March 17, 1944

[Ray Merrell]

On the USS Callaway coming from Guadalcanal we landed
on Emirau March 17th, 1944 for the invasion. There was no
opposition, the Japs had left a few days before. Emirau was
a small island where the US wanted to build an airstrip. The
Seabees built one. We now call Emirau "Bloody Emirau".

[TJR1070]

Semper Fi Brother! Thank you for keeping us free.

[Ray Merrell]

Correction and addition to above. We left Gaudalcanal March 17th and landed on Emirau March 20th.

"A force of nearly 4,000 US Marines landed on the island of Emirau on 20 March 1944. The island was not occupied by the Japanese and there was no fighting. It was developed into an airbase which formed the final link in the chain of bases surrounding Rabaul. The isolation of Rabaul permitted McArthur to turn his attention westwards and commence his drive along the north coast of New Guinea towards the Phillippines.

The assault force consisted of the 4th Marine, this would be the first operation for the 4th Marines, which had been reformed on 1 February 1944 from four battalions of Marine Raiders, the original 4th Marines having been destroyed in the Battle of Corregidor."