I created this web site hoping that someone who may have known my uncle or who knows someone who may have served in the Marines with him would find it and be able to share information about him with us. My Uncle served in the U.S. Marines from 1943, right after high school, to March 5, 1945. He was assigned to the 3rd Marine Division, 21st regiment, 3rd Battalion, "L" Company. He served in Bougainville, Northern Solomons, Guam, and was KIA on Iwo Jima.(Click image to enlarge)
A quote from a letter my Uncle sent
home...
"...no hardship is too great to endure to win this war..."
PFC. Fernando Alatorre
This site is also a reminder that if it weren't for the sacrifice of men who gave their lives for this country or
Thank You, to all Veterans, all wars, and to their families for supporting them!
Below is an image my uncle sent home from Gaudalcanal 1943. If anyone can identify any of the men on the photo please contact me or my Father.
I have listed the names of the men
in the photo but I do not know who is who except of course my Uncle;
Fernando Alatorre (top left); Lee
Stacey (Bellmore, LI), Carl Blitz (Yanton,
Pa), Pat Copplio (Brooklyn, NY),
Tom
Butler (Brooklyn, NY), and Jack Black
or Bluck(Tennessee & Florida).
Gaudalcanal 1943 (Click to enlarge)
I also have a photo from his boot camp.
603rd Platoon San Diego 1943 (Click
to enlarge)
3d Marine Division
The 3d Marine Division was officially activated on 16 September 1942 in two echelons: the Advance Echelon (9th Marines and reinforcing units) at Camp Elliott, San Diego, California, and the Rear Echelon (21st Marines and reinforcing units) at New River, North Carolina.
Units of the division included in assault troops of the V Amphibious Corps, reinforced, were awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Iwo Jima, 19-28 February 1945. The 3d Marines, reinforced, serving as 3d Combat Team, was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for Guam, 21 July to 10 August 1944. The 3d Marines was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Empress Augusta Bay Beachhead, Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, 1 November to 22 December 1943. The 12th Marines was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Empress Augusta Bay Beachhead, Bougainville, British Solomon Islands, 1 November 1943 to 12 January 1944. The 21st Marines, reinforced, serving as the 21st Combat Team, was awarded the Navy Unit Commendation for Guam, Marianas Islands, 21 July to 10 August 1944.
The 3d Marine Division (Headquarters) participated in authorized operations and engagements in the Asiatic-Pacific Area as follows:
Occupation and defense of Cape Torokina
- 1 November to 15 December 1943.
Consolidation of Northern Solomons
- 15-21December 1943.
Admiralty Island landings - 20 March
to 19 April 1944.
Capture and occupation of Guam - 21
July to 15 August 1944.
Assault and occupation of Iwo Jima
- 19 February to 16 March 1945.
(Click on any image to see a larger
version)
(Left) Uncle Fernando and his Mother
(my Grandmother) Maria Ordonez Alatorre. He's wearing his ROTC uniform
from Roosevelt High school. I believe his rank was Captain.
(Middle) His ROTC Photograph.
(Right) Stand alone image of my Uncle
again in his ROTC uniform.
Since you are looking at this web site
it's a good chance you too are looking for information about someone you
lost in WWII. If you have information that may help us get to know
my uncle better please contact
myself
(Gene Alatorre) or
my father (Richard
Alatorre). I've entered some links below that may help you in
your search, if you would like a link to your web site or to a site that
you believe may help others in their search please send them to me,
thank you, good luck in your search.
Gene's E-Mail Mojorisen@Earthlink.net
Richard's E-Mail Rghrdr57@aol.com
Past...
Aired
Monday Jan. 14th 7 am and 1pm on Dish network...
The
History Channel has a WWII special "Iwo Jima: Hell's Volcano" to air Monday
Jan. 14th 7 am and 1pm on the Dish network. You will probably have
to check http://www.tvguide.comto
see when it will air in your area.
"Hell
In The Pacific" A TLC (The Learning Channel)
special,
premiered on Friday, Dec. 7 at 9 p.m. ET/PT. Site still has good
information although I don't know hen they will show the program again.
-Pearl
Harbor: Death of the Arizona premiered Sunday, Dec. 2, 9 p.m. ET/PT,
Check
local listings for repeat days.
Other Links...
Caltrap,
3rd Marine Division Web site...
Contains lot's of information about
reunions, ways of gathering information, Photo album to seek out others
who may be searching for information about their family and friends.
Iwo
Jima, A Look Back...
Contains regiment daily summaries,
has a big map of Iwo Jima for sale, books and a CD, and lots of great links
at the bottom of the page.
Iwo
Jima Web site...
Contains battle information, Flag
raising photos, the raisers, bond tour, and lot's of good information...
World
War Two Memorial in Washington...
The memorial will be dedicated
on Saturday, May 29, 2004, Check out this site for more information...
Bugles
Across America...
Bugles Across America, NFP was
founded in 2000 by Tom Day, when Congress passed legislation stating Veterans
had a right to at least 2 uniformed military people to fold the flag and
play taps on a CD player. Bugles Across America was begun to take this
a step further, and in recognition of the service these Veterans provided
their country, we felt that every Veteran deserved a live rendition of
taps played by a live Bugler. To this end, we are actively seeking volunteers
to provide this valuable service to Veterans and their families.
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This web site
has been created and maintained by
Gene Alatorre
