Lt. James C. Dickerson of Fort Dodge and Vern O. Echelberger of Dows, marine veterans of
three Pacific campaigns in as many months. Are here (pictured in article) after assault on Morotai in the Halmahera
islands. Echelberger killed the first Jap in the Morotai landing.
Date Line By Sgt Harold A. Beard Marine corps combat correspondent
Somewhere in the Pacific (Delayed) Two Iowa Marines, veterans of three Pacific campaigns in 91 days, Philippines,
recently returned to this American base for a breather before taking their next crack at the Japs. They are Lt.
James C. Dickerson 23, of Fort Dodge, and Corporal Vern O. Echelberger, 20 of Dows.
Both Iowans are members of a third marine division assault signal unit which assisted the army in establishing
the Leyte beachhead. They directed carrier borne navy fliers in close bombing and strafing support of our ground
forces. Dickerson was impressed on Leyte by huge stores of American tires, motor vehicles and canned goods abandoned
by fleeing Japanese. "It was like a used car dealer's dream come true." he said, " The vehicles
looked like 1940, and 1941 models; Fords, Plymouths and Mack Trucks filled a dispersal area. One warehouse was
full of American made tires and another contained an abundance of American canned goods of all kinds."
American troops attained their invasion-day objective with almost no resistance," Dickerson related. We
found several places where the Japs had started to dig-in, but they had pulled out ahead of us. Our superiority
of manpower and equipment must have frightened them."
Bags Jap
Echelberger bagged a Jap as he hit the beach at Morotai, in the Halmahera islands, prior to the Leyte assault.
"We heard some firing to our right," he said, "I spotted a Jap in a tree about 30 yards away, I
fired three times with my carbine. He tumbled to the ground."
Resistance on Morotai was slight. The Japs fell back there as soon as our troops moved in. "My most exciting
moment at Leyte," said Echelberger, " occurred during the landing. The Japs raked the ramp of our landing
boat with machine fire just before it was let down for us to go ashore." Echelberger had another close call
during the Guam Campaign. He dug a foxhole behind his radio jeep. During the night a Jap mortar shell exploded
nearby and punctured three tires. The Iowa marine was uninjured.
Stepping Stone
Their marine unit was withdrawn on the seventh day of the Leyte battle when they turned over their work to
army personnel they had trained. It was their third campaign in 91 days. Previously they had participated in the
taking of Guam, And assisted the army in seizing Morotai, final aerial stepping stone to the Philippines.
Lieutenant Dickerson' parents are Mr. And Mrs J.C. Dickerson 1116 4th Ave North, Fort Dodge. His wife Kathleen,
and their five-month-old son James III, live at the Archer apartments in Fort Dodge.
Corporal Echelberger is the son of Mr. and Mrs. A.O. Echelberger of Dows.
[Submitted by Melvin B. Echelberger.
melbech@charter.net]
