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PFC JOE LLOYD SOUTH, COMPANY B
1ST BATTALION 7TH MARINES
1ST MARINE DIVISION
UNCLE JOE'S GRAVE SITE
#16, SECTION 1 U.S. ARMED FORCES CEMETERY 1, PELELIU, PALAU ISLANDS 1944-1949
Uncle Joe and a buddy enjoying alittle R & R in Australia after Guadalcanal
Uncle Joe with little sister Eula Ruth, niece Robbie and nephew Henry (approx 1940)
BASIC TRAINING, OCT 1940
3rd row up, 3rd from the left
"This TERRAIN which we had to finally pocket the Japs in was the worst I've ever seen"
Message to Gen. Vandegrift from Gen. Rupertus - Oct 1944, Peleliu
Sledge, E.B. With The Old Breed, at Okinawa and Peleliu.
Novato, California: Presidio, 1980.
Such beauty after all the bloodshed. Peleliu's Orange Beach 3 at Sunset the
U.S. Marine Monument, notice the helmets hanging from the cross and finally
another picture of Orange Beach 3 with Angaur Island in background.
(Ernie, a friend who lives on the Palau Islands, sent to me the 3 pictures of Peleliu)
PFC JOSEPH L. SOUTH
USMC
17 Sep 1940 - 15 Sep 1944
PFC JOE LLOYD SOUTH
BORN: 17 Sept 1921, Blue Mountain Arkansas DIED: 15 Sept 1944, Peleliu Island, Palau
SERVICE (SEA & FOREIGN): Asian-Pacific Area, 19 July 1942 to 15 Sept 1944
BATTLES, ENGAGEMENTS, SKIRMISHES, EXPEDITIONS: Participated in action against the enemy at Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands 18 Sept 1942 to 5 Jan 1943. Eastern New Guinea Operation 9 Oct 1943 to 24 Dec 1943. Cape Gloucester, Bismarck-Archipelago Operation 26 Dec 1943 to 1 May 1944. Peleliu, Palau Islands 15 Sept 1944. VIEW HIS CHRONOLOGY
American Service Defense Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with 2 stars
Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal
World War II Victory Medal
"Even with total local air and naval superiority, with lavish naval gunfire and bombs, with the dreaded napalm weaponry, and with a 4:1 troop superiority, the seizure of Peleliu consumed one American casualty and 1,589 rounds of heavy and light troop ammunition for each single Japanese defender killed or driven from his prepared position."
"Bloody Beaches: The Marines at Peleliu" By Brigadier General Gordon D. Gayle, U.S.M.C. (Ret)
PELELIU, MARINES, WWII, 1ST-MARINE-DIVISION, AFTER-ACTION REPORTS, OPERATION STALEMATE, MARINE-CORP, 7TH MARINES TOM LEA, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, MARINES, PELELIU, PELELIU, WWII , GUADALCANAL, GUADALCANAL, GUADALCANAL, GUADALCANAL
“The cost in casualties for the tiny island was terrible. The fine 1st Marine Division was shattered. It suffered a total loss of 6,526 men (1,252 dead and 5, 274 wounded). The casualties in the division’s infantry regiments were: 1st Marines, 1,749; 5th Marines, 1, 378; 7th Marines, 1,497. These were severe losses considering that each infantry regiment started with about 3,000 men. The Army’s 81st Infantry Division would lose another 3,278 men (542 dead and 2,736 wounded) before it secured the island. Most of the enemy garrison on Peleliu died. Only a few were captured. Estimates as to the exact losses by the Japanese vary somewhat, but conservatively, 10,900 Japanese soldiers died and 302 became prisoners. Of the prisoners only 7 were soldiers and 12 sailors. The remainder were laborers of other oriental extractions. Company K, 3d Battalion, 5th Marines went into Peleliu with approximately 235 men, the normal size of a World War II Marine rifle company. It left with only 85 unhurt. It suffered 64 percent casualties. Of its original seven officers, two remained for the return to Pavuvu. For its actions on Peleliu and Ngesebus, the 1st Marine Division received the Presidential Unit Citation.”
"A MARINES MOTHER"
A broken hearted Mother sits alone tonight
Dreaming of her boy who went off to fight
Her mind goes back to twenty three years
To think of her boy now brings her sudden tears
There are many other Mother's who feel the same way
Just dreaming of their Sons in the same sort of way
Her Son has been killed, but his memory lives on
That baby she loved so, now to heaven has gone
We know not why these things have to be
But a broken hearted Mother is touching to see
She grieves for her boy whom God has called home
His picture and her sitting there all alone
She hopes these boy's fighting haven't been all in vain
And in a few years it won't have to be done again
She picks up the picture and gives it a kiss
And say my dear Son, My baby I miss
Our hearts go out to these Mothers today
We know what a price they both had to pay
It is heart breaking for the Mother who lost that Son
I know for I'M a Sister of that Mothers Son.
By Aunt Pauline
I TOOK THE FOLLOWING PICTURES WHILE VISITING UNCLE JOES GRAVE AT THE AMERICAN CEMETERY AND MEMORIAL, FORT BONIFACIO (FORMERLY FORT WILLIAM McKINLEY) MANILA PHILIPPINES ON 8 AUGUST 2000.
AMERICAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY
THE MAJORITY OF THOSE BURIED HERE WERE A PART OF THE FOLLOWING CAMPAIGNS:
PHILIPPINE ISLANDS - NEW GUINEA - ADMIRALTY ISLANDS - PALAU ISLANDS - NEW BRITAIN - NEW GEORGIA -
- BOUGAINVILLE -
EACH HEMICYCLE CONTAINS 24 PAIRS OF FIN WALLS. UPON THE FOUR FACES ARE INSCRIBED THE NAMES AND PARTICULARS OF 36,287 OF THOSE MISSING IN ACTION.
16, 915 U.S ARMY & ARMY AIR FORCE
17, 587 U.S. NAVY
1,727 U.S. MARINE CORPS
58 U.S. COAST GUARD
ABOVE INSCRIPTION READS AS FOLLOWS:
IN PROUD REMEMBRANCE OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF HER SONS AND IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO THEIR SACRIFICES THIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ERECTED BY THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
1941-1945
UNCLE JOE'S GRAVE
MY WIFE JENA AND I
MY BROTHER RUDY, MYSELF AND FRIEND DOLFIE
ME
SOME PICTURES OF THE 17,206 GRAVESTONES, 3,744 OF WHICH ARE UNKNOWN. THEIR GRAVESTONES ARE MARKED WITH THE FOLLOWING EPITAPH:
"HERE RESTS IN HONORED GLORY A COMRADE IN ARMS KNOWN ONLY TO GOD"
PICTURES OF THE 2 HEMICYCLES LOCATED IN THE CENTER OF THE MEMORIAL
SEVERAL INSCRIPTIONS ADORN THE END FINS OF THE HEMICYCLES
PACIFIC BATTLE MAPS
IN MEMORY AND HONOR OF JOE LLOYD SOUTH. KILLED IN ACTION ON THE PALAU ISLANDS 15 SEPTEMBER 1944
Must be viewed with Adobe Acrobat
PELELIU, MARINES, WWII, 1ST-MARINE-DIVISION, BATTLE REPORTS, MARINE CORP, 7TH MARINES, TOM LEA, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, PELELIU, MARINES, PELELIU, PELELIU, WWII, MANILA AMERICAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY, MANILA AMERICAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY, MANILA AMERICAN MEMORIAL CEMETERY
"IN MEMORY"
In loving memory of my darling son, Joe Lloyd South, who passed away Sept 15 1944
Deep in my heart there is a picture, worth more than silver or gold
Some may think I have forgotten, when sometimes they see me smile.
But they little know the heartaches that are hidden all the while.
His life is a beautiful memory, his absence a silent grief.
He sleeps in God's beautiful garden, in the sunshine of perfect peace.
Sadly missed by his mother.
Willie South
"In Memory of My Boy,
Joe Lloyd South"
Sonny Boy you were truly great
Altho death has been your fate.
Killed in action you have been
With ten thousand other men.
Hoping soon you would return
Love within my bosom burned
But alas - My Sonny Boy,
All has fled, my hope, my joy.
Sonny Boy I'm glad it's o'er
War and death, you'll know no more.
In that land across deaths sea
You'll not be called, away from me.
Won't be long, I'll meet you soon
Maybe morn, and maybe noon.
But in that land, of peace and joy
We'll meet again, My Sonny Boy.
D.N. South (Nov 1944)
ADDITIONAL PICTURES TAKEN AT THE MEMORIAL
To the world, you're soon forgot.
But to me Joe, you are not.
In my heart, you'll always be
more than just a memory.
Buddy dear, I wonder why.
I am left, and you must die.
Why this is, I do not know.
Some are left, and some must go.
The war is o'er, the fight complete.
Our enemies, now know defeat.
On no man's land, no buddies fall.
No more the sound of the bugle call.
And Buddy dear, you've paid the price.
With blood and death, in human strife.
It's men like you, we owe so much.
Tho words can never, be enough.
By PFC C. B.
A Buddy
PELELIU, 7TH MARINES, WWII, 1ST MARINE DIVISION, AFTER ACTION REPORTS, BATTLE REPORTS, TOM LEA, MARINES, WWII, GUADALCANAL
(All pictures are courtesy of the National Achieves)
From Guadalcanal to Peleliu
Tribute to PFC Joseph L. South
My Great Uncle, One of the Old Breed
RECRUIT PICTURE
Joe Lloyd South was born in Blue Mountain, Arkansas on 17 Sep 1921 and entered the Marine Corp in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on his 19th birthday. Assigned to the 113th Platoon, 4th Recruit Battalion, MCB, San Diego, he spent the next 2½ months learning the Marine way.
He completed boot camp on 1 December and was sent to Casual Company, Camp Elliott, San Diego. 4 days later, he reported to Naval Air Station, Alameda where he was remained until 29 Mar 1942. Not long after Pearl Harbor, Uncle Joe was moved to Company M, 3rd Battalion, 9th Marines, 2nd Marine Division, then in April to Company H, 3rd Battalion, Camp Elliott. In May he was re assigned to the 2nd Training Battalion Training Center. On 1 June 1942 the Marine Corp activated the 22nd Marines Reinforced where he was assigned to various companies of the 1st Battalion, finally ending up in Company B on 7 Aug 1942. (The same time the 1st Marine Division was landing on Guadalcanal)
