World War II Chronicle

World War II Chronicle: February 7, 1941

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Page six reports that Lt. Col. Julian S. Oliff of the Washington, D.C. National Guard has been called up for a fifth time. Oliff joined the 4th U.S. Volunteer Infantry during the Spanish-American War, later serving in the Philippine-American War, the Mexican border dispute, and fought in several World War I battles… Page 14 lists the 1941 Naval Academy graduates.

The sports section begins on page 42 which features an illustration of Marine officer Edwin L. Hamilton. An ROTC cadet major and battalion commander at Texas A&M, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps after graduating in 1936. As a member of the Marine Corps National Rifle Team, he won three individual National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, the Member’s and Crowell Trophies, and the Wimbledon Cup.

When Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt and British prime minister Winston Churchill established the Atlantic Charter in July 1941, they did so aboard the heavy cruiser USS Augusta, whose Marine Guard was commanded by Maj. Hamilton. During the assault on Bougainville, Hamilton was the executive officer of the 3rd Battalion, 3rd Marines. After four weeks of combat, an enemy mortar shattered hiss leg, and he would spend the next three years in Oakland, Calif. to put his leg back together. Medically retired in 1947 as a lieutenant colonel, Hamilton became a marine geologist. He passed away in 1998.

USS Augusta

From May 1939 to May 1940, Augusta‘s Marine detachment was led by Maj. Lewis B. “Chesty” Puller. When his tour was up, he transferred back to China were he served as executive officer, then skipper of the 2d Battalion, 4th Marines. In August 1941, he becomes the commanding officer of 1st Battalion, 7th Marines — the outfit he will famously lead at Guadalcanal.

During Chesty’s first tour on Augusta, he served as the legal aide to skipper Capt. Chester W. Nimitz.

Crew of USS Augusta in 1935. Nimitz is to the left of the life preserver. Puller is also on the front row, third from the right (seated, wearing a shoulder strap).

Evening star. (Washington, D.C.), 7 February 1941. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress.
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1941-02-07/ed-1/

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