I read the front-page article “Relatives hope for return of WWII vet from Augusta,” published on Nov. 11. On page A2, where the article continues, it says there was no major battle at the time of Whitney’s death in July 1943.

That’s true enough, but some Marines were in combat on New Georgia in the Solomon Islands group. The Marine 1st and 4th Raider Battalions, and some Marine Corps tanks, together with the Army 37th and 43d Infantry Divisions took part in the actions that captured the Japanese airfield at Munda and secured other areas on New Georgia in July and August 1943. This information comes from the “United States Army in World War II/Special Studies/Chronology 1941-1945,” Office of the Chief of Military History, Department of the Army.

By the way, most combat soldiers and Marines will tell say, “If you are in it, any battle is a major one.”

Philip W. Tiemann Jr.

Augusta


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