Private First Class John F. Samler, U. S. Marine Corps - 1st Battalion, 26Th Marine Regiment Battalion, 26Th Marine Regiment, 5Th Marine DivIsion
The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February – 26 March 1945), or Operation Detachment, was a major battle in which the United States Armed Forces fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire.  The American invasion had the goal of capturing the entire island, including its three airfields (including South Field and Central Field), to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II.
On Iwo Jima 8 Mar 45, D+17, the weather was cloudy and cool, visibility fair. The 26th Marines attacked at 0815 against a heavy fortified Japanese line. The plan of action for the last several days called for the 5th Marine Division to complete the drive northeast and split the Japanes defenses in two.  This included taking the highground of Hill 362 and Nishi Ridge.
Japanese resistance was fierce, both in front and from a number of bypassed positions, the Marines burned and blasted their way onwards. Action of LT 126 was supported by fire of tanks. At this stage of the operation after 17 days of continuos combat, qualified small unit leaders as well as the more aggressive riflemen had become so depleted that offensive efficiency and spirit were seriously affected, out of proportion to strength figures.
"The Japs werent on Iwo Jima", said a Captain of the 26th Marines, "They were in Iwo Jima."
Casualties for the 26th Marines on 8 Mar 45 were 1 Officer and 74 enlisted men, including Private First Class John F. Samler, Rye High School Graduate, Class of 1939
Pfc. John F. Samler, U. S. Marine, Killed in Action at Iwo Jima
Pfc. John F. Samler, U. S. Marine Corps, has been killed in action on Iwo Jima, according to a notification received on Monday by his parents, Mr and Mrs. L. Morris Samler of Newark, N. J. , formerly of Rye. He was twenty-three years old and the action on the South Pacific island was his first major campaign. Jack as he was known to his friends in Rye, went overseas around the first of this year. He received his initial training at Parris Island; later signed up for para trooping at Camp Lejeune, N. C, and completed his training at Camp Pendleton, Calif. When the paratroopers were disbanded, he was assigned to the infantry as a flame thrower in the Assault Squad. He trained for two years before going overseas. Previous to entering the service, he was employed by the Pan American Airways. He was sent to Africa to help in the construction of airfields and runways stretching across the continent from coast to coast. He witnessed some of the fighting while stationed at Cairo and following the attack on Pearl Harbor, returned home to join the Marines. He was a graduate of Resurrection School and Rye High School. During his high school days he gained popular acclaim as a football star and was captain of the team. He was engaged to Miss Barbara Lynch of Manursing Lodge, who is now In Florida where she spent the winter. In his last letter home, he said he had seen Sky Larkin, another Rye Marine whose death was reported last week. Besides his parents, he is survived by a sister. Cadet Nurse Mariellen Samler, who is too ill in Orange Memorial Hospital, Orange, N. J. , where she is stationed, to be told of her brothers death; also a brother, Robert Samler, who lives with his wife on Dearborn Avenue, Rye.
RYE NEW YORK FRIDAY, APRIL 6, 1945
|