 The seventh straight, and the seventh down. Black on red, the shoulder patch of the seventh Infantry Division, my outfit. They call us the hourglass division. You can see why. There's something else about an hourglass that fits the seventh. It's got sand in it. They say a guy with fighting guts has sand in his claw. The seventh has sand in its claw, all right, and we proved that for certain. But in the fall of 42, the sand was mostly in our hair. We'd been training in California, and when Ramo began playing foxy in Africa, we got introduced to camel climate. When we left the desert training center, we needed a bath. We got it. Amphibious training off the California coast. Then it was up to Frisco for the Mediterranean cruise. But Africa was not our destination. Ramo was scampering for Tunis, and we were needed elsewhere. We shipped out in April of 43. The convoy went through the Golden Gate, took a sharp right turn, and aimed for the North Star. Ahead was Alaska, the Aleutians, and the Jap. You know, Hito's little men had tried to open the back door to America, and were crawling over the Arctic bridge, taking Kiska and Attu. We were supposed to slam that back door and lock it. Attu was first, way out on the bitter end of the Aleutian Fog Factory. You can bet every man carried a one-each hollow feeling in the pit of his stomach on that trip to the beach. Our division commander was General Brown. The hourglass was turned, the sand was running through. The seventh had gone to war. We didn't know much about Attu. Most of the places on it were named later for our heroes. But the plan called for the main force to land on Blue Beach, and push up Massacre Valley to Jarman Pass, where they'd meet the northern force working down from Red Beach above Holtz Bay. Then together, we'd go after the enemy around their main camp at Chagov Harbor. The first wave got ashore at Blue Beach without any trouble. They moved up Massacre Valley. Other waves followed, lugging their equipment by hand over the snow and tundra. The northern force sneaked ashore at Red Beach, hauled their gear up a 20-foot cliff, and started around Holtz Bay. The artillery worked over the snowy hills. The fight had begun. The Japs were dug in high up on the mountains, and the elevators weren't running. The main force got the Jarman Pass the first day. A week later, it was still there. But the northern force had been fighting their way along Holtz Bay, and that put us on both sides of the pass, so the Japs took off to the east. We joined our line then and chased them over Robinson Ribs and Serrana Nose and Fish Ridge, and threw Levesy Pass into a tight, hard pocket around Chagov. We began to learn about war, how it feels to get hit, how the feet can be just as bad. We learned the price of victory. We learned about heroism, Private Joe Martinez, for advancing alone to inspire his battalion, the Medal of Honor, posthumously. We learned about banzai charges. One night, 500 screaming Japs threw a flying wedge down Jimfish Valley. We cleaned up the mess, moved into Chagov, and the battle was over. The Japanese and 2,300 enemy dead. This was the first American soil retaken from the Jap Invader. The back door to America was closed and bolted, courtesy of the 7th Division. We said goodbye to the northern lights then, and headed south, but we didn't go home. The next stop, Hawaii. A little fun chance to fall out and practice on landing craft of a different sort. Then some training that was guaranteed to teach you or else. We wanted this training, believe it or not, because on our two we'd learned what any Boy Scout can tell you. It pays to be prepared. But Uncle Sam was busy shopping for Pacific real estate at the end of 43, and some unwanted tenants had to be evicted. So the 7th Division packed its duffel and headed out to take possession. The address, Kwajalan Atoll, in the Marshall Islands. We had the southern loop of the Atoll, including the island of Kwajalan. With the preliminary soften-up aimed at the main island, we pulled a sneak play to the weak side. On D-Day and the night before, we sent forces to capture the lightly defended outer islands. The strategy worked so well that the whole invasion was later called a near-perfect operation. By afternoon, we had commanded the channel into the central lagoon, and our artillery was setting up on Carson Island, getting the range on Kwajalan. D-Day plus one, February 1st of 44, we turned our attention to Kwajalan, a strip of coral shaped like a banana. The artillery could help us from Carson. We were landing from the seaside on the southern tip. The island was divided up the middle. Two regiments were assigned. Each regiment got half a banana and three days to peel it. At dawn, the navy, the artillery, and the 7th Air Force started dumping explosives on that little island, until we thought it would sink. For the second time, the hourglass was turned. The 7th Division was moving in force. The Amtracks bumped over the coral reef and headed for shore. The navy moved their fire then, but the artillery kept shooting until we wondered if they'd been told about the landing. That was the plan. We crossed the beach right through the smoke. The artillery shells walked down the island three steps ahead of us. It was supposed to be jungle warfare, but the jungle had gone much faster. It was supposed to be jungle warfare, but the jungle had gone with the wind of the heavy bombardment. It was battle in 1,000 acres of city dump. Every pile of rubbish and possible snipers was like taking pins out of a new shirt. There was always one left to stick you in the back. Tanks had rough going in the beat-up terrain. We crossed the airstrip and saw why this stepping stone was needed for our road back to the Philippines. We didn't do all this without getting hurt, but our casualties were light. Prisoners were few, mostly Korean laborers of Marshall Island. While two regiments of the division were cleaning up Quadulum, the other regiment and the recon troop were picking off the other islands in our sector. At the end, we had more than a dozen islands, and the emperor had lost the first bit of his pre-war stock of Pacific bases. General Corlett led the 7th Miss Fight. Before we left, we said goodbye to some buddies. It had been a busy week. We went back to Hawaii for some more training. And a parade we didn't mind at all for the chief. General Arnold took over the division in Hawaii. That's him standing by the car. We had two fights under our weapon belts and we felt sharp. We even managed to look sharp. Maybe we were. Listen to this. All of us and men of the 7th Division, I've heard much what the 7th Division has done. We're all proud of the 7th in what it has done and what it is doing. That's another reason why I give you all the good luck in the world. But things were moving fast in those days and it wasn't long before we were back at sea wondering where we'd been booked for our next appearance. After a switch in plans, it turned out we were going with MacArthur on his famous return to the Philippines. We were making our entrance at LATI. Once more, the hourglasses were going into action on the southern flank of the invasion spearhead. This was our toughest beachhead. The Japs knew if we got a foothold in the Philippines it was the beginning of the end for them. We knew it too. We pushed hard and broke through. We fought west with a matted jungle. Our first trip went into Dulac. Then on to Barrao and north to Degami. Our first mission on LATI was completed against the infamous Japanese 16th Division. The death march out of Bataan was their idea. This was lesson three in our study of world climates. Tight jungle tropical with hell and high water. We were liberators now and in every town we got a reception. Even the animals were friendly. To cut off our important beach supply the jet made a desperate bid in LATI go. There was a close call but our Navy landed a Sunday punch from which the Imperial Fleet never recovered. Some of our carriers were lost. Their planes flew over to LATI and landed on the unfinished airstrips. Thanks to Navy men like this our beach areas were secure. After Degami the 7th Division got orders to turn south sweep the lower part of the island and move to the west coast. Final objective? Four mountains. Those were big orders. Skirting the central mountains we pushed south to Abbey Yard beating the Japs their own game of hide and seek in the sloppy jungle. The Division spread out over southern LATI and swept westward. One regiment got the job at a point for the attack north to Ormach. Through continual rainstorms and across dozens of streams their supplies came up from by by. Through nine days and nights of Banzai charges they held their area against superior Jap forces until the rest of the Division could catch up. Then the whole core converged on Ormach. Another Division landed from the sea and captured the town. We closed up the gap from the south and took over from them. We mopped up the west coast and the mountains to the east to clear Valencia, Palompan and the Komodi Islands nearby. That was the end of LATI. We covered 2,000 square miles of jungle and counted 15,000 dead Japs. That took us to the end of February and less than a month later we were back aboard ship and on the way to our next appointment. About the only place left to go in early 45 was Japan itself. We almost made it. Okinawa. This time the hourglass was really turned. The 7th was going into its toughest fight. We were still with the 24th Corps but now under the 10th Army. Am tanks and Am tracks brought the first waves ashore on the Higushi beaches. It was April Fool's Day but the Japs didn't pull any tricks. We took the Kadina Airstrip about one jump ahead of the engineers with their bulldozers and raiders. Then we joined in the race across the island. We saw a few Japs but they weren't in force. They planned to fight it looked like they'd choose their own time and place. We were invaders now and the civilians couldn't be trusted. Even the ones that smiled looked pretty. We had to race to the east coast. In two days we'd cut the island in half. Then we turned south at the left flank of the advancing line. The advancing got tougher. The Japs 32nd Army was going to make a stand alright and on their own terms they were waiting for us in prepared positions. We faced more artillery more Japs and more rough fighting than we'd ever faced before. We battled yard by yard at the Yellow Line Ridge Hill 178th Rocky Crags Hill 196th It was tough dirty and deadly. In 12 days of continuous attack the 24th Corps smashed the Machinato-Oki line but the worst was yet to come. We found ourselves up against the real backbone solid fortifications fancy cave systems This would take some doing. The 10th Army began an all out drive. Figuring us to be a little groggy the Japs tossed a counter attack full scale Kamikazes went for the supporting fleet. Somehow the Navy handled that. They launched attacks all down the line with artillery support. That hurt but we took it. Their beach landings failed. Then it was our turn. All along the front the word was attacked full steam ahead for the old 10th Army. After 41 days of combat the 7th was given a 10 days rest. We read up on stories of thrilling adventure and saw movies of Hedy Lamar. To our cemetery came General Buckner 10th Army Commander to pay his respect Then we went back to the battle. We put all we had into that push on Shuri. The Japs were tough but not that tough. The 7th turned the flank of the Shuri line with a vicious thrust through Yanobiru. The line crumbled and the Japs retreated south. Yanobiru The 7th Division passed this way. There was still more to Okinawa. We took the Chenin Peninsula and in spite of rain and mud it made the going sticky and kept the tanks to the roads. We slogged on and found a wall of cliffs. The Yeju Daki Escarpement. Honeycomb with caves. Flame tanks were good for those. The Japs had the top of that hill there. Still 95. But this was the 7th Division. We ran a hose up the side, pumped an 8-pound and set it afire. Then we went up and took the hill. From there we pushed south toward the last Japs stronghold at Mabuni. With a sea at their backs the Nips began to surrender in droves. Some were holding the leaflets that guaranteed safe passage. They came in all types and all sizes. With victory certainty General Buckner was killed but his job had been done. Okinawa was ours. To take over the 10th Army then came Uncle Joe Stillwell who had been our first division commander. It was a nice time for reunion. Then suddenly the war was over. Celebration. But there was still another landing for the 7th to make. Korea. This time the reception was different. The Japs guns were loaded but they weren't pointed at us. We hoped. We marched into Seoul and by at the surrender do a little changing of flags. The sun shone brighter when they ran old glory up to the top of the pole. At the 38th parallel they stationed the 7th to guard this outpost of freedom. We had won the privilege. 14,000 miles around the Pacific Atu, Kwajalein, Lady Okinawa. Four times they turned the hourglass Four beaches Four battles Four victories That's my outfit. The 7th Division.