and friendship, I would love to. (amandasjones&live.com)

 

Thank you, ASJones. If you're ever on the face book you can find me there. I'm trying to build a little group of people who understand the Pacific War and want to speak with a vet. Please come join us, if you can.

Sterling Mace K/3/5

 

Shame things have to be edited out just to fit in a book, I would have loved to know everything there was to know about your experience.

I can't wait to read you book, thank you so much for writing it.

 

Any word on when your book will be on the shelves? I just finished "Brotherhood of Heroes" by Bill Sloan, and am in the process of Sledge's book...I'm listening to it on audio tape. So I'll be interested in seeing what you have to say.

You were in K/3/5...isn't that the same one as Eugene Sledge? I can't even imagine what you guys went through.

My dad served in the ETO but it is just impossible to compare the ETO and the PTO...very different wars.

I've been reading all your posts and am really enjoying them. Thanks for taking the time. And Thanks for your service.