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Fred E.
Mainer
23 May 1925 - 21 Dec 2016
Veterans of Kwajalein
Fred and Donna celebrated their 61st
Wedding Anniversary on August 30, 2007 |
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I entered Roi island on the third wave at Red Beach. I was in the Navy
assigned as a platoon leader to assist the removal of the dead, which were
mostly Japanese. I was assigned to carrier aircraft service unit (C.A.S.U.
unit # 20 to establish an airfield on Roi island. I have kept many pictures
taken soon after the battle for Roi-Namur . I have several other memorable
pictures of several movie stars that visited the Marshall, Islands.
This is a short summary of some of the remembrance of my stay on the
islands. Fred E. Mainer, AOM 3/c, fdmain@charter.net. Pictures
shown below were provided by Fred. Most of the pictures
were taken in Feb. 1944 after the third day. Fighting on Roi
was almost over on the first day which was Feb. 1st. It took 3
days to secure Namur. I believe our task force was #53
assembled in Hawaii. All ships with guns shelled Roi-Namur as
well as Kwajalein for 3 days and nights, before we hit the beach.
The atoll was bombed everyday for 30 days before the invasion.
I do not remember how long I was on Roi-Namur before I was sent to
Kwajalein. The Army made the invasion at Kwajalein. From
there I went to Majuro and joined
C.A.S.U. 30 (Carrier Aircraft Service Unit). That's where we
worked for task force # 56. Majuro was a beautiful area,
possibly a Japanese rest area. It was secured with no
resistance. My rating as a A.O.M. 3c is Aviation Ordinance Man.
Same rating as a Buck Sgt. in the Marines. The ship that I
took to the Kwajalein invasion was the Bolivar.
I departed troop ship Bolivar down the rope ladder to an L.C.I. and
ended up about mid ship. By the time we got to shore, I was almost to
the back bulk head. I guess you could say I was somewhat frightened.
There was no heavy gunfire at the beach. It increased as we got closer
to the causeway to Namur. There was heavy firing on Namur. We had lots
of cleaning up to do.
To show you how effective the prayers of my mother, father, other
relatives, and friends were, on the afternoon of the 11th of February,
our detachment was sent to an island just off Namur to work. About dusk,
the officer in charge saw a large amount of canned food. We had been on
K-Rations since we landed. At dusk the officer in charge told me and
another sailor that he would engage the security guard in conversation
and we were told to each get a case of food. Following orders, we did as
told and I got a case of pet milk and my buddy got a case of peaches. We
really enjoyed the peaches and cream that evening.
Another amazing event occurred. I found an already made Japanese foxhole
for the night. In the middle of the night the air-raid alarm sounded.
This was nothing new because that happened every night. We could hear
the bombers coming over and soon the sky lite up on Roi-Namur. The sound
was loud and the ground shook. Many prayers were uttered that night.
The next morning we got up at sunrise and headed back to Roi-Namur. I
noticed where we were, was a massive amount of 100 octane gasoline. What
would have happened if a few bombs would have hit there? Thank God they
didn't.
When we arrived at Roi there was no sign of my tent or my belongings. I
had a large back pack so I had some necessary items. A few days later I
was walking through a wrecked aircraft hanger. I saw a stack of rifles
and much to my amazement there was my rifle. My name stenciled on the
strap. I have no idea how it got there.
The See-bees were very busy repairing the air strip. I was asked If I
knew how to drive and I said, " yes I can". I had only driven a model A
ford for a short time. You never say you can't do it. They gave me a
large flat-bed truck and I wondered if this could be done by me? I’m
glad it had a diagram of the 10 speed gear box on the dash.
As the days went by, the Sea-Bees were busy extending the runway. We
were very busy with our duties with the fighters F6F, F4U, and Dive
Bombers SBD. On one incident, I was assigned to a gasoline truck. The
air raid alarm sounded and I headed to my assigned F6F plane. I got the
truck stopped about six inches from the landing gear. Oh what a time the
first few weeks on Roi-Namur was a marine wrote you about a large catch
of Japanese beer on Namur. It was true.
Attached is a picture of a label off one of the bottles. I had many
souvenirs but when I got back to the states, they were taken away from
me at Treasurer Island Naval base.
I'm not sure when I was transferred to Kwajalein and then on to Majuro
to CASU 30. Many movie stars came there on July 27th, 1944. Bob Hope and
his troop, Francis Langford, Pat Thomas, Jerry Colonna, and Tony Romano
entertained us.
On September 7th, 1944, Majuro, Marshall Islands, Jack Benny (he didn't
have Rochester with him), but he did have Carol Landis, Martha Tilton.
Larry Adler and June B. Brunner were with him. She was a big hit with
all hands as attached pictures with show.
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Fred Mainer's 81st Birthday, 2006 - WWII Vet - Roi-Namur |
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Jack Benny talking with troops in
Majuro |
Jack Benny picture taken by Fred |
Carol Landis with troops at Majuro |
Beer label from a bottle on
Namur |
Patty Thomas performing for the troops
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Eddie Peabody & the "Tune Toppers" |
Cliff Haynam and I were
on our way to evening chow walking down a coconut grove road when
Benny and his troop came upon us. They stopped and we had small
talk. June Brenner said she was going with Cliff and me to chow and
she did. Attached picture will show her and the good crowd . She
sang many songs for us.
On October 16th and 17th Eddie Peabody, the nations greater Banjoist
and his "Tune Toppers". A good group of musicians entertained us.
On October 30th, Betty Hutton (the blonde bombshell) came to finish
her Pacific tour at Majuro. There is pictures of her attached. Also
attached, is a picture the natives told me she was Queen of Majuro.
In early July of 1945, I was told that I could go back to the states
because I had earned enough points to be discharged. I was given my
orders and told to get back the best way I could. There were eight
of us. We finally got a ship captain who brought us back. We had to
work our way. I had to clean enlisted new quarter. What a degrading
job.
Prior to leaving, I had contacted a coral infection on my face and
on of the other members did also. The doctors tried a new cream drug
called penicillin. It worked on me, but the other sailor
infection spread from one ear to the other. I went on a 30 day pass
when I returned to Alameda Naval Air base. The other man who had the
infection was still in the hospital.
Fred E. Mainer |
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5 Mainer Brothers - 1 Grandson and 1
Son-in-law served in
WW11.
Mrs. Mainer was a Gold Star Mother |
Fred E. Mainer, AOM 3/c |
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