On a recent Sleepless nlg^t
we got to thinking about some of
the Marines and their wives ^o
established temporary homes in
New Bern during World War n.
Forgetting the few who were
obnoxious, It was plesant to
recall a host of wonderful
friends. They are scattered
in most Instances to distant
points now, but we hope that
somevdiere diey have found the
happiness diey deserved. '
None of the service men we
encountered in those dark
days was finer ttuui Sgt. Jdu
Teppe. You probaldy passed
him on the street dozens of
times, never knowing that here
was heroism at its best.
Just 21 at the time, he didn't
look hie part of a hero. Mild
mannered, almost effeminate
in his neatness, the blonde,
smooth faced youth wasn't
exactly what movies and tv
programs picture as the typical
fighting leattierneck.
John told us later diat he
was with the first raiders who
landed on Guadalcanal, and the
casualty figures he gave us
Qieak for themselves. Of the
1,000 Marines, 950 enlisted men
and 50 officers, in the
first force, only came off
the Island alive.
Twenty Of dtepe 4Q snrVlr’
vors 'wereorttiwlrwoundea,
and one of (he worst cases
happened to be Teppe. Jap
machine gunners had drilled
his right 1^ full of holes from
his knee to his hip. Three bay
onet stabs in his back barely
missed the heart. A scalp
wound from another bayonet
thrust caused him to lose an
awful lot of blood.
Somdiow he managed to Uve
dirough it all. His conditiop,
and that of one of bis cd&i-
rades, was so bad that he
couldn't be moved backfrom the
front lines for some time. Even
tually he was flown to
Melbourne, Australia. Later he
was transferred to a hospital
in California, and finally re
turned to Cherry Point.
For bravery at Grassy Knoll,
vhere die Japanese had to be
literally blasted from caves,
be was awarded the Silver Star.
After Bloody Ridge he was given
die Oak Leaf Cluster.
When John entered actU>n in
die Pacific, he weighed? iSf
pounds. When he came out of it
he weighed 118. For 36 days
and nights he and his fellow
Marines were subjected to
constant bombardment from
the sea, from die air, and
from die hills.
Incidentally, Capt. Jimmy
Roosevelt (the President's son)
was wldi the first raiders.
Teppe told us he was a great
soldier, asking no special fa
vors and taking more dian bis
share of diances.
Anodier Marine wewlllnever
forget was Pfc. Raymond Smith,
who hailed from Bedford^ Mass.
He and his wife, Ida, spont their
first months of marriage in
New Bern.
A raider with the fourdi
Marines, he saw action on Guad
alcanal, Guam, Pelu Munda and
the Mariannas. He received
campaign ribbons for four
major battles and a Presi
dential dtatton.
Through all dils bloodyfight-
Ing, Raymond carried a batter
ed but tuneful accordion, boost
ing the morale of odier boys with
songs of die day and die fami-
(Ccntlnued on page 7)
The NEW BERN
f/v;*%ltHIDWIIKI.V
I
VOLUME 9
NEW BERN, N. C„ FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1966
NUMBER 24
A REAL CHALLENGE—^New Bernians who dream of
a day when the town can live up to its claim as the
Land of Enchanting Waters must take into account
hundreds of ugly piles like these that mar the Neuse
and Trent at our very doorstep. Stubborn remnants
of long vanished wharves and docks, they defy the
ravages of time. Removing them entirely would be a
project requiring much labor and considerable money.
All river towns are faced with the same problem, and
few have shown an inclination to solve it. Now that
the city has taken steps to end polution of its two
streams, beautification of our water front could attract
many a tourist dollar. It may never happen in your
lifetime, or anyone's lifetime, but a determined com
munity can make the dream come true.—^Photo by
Donnie Wray Benners.
i'