From Cousin Edward (PDQ) Alatorre

I knew my cousin Fernando when he was going to Roosevelt High School and he was in the R.O.T.C.. When he would wear his Army R.O.T.C. uniform and the war had just started enlisted men in the regular Army would salute him thinking he was regular Army. I think Fernando was an officer in the R.O.T.C. After that he joined the Marine Corps. and this is one of the reasons I also joined the Marine Corps. And like our cousin Fernando I was also sent to San Diego for boot camp. My platoon in boot camp was 361. And after boot camp I was sent to the 3rd Marine division but I went to the fleet Marines, which is aboard ships instead of like Fernando went to a grunt regiment. I just thought you would like to know some ancient history. And by the way I'm sure others have told you you look a lot like him.

Your Cuz,

(Click to enlarge front and back of photo's)

"The thing I remember most about him [Fernando] is that he wanted to be a policeman...  ...the thing is I didn't socialize a lot, as a matter of fact I had very few friends in school and he was one of them..."

"I Remember so clearly...
...He came over to my position and he asked my assistant 'Hey, is there a guy named Escalante here?' and the guys says 'See that ugly guy there, that's him', So I looked up when I heard that and at first I didn't recognize him, you know, he was all dirty, and then finally I recognized him and he grabbed me and hugged me and he shook me.  So we talked about 20 minutes, half hour and then he had to go back to his company and that's the last time I saw him"
"Didn't you say this was during a fire fight?"
"Yeah, it all happened during a fire fight"

"...we both belonged to the ROTC, I didn't know his girlfriends...
...we talked, we would mostly talk, mostly what I remember about him was that he wanted to be a policeman and uh, he was kind of a happy guy, you know, he wasn't quiet and he wasn't real loud either, but he was kind of an animated sort of guy.  After school I remember he used to work for a shoe store in downtown L.A....
...So I saw him there a couple of times and then um, I joined the Marine Corp. after my junior year.  The next time I saw him I was on leave and went to Roosevelt to see the guys and I saw him there...
...that was the last time I saw him before I saw him again on Iwo."

"...never in my wildest dreams, it didn't enter my mind, that Fernando wouldn't survive the war, you know when I saw him, it didn't even enter my mind that I wouldn't see him again."
 

Quotes from John Q. Adams, another friend from school...

(Click image to enlarge)

I had asked John a few questions about my Uncle Fernando and I've summarized his answers below...

When I asked if he knew any of his old Girlfriends, "...Viola perhaps?" John replied by saying he didn't remember anyone specific, when he heard the name "Viola" he said it made him think of someone named "Olivia", "...who may have been a girl acquaintance.".

I then asked if Uncle Fernando spoke much about being a police officer for the LAPD.  John's reply was that he didn't remember him talking much about it.  He said at that time they we're "...more interested in the war and I don't recall any discussions out side of the war except school happenings."

I asked about Uncle Fernando's personality, was he a joker or was he serious? John said "Not a joker, but fun loving."

I was curious if Fernando ever got into it with anyone (fighting) or if he got along with
everyone? John remembers him as not fighting with anyone but getting along well with everyone.

John closed his e-mail by saying this "I do remember Fernando as a special friend. I thank you again for you efforts to honor him. He deserves your love."

John

A story not specifically about my Uncle but of one of the Campaigns he fought in...

My Dad was in E Company 2nd Battalion, 3rd Division, 3rd Marine Corps. He landed at Red Beach 1 on Guam in the fifth wave. Dad has told me stories of the 21st Regiment. You should be (and I know you are) very proud of your brother. Dad does not recall the name, but the regiment performed the impossible in late July 1944. 21 July the 3rd Marines and the 21st Regiment stormed the Asan Beach area of Guam to liberate the previously US South Pacific Island from its Japanese captors. Experts had told our US Generals that the steep cliffs (including "Chinito") inward from Asan would make it impossible to advance. Both the third and the 21st were assigned to do the impossible. They took heavy casualties as the cliffs provided protection and easy pickings for the Japs at the top. It was the 21st who made it to the top first and provided a path for other soldier to follow one at a time. The first night when they made it to the top, there was a terrible price paid in loss of many of our best fighting men.

My brother and sister and our spouses and I are planning to present dad's military history in a surprise 80th birthday in July. Our efforts to gather info have revealed truths that must be told.
I wish you all the best in your quest for the truth about your brother. I consider him a hero! You and I owe our freedom and our very existense to him and his fellow marines.

May God Bless You!
Carl Bantau

...See attached: a poor quality picture of "Chinita Ridge" where the 3rd and 21st were pinned down for almost 3 days trying to advance. This area is now a Museum on Guam. The wall of that museum holds the names of our soldiers who died in this battle...

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