Needham, Gerald P., St. Helena Parish, Louisiana File prepared by D.N. Pardue and submitted by Inez Bridges Tate. ************************************************ Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ From "St. Helena Vets Remember World War II: Personal Interviews With World War II Vets", published by St. Helena Historical Association, 1995. Compiled and edited by Inez Bridges Tate and reprinted with permission. Gerald P. Needham was born in New Orleans and moved with his parents to the Bethel Community when he was four years old. Gerald attended local schools and said he dropped out before graduating. He went to New Orleans where he worked in a ship- yard until August 17, 1943, when on a whim, he volunteered for the Marine Corps. Basic training was at United States Marine Corps Depot at San Diego, California. Advanced training was at Linda Vista, about 25 miles from San Diego. Gerald was with anti-tank Batallion 2nd Marine Division. A review of Gerald's discharge reveals the following: Weapons Qualified - Rifle (Marksman) 1 Oct 1942, Bayonet (quali- fied) 7 Oct 1942. Foreign Service - Asiatic Pacific Area, 20 Feb 1943 to Oct 1944. He was in the following places: Wellington, New Zealand; New Hebrides; Tarawa; Hilo, T.H.; Maui T.H.; Pearl Harbor, T.H.; Honolulu, T.H.; Enenetok; Saipan. Wounds Received in Service - Gunshot left knee, thigh and head. Batles, Skirmishes, Expeditions - Participated in action against the enemy at Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands, 20 Nov 1943. Partic- ipated in action against the enemy at Saipan, Marianas Island, June 15-18, 1944. Remarks - Service honest and faithful. Awarded Purple Heart, 14 March 1944. Due to unavoidable war conditions the information on this discharge incomplete. Discharged - Dec 14, 1944 at San Diego, California. Gerald said the first time he was wounded was on Tarawa, a part of the Gilbert Islands where he sustained injuries to his head and thigh. In discussing his head injury he said he was struck by a hand grenade. He remarked that had he been hit by an American-made grenade, it would have been fatal. Pieces from the Japanese grenades were much smaller. His helmet was thrown backward, but the chin strap caught on his nose. Blood flowed freely, quickly covering his clothing. "I thought I was gone," he chuckled. Gerald's parents were notified of his injury by means of a telegram. He still had this which is now brownish with age. The telegram: "CK 75 Government Washington, D.C. Mr. & Mrs. Patrick Needham Rt 1 Kentwood, LA Deeply regret to inform you that your son Pvt. Gerald Needham has been wounded in action in the performance of his duty and service of his country. I realize your great anxiety but nature of wounds not reported and delay in receipt of details must be expected. You will be promptly furnished any additional information received. To prevent possible aid to our enemies do not divulge the name of his ship or station. A.A. Vandergrif Lt. Gen U S M C The Commandant MC 1-11-44" Gerald said the battle on Tarawa was fierce, that many lost their life and many others, like he, were wounded. He marveled at the losses on such a small island in a very short time. A picture of a landing craft in which he went ashore was viewed in a copy of the history of his Division. Gerald said only he and two others emerged safely from this craft. His second injury was sustained on Saipan from shrapnel to his knee. While on Saipan he was with Warren Allen. Actually he met up with Warren in New Zealand and they were together from that time on until Saipan. Warren was killed on Saipan when the Japanese came in behind his Unit. A friend told Gerald of Warren's death about three days later. Gerald also saw Carl Blades in San Diego. While walking down the street he saw Carl reading a magazine in a store. He has a copy of the "History of the 2nd Marine Division in World War II" and "Tarawa, the Story of a Battle" by Robert Sherrod. In "Tarawa" Gerald is listed in the casualty list as he was wounded there. Returning to St. Helena after the War he operated a dairy a while. Tiring of this he moved his family to Texarkana where he worked 7 years for a Government Arsenal. He came to Angola and worked there eleven years and is now retired from Formosa Plastics, Baton Rouge. Gerald and Miss Sallie Crosby were married on June 7, 1945. He has two daughters, five grandchildren and one great grand- child. Since the recent death of his wife, Gerald divides his time between his home in Baker and the home of his late parents in the Bethel Community. Gerald received his high school diploma from Greensburg in 1946. -------- Newspaper clippings: 4 Aug 1944 Pfc. Gerald Needham, 19 years old son of Mr. and Mrs. Pat Need- ham, writes that he is now recu- perating in a hospital in the Sol- omon Islands after fighting in the battles of Saipan and receiv- ing wounds while in action. Pfc. Needham has been in the service for two years and has been over- seas for about eighteen months. 27 Oct 1944 Mrs. P.M. (Pat) Needham has gone to the west coast, where she will meet her son, Gerald Need- ham, who is returning from over- seas. * * *