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SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 SAVE THE DATE!! Picnic with the Past November 12th, 2006 Held at the Italian Club Cemetery Look for more information in the next Joe Lalas’s Actor’s Workshop Hollywood Comes to Ybor Actor-Musician Joe Lala is proud to have initiated his ongoing Actor’s Workshop at Tampa’s historic Italian Club Theatre on 7th Ave. in Ybor City. Classes run on Monday and Wednesday nights at 6:30 pm at a cost of $30 per class. Blocks may be purchased at a discounted rate of $250 for 10 classes. Classes are limited to 30 students. Voice over professionals like radio celebrities Dave Mann and Tedd Webb will also be making presentations on commercials. Space is limited, so call today 813-874-1230, or visit www.joelala.com. PRIVATE SESSIONS AVAILABLE FRAN COSTANTINO BROKER COSTANTINO AND COMPANY REAL ESTATE SERVICES 2216 4TH AVE. E. TAMPA, FL 33605 PHONE: 813 241-6767 FAX: 813 241-6868 PAGE 16
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2006 Just a plain soldier by Dan D’Amelio Fra Noi - June 2006 In May 1942, five months after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, they occupied Guadalcanal, an island in the Pacific Ocean. There they began the construction of an airfield. From the field, their planes would be able to attack and bomb convoys of Allied ships. It was essential, therefore, that the Allies wrest control of the island from the Japanese. In August 1942, Marines of the 1st Division landed on Guadalcanal. Taken by surprise, the Japanese fled to the nearby hills. The Marines quickly took over the airstrip, which became known as Henderson Field. In the coming weeks, the Japanese tried to retake the field, but failed. They brought in reinforcements and by Oct. 24, the Japanese were in the final stages of preparation for a massive attack to regain the airstrip. Facing the Japanese were three companies of Marines, totaling 600 men. On their left flank was an Army battalion of equal number in reserve. Although the Japanese had a vastly larger number of men, some 12,000 compared to the 3,400 Americans, the Americans had the strategic advantage of a well-prepared fixed position. Along the whole defense line, which extended some 3,000 feet, machine guns had been set up every 150 ft. and in the rear were rows of mortars, all sighted on the expected points of attack. In addition, in front of the defense line were double rows of barbed wire. Marine commanders knew that a successful defense would depend largely on the skill of machine gunners - the backbone of any resistance. And one of their best was Sgt. John Basilone. A Marine buddy described Basilone as “a genius” with machine guns. From early in his military career, he had shown a mechanical aptitude for guns, in particular machine guns; and after diligently studying the weapon, he had reached a level of skill where he could rapidly break down and re-assemble a machine gun, unerringly slipping each part into place. Basilone was in charge of a 14-man platoon, that included four machine guns. The platoon was part of Company C. Which was in the center of the defense perimeter. On Oct. 24, the Japanese were fully deployed and ready to attack the American Line. It had rained heavily that day, but by nightfall the torrential downpour had ended. In absolute silence and under a bright moon, a Japanese officer pushed his way through the jungle foliage. Waving his sword overhead, he shouted, “Banzai! Banzai!” From the dense jungle, Japanese soldiers emerged and, with bayoneted riffles, charged. From the American line came a barrage of fire - a deafening roar that drowned out the screams of “Banzai! Banzai!” The Japanese soldiers ran into the knee-high double rows of barbed wire. As they tried to maneuver their way through it, their charge slowed, and the next wave of soldiers crowded into them - their bodies entangling into a confused mass. Easy targets now, they dropped under the withering Marine fire. PAGE 17 Then the jungle was quiet - except for the cries of the wounded and dying. The Marines waited and still waited. Why had the attacks stopped In a few moments, they learned why. The Japanese began to lob grenades at the barbed wire. Many fell short or landed beyond the wire. But enough grenades hit their target to blow gaps in the wire. The Japanese began to charge through those gaps. But the Marine machine gunners had trained for this. Their machine guns were set up two to a section and these sections now began a crossfire pattern, with two machine guns of a section firing at a gap in the wire, while two machine guns on the right flank fired at the same gap. Most of the Japanese were cut down, but those who got through began crawling on their stomachs toward the Marine line, which was only about 15 feet away. The Marines simply depressed their gun muzzles and blasted away. The firing died down. The Marines took advantage of the lull to bring up more ammunition boxes, which were stacked several yards behind the line. They would need more ammo from the battalion supply dump, but there was no time to get it now. The Japanese were attacking again: “Banzai! Banzai!” Basilone was manning one of the machine guns, and with trigger fully pressed, he swept the gun in the wide arcs. The Japanese tumbled and fell, but there were others who kept coming. Still firing full-trigger, Basilone could feel the machine gun pulsating Continued on page 18.
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