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BATTLE OF OKINAWA LETTER AND PHOTOS

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:75.00 USD Estimated At:150.00 - 200.00 USD
BATTLE OF OKINAWA LETTER AND PHOTOS
A fine content and very well-written A.L.S. of Alim F. Buttus of Batallion III Amphibious Corps, stationed in Japan, 4pp. 4to., June 21, 1945, to his friend stateside, relaying his experiences. In part: "...Here I am, the missing link, up to my ears in the battle of Okinawa...A lot of water has gone under the bridge, and a lot of lead over my head since the last news...I'm still in reasonably good shape for the shape I'm in. I sure used to wish for this overseas detail and I finally got it and have been over almost a year now with the prospect of a couple more operations...We had a short run-in with a few Nips the other day which was rather exciting. We met a patrol of five men who had just seen a Jap sneak into the ruins of a house, so we thought we'd...stick around and watch the boys flush him out...One of the boys flipped a grenade over the stone wall around the building and this was the cue for all hell to break loose for the one man seen was going in had about twelve buddies and all were well-armed. We were pinned down for a while for they used grenades and small arms fire pretty liberally, but we made a break shortly and when the smoke finally cleared we had a couple of slightly wounded men on our side, and a perfect score on the other side, a baker's dozen of good Nips...After a time you get used to the sight and sound of death but even the most hardened stomach turns at the smell of it...The worst fear of all is felt when you are roused and of a half sleep by the scream of an air raid siren and huddle in a fox-hole listening to the engines purring directly overhead...which is the prelude to a searing explosion which scatters burning bits of shrapnel for hundreds of yards...Such is life, so when some shiny eyed young school boy comes and tells you about the glamour and glory of the Marines, give him the 'scoop.'...We managed to clean up for a brief time and had a group picture [copies included]...We should be about ready to close up shop and go to our rehabilitation area by the time you receive this letter...I would like to have fifteen copies [of the photos]...". Accompanied by five small images of the remains of Japanese temple [?] and seven 8" x 10" sepia images of the group shot Buttus mentions. Also included is an 8" x 10" sepia bust shot of Buttus, looking every bit the "shiny eyed school boy" he once was. Very good condition.