The Battle of Anguar

The Battle of Anguar

This is the battle where my father was wounded in World War II. As I've mentioned before, he prints out these pages on his color printer and reads them out with his magnifying glass at the kitchen table with my Mom. Hi Dad!

Anguar is one of the Palau Islands, made famous by the latest season of Survivor.

Comments

[R.L.]

My cousin was a Marine at Peleliu at about the time your dad was hit on Angaur. A bit overblown at times with their self-importance, Marines tend to avoid discussion of the fact that it was our U.S. Army that was the deciding factor in the battle for Peleliu, and not the Marines themselves. CG lstMarDiv., mistakenly believed the operation would span three-days. Live and learn (or in this case, learn and die). General Rupertus fell victim to heart attack just days after the unanticipatedly lengthy Palau campaign.

[Thomas Clipner]

My father was in the 322nd of the 81st Infantry and fought on Anguar. He won the Silver Star, Bronze Star, and was promoted to Sgt. I never knew where he was or what he did until after he passed away, and I did some research. I have tried to locate someone that was in the company he was in, and knew him, without any luck.

[T. Conaway]

My Dad was in the US Army and fought at Anguar. He was a technical sergeant in Co. C, 16th ordnance battalion. When he talked about Anguar, he said that they "Flattened the island like a pancake" in order to build an airport. I don't know how long he was actually on Anguar, but I believe it was quite awhile. Long enough that they ran out of rations and they had to rely on fishing. My Dad had a good friend in the army that he lost track of -- I think he was from Pittsburgh or thereabouts -- named Dick Killeen (I'm not sure about the spelling, but my Dad pronounced it KY-LEEN). My Dad's name is Hank. Does your Dad by any chance remember either of them? My Dad passed away recently. I miss him terribly. Although I tried, I never was able to locate his friend for him. God bless all of the brave men who served in the US Army on Anguar!

[Bill Herring]

I was there , a pvt in the 1884th av engineer battalion. I'm 85 now . bill herring , Rochester , NY

[Dick Tomkinson]

Bill, my dad was also in the 1884th avaition engineer battalion. His name was Dan Tomkinson. Did you know him? He passed away in 1988.

[Victoria]

Hi All,

My dad, I believe, was also in the 1884th, Buck Seaburg. I found a picture in with his pictures that had a sign that read "Company B 1884th ENGR. AVN. BN. Orderly Room" - If anyone wants a copy let me know. vrs2@calvin.edu I miss my dad, too.

[Bill Herring]

i knew your dad ,if my memory serves me right. i knew a young man by the name of Dan Tomkinson.he was the buggler and he woke us up with some jazzy music . sorry to hear he passed away.nice to hear from you

[Dick Tomkinson]

Bill!!! You're exactly right! My dad played the bugle and told us about how he played reveille in the mornings! What a great memory you have! Say, have you got any photos from your years in the service that may show my dad? Anything you can tell me about him would be helpful. I really regret that I didn't ask him more about those days before he passed.

[Ron Wellman]

My dad was there in the 1884th as well, in H&S Co. His name was Roy Wellman, from McGregor, TX. He passed away in April, 2007 from complications due to Alzheimers. He never told me much about his service in the Pacific, even when I pressed him when I was a kid. When older he finally started talking more but the years had taken a toll on his memory. I have his service records and some pictures, but I'm not sure where all of them were taken. I do have one of the unit sign when you guys were on Okinawa. Ron Wellman

[Dick Tomkinson]

Hi Ron,
Nice to hear from someone else who's dad was there. Sorry to hear he's gone now. I am wondering if it would be possible for you to scan that photo you have and email it to me? I bet maybe even Bill and Victoria (read comments above) would be interested in that. My email is dick@richardtomkinson.com

[Ron Wellman]

Hello Dick. I sent several messages to your email, hope you got them. I will be scanning and sending some of my dad's pics when the work shedule slows down. I would love to hear from Bill in regards to some of his 1884th experiences. Cheers all, Ron

[Dawn Penning]

Hello Mr. Herring. My wonderful grandfather, Francis A. Penning was a supply officer in the 1884th. Did you know him? He has memoirs of his experiences in the pacific. Your name is very, very familiar. He passed away 6/25/1996 from COPD. He was always a heavy smoker. I would love to hear from you. He meant the world to me and I think of him every day. Just thinking that you or anyone out there may have known his touches my heart. My email is dawnpenning@att.net Sincerely, Dawn Penning

[Dawn Penning]

Dear Dick Tomkinson, Victoria, and Ron Wellman--My grandfather, Francis A. Penning was in the 1884th. He was wonderful too just as your fathers sound to be. I will check his memoirs and see if your fathers names are in the pages. There is much to go through and many pictures to see. Let's please keep in touch. My email is dawnpenning@att.net Sincerely, Dawn Penning

[Dick Tomkinson]

Hello Dawn,
Nice to hear from you. I'm thankful that Mr. McMahon put up this web page, which has served to bring several of us together! If you ever find anything relating to Anguar, Okinawa or Guam (or anything else relating to the 1884th) I would love to hear from you! Regards, Dick

[Bart A Riley]

To the idiot,if you ever saw Peleliu, even today,. if you found yourself in combat in a shithole like this Island tomorrow ,nobody would refuse the help of a fellow American,or worry about who shot who,the Japs had been there for years,and we the Marines paid a horrible price,thank God for the Army,no hornblowing at the end of that battle,Ive been to alot of Islands in the rim ,and Peleliu takes it all,and Anguar reminded of parts place in Philly.Truk is ruff,Saipan was strangeI lived on Guam,if you ever go there asked the cab driver to take you to the DEVILS HORNS,he knows more about history than you,Not one Marine made the beach,the survivors floated on the outgoing tide in a blood red ocean,no direction towards anyone,all I ask is if your on Guam go there and see how the Jap deception was planned years before Pearl

[Dick Tomkinson]

For Christmas, my wife gave me the HBO miniseries The Pacific. Just finished it. Gives me fresh appreciation for all that was sacrificed there. My dad was on Okinawa with the 1884th, and was probably there at the time the Japanese surrendered.