77th Infantry, Pacific War
Harmon and Jennie had created a beautiful family of spirited children with not only strong young men, but they were also graced with beautiful girls. The family were nestled in their grandfather’s original homestead of Johns Creek where they enjoyed a society of their own surrounded by relatives and longtime friends. The Jones neighborhood of. New Town lay on the Chattahoochee River banks and extended inland. Harmon had taken on the physique of the Jones men before him and was taller than most with a bullish strength. His large build was attributed to his hard work ethic but his resolve for serving God accounted for the grit inside of Harmon Jones. He would be a respected member of the community and trusted at his word.
Their first born child was a son and the couple were ecstatic with the start of their lives together. Ervin Oscar Jones gained his middle name from the writings of Oscar Wilde, that Jennie loved to read. Her baby boy brought such joy into their lives and Ervin seemed to latch onto his father with wide eyes of admiration. Visitors claimed he would mirror the man whom so many respected, a prospect that tickled Harmon. Following the success of one child Jennie was eager to have a daughter in her life and God granted her desires.
Mildred Jones was likely the most beautiful baby in the county and came into their lives two years later. She was vivacious and the couple could not believe how God had blessed them and so they continued. Curtis was born with mischief twinkling in his eyes and a shock of blonde hair. He would be followed by Betty and Evelyn, two additional beauties. With five gifts from Heaven Harmon and Jennie focused on raising their flock to be respectable, Christian neighbors to their community.
Ervin did not disappoint and never left his fathers side, preferring to be present during conversations of men and sat obediently listening to his father’s wisdom. Into boyhood he would be viewed as an extension of Harmon and treated as his fathers successor. His boyish appearance often hid a young man who resolved to serve God according to his fathers example and preserve their way of living. Protecting the mothers, wives and children of the community was ingrained in his vision of a great man.
Mildred, his sister, needed a great deal of protection as her friendly spirit and beauty was often confused as an invitation to those who may harm her and he watched her closely. His younger brother, Curtis, did not carry the serious nature of their father and was often in trouble for some type of mischief. The two youngest sisters were still toddlers and took all Jennie’s energy to manage, so she relied on Ervin to guide Mildred and Curtis. As a quiet and sober thinker, Ervin enjoyed the task of watching his two younger siblings. The pretty little girl who could melt him with her smile and the fearless blond boy who played with snakes and slingshots captured his heart. Ervin chose his role in the family at a young age and relished in becoming a leader of the family he so cherished.
As another decade rolled into 1940 Ervin was a tall thin young man with the strength of his father Harmon. He was 16 years old when he worked at the mill for long hours to save for his future home and family. Ervin was impatient to become his own leader of a family with a wife and children in a house he built. As far as Ervin could see into his future he was walking the path that God he laid so eloquently before him.
Wars in Europe were commonplace and Ervin disregarded the stories of Hitler and Mussolini as background noise for the older men who smoked their pipes and spoke of politics. The young man had little interest in world events and focused solely on his surroundings. As a young man, Ervin had begun to take note of the updates he overheard. Europe had fallen into economic hardship after WW I and the new Chancellor of Germany, Adolf Hitler seemed at first to be the answer to their revival. Touting nationalism Hitler would pull his countrymen out of a depressive state and ignite their souls with a renewed love of country.
Uncle Ed came around often and mentored Ervin in the subjects his father found useless. Despite his adoration of Harmon, Ervin came alive during his uncle’s visits. Ed was Harmon’s junior by 12 years and the age difference was quite noticeable in their energy towards life. Harmon found his life in God and family, whereas Ed was fidgety without clear goals and preferred women and drinks with the men at the nearby pub. Uncle Ed was a refreshing change in environment with fantastic stories or a quick joke. Jennie had known Ed since his young years and their relationship was almost that of a parent and child. She loved his chivalry with women and hoped he would marry a nice girl one day and settle nearby.
Harmon agreed with very few of his younger brothers’ choices but held a soft spot for the boy who, like Ervin, never left his side. The older brother had grand hopes Ed would follow him to a godly life of decent principles but his guidance did not take as well as it did later with his own son. The two brothers could not have been more different but their devotion to one another was untouchable.
Ervin leaned into the conversation at the old farm table as his uncle spoke, “Harmon, I’m telling you. This war is coming to America! Politicians tell us lies when they promise we won’t join the chaos brewing overseas.”
“I don’t know where you get your wild predictions Ed, I see no reason why we would engage in a battle far away from our shores. America stands strong against an invasion, and that’s the only way I can see us participating.” Harmon tried to reason with his brother, who had noticeably been drinking before he arrived.
“War is not inevitable here in America,” Harmon continued, “and we shouldn’t wish it upon ourselves either.” With a warning glance across the table Ed was silenced with Harmon’s last statement with a warning to cease his inappropriate subject during dinner.
The large man asked Jennie to be excused from dinner and she smiled at his frustration. Ed rose, towering over the children, and leaned over to give Jennie a peck on the cheek with his usual complement of her meal. Muttering his arguments Ed strolled out onto the porch and lit a cigarette. ‘Harmon is a fool,’ he thought. Ed sensed something dark was coming to their slice of paradise from abroad. Something gnawed at his intuition that he simply couldn’t identify. Something was coming.
Ed turned to ruffle Erivins hair and joked about it being high time for a cut. Ervin closed the house door behind him and his smile was left inside. The young man had questions about Ed’s declaration America would enter another World War. His uncle read the eyes of his nephew and quickly tried to make light of the subject.
“Now don’t come out here and get me in trouble for talking about things you ain’t gotta worry about.”, Ed said as he turned away.
“Will you join the war Uncle? If it comes, will you leave?” Ervin asked, frightened if the answer.
Ed leaned against the thick porch post and took a flask from his pocket. Looking at the boy, Ed dismissed his worries. “Yes, I suppose I will, Ervin. It’s what a man does.” Taking a long drink from his flask, his uncle looked at him straight. “Don’t worry boy, you ain’t gotta worry. You are still young.”
“But Uncle, I am not too young to serve my country in war time.”, Ervin continued, “if the war comes here, I will also fight.”
The words passed through Ed before they took a hold of his heart. This boy in front of him, who had not yet developed past his thin, immature body, was correct in believing he too would be fighting with his uncle. They looked at one another with the intensity of the realization and Ed dismissed the idea quickly.
“The years of our forefathers are gone now. We don’t use children in our battles now, we reserve that for men.” Ed stood before Ervin with large hands on the boys shoulders. “If war comes, we have plenty of willing men to take the war away from here. You focus on helping your Daddy with Mildred and Curtis. He has his hands full with those two!” Ed finished the discussion with his lighthearted manner and walked back into the house.
Two more years passed and nothing had changed in New Town. Harmon struggled with the plow rigged up to his old faithful horse. He had seen Ed’s truck pull up to the house earlier and expected he would be along soon. While Harmon coaxed the horse he looked up again and found his younger brother walking towards him, head hung low. Harmon sighed in frustration, ‘What is it this time?’, he thought, ‘what kind of trouble is he into now?’
Harmon did not stop working until Ed stood in front of him. His demeanor was somber and he wrung his hands in anticipation of Harmon’s response.
“Well, come on!” Harmon waved his hands, “out with it. What have you done Ed?” The older brother stood firm ready to lecture the younger of his lack of principles and direction in life being his worst traits.
Ed did not waste time on words and asked for money for a bus fare. When Harmon started to question he stopped his brother. “Brother! I need the fare to report for duty in Black Hall up north. I’ve enlisted in the Army. We meet tomorrow in the city and I only need the fare for the bus to Atlanta. The Army will pay for everything from there. You won’t have to worry.”
The giant man’s heart could be heard dropping and his eyes struggled to focus and comprehend the moment. The wild and rambunctious Ed Jones in the Army? The thought was confusing until the realization of the war Ed spoke of before replayed in his mind. Ed was going to war, as a soldier.
In his calm steady nature Harmon reached out to shake his brothers hand, “That would be alright Ed. I can give you the fare.” No other words came and remained stuck in his stomach where his fear resided.
Ervin took the news well and excitedly questioned his uncle about his new life adventure. His uncle had not fit into the life of the Jones community of farmers and suddenly appeared more alive than ever. His voice wore a proud stance that he would participate in saving America from communism and protect her borders. There was a new purpose to the giant man and Ervin found a new admiration for the man before him. His father, Harmon, sulked in the corner on a rocker as Jennie watched him nervously.
Ed wrote often of his travel and experiences to relieve some of his brothers worries. He had chosen a special program of intense training as a field medic and would be sent to Oklahoma with the 42nd Rainbow Division, who held an exception reputation stemming from WWI. Ed never considered himself particular smart and completed little education but medicine came naturally to him. Ed had found he was very skilled as a medic and earned recognition throughout his training. Harmon was proud his brother had discovered a true calling and prayed the war would never come. When the family were asleep Ervin read the letters that Harmon carefully tucked away from him.
Harmon and Jennie listened to the radio that December morning with tears in their eyes. The war had come to America with a vicious attack on Pearl Harbor, killing hundreds and destroying the naval base. The announcer frantically relayed the horrors the country had feared, shouting updates as they came into the mainland. Ervin awoke to his mothers sobs and entered the kitchen only to be grabbed by his father and held in a smothering embrace.
His parents sat him at the table to relay the news and while confusing why they focused on him the realization crept in. Ervin would be going to war. Although he understood the possibility existed it never seemed quite realistic for A,Erica to join the war. The bombing of Pearl Harbor would e met with a heavy response from the United States. His country called for her fighting men and Ervin was 18 years old.
Ervin could not hear his fathers voice that shook with fear and the words Uncle Ed told him about war echoed in his mind. “That’s what men do.”
As if he had entered a new passage of rites Ervin stood tall from the table and straightened his back from the slump of fear. He looked to his father with the assurance that he was a man and he would do what what required of him with bravery. Harmon calmed at the vision of his sons resolve, respecting the grown boy before him.
That Spring the tall thin young man stepped off the bus full of men and entered Fort McPherson for his training assignment. Private Ervin O. Jones held himself in a mature manner with a serious nature. It had already been noted during his enlistment that his disclosed skill was shooting, a talent they valued. He is immediately sent to the 77th Infantry Division and handed a Barr (Browning automatic rifle) to learn to handle. Ervin excelled rapidly with countryside hunting skills in the brush and a laser focus for any moving target.
His fellow enlisted men spent months strengthening their resolve to serve as front line infantry with any reason that justified the mission. Some fought for retribution while others were ready to die to save their loved ones from tyranny. Ervin’s resolve came from God. After great reflection on the purpose for leaving home for foreign shores was because God placed him in that path. Ervin held concrete faith that he would be protected by his Lord and would honorably serve His will.
General Douglas MacArthur planned his attack on Japan and the 77th Infantry of sharpshooters and explosives experts was one of his weapons. The ‘Statue of Liberty’ Division made their landing behind the main Japanese defense line on Ormoc Bay.
Striking shortly after dawn, three years to the day after Pearl Harbor, the Doughboys of the 77th shocked the Japanese, and, in the heavy battles which followed, disabled the enemy defensive base of Leyte.Ground opposition appeared weak initially, but heavy Japanese air attacks pounded the soldiers the first few nights. With skilled infantrymen the ground was captured, and the 77th forced through heavy opposition to join forces with the X Corps. This well-laid plan ended the organized Japanese resistance, and on Christmas Day, 1944, the island was declared secure.
Pvt. Jones spent that sacred Christmas morning writing his parents of their great success and MacArthur’s assured victory over the enemy. He asked of any news about his uncle Ed fighting in Europe and for their prayers. Harmon folded the letter carefully and sighed in some relief his son fought with fierce leaders and folded Ed his hands to pray for his son’s life with all his might.
From their victory in Leyte, the 77th Division plunged into a merciless, and deadly battle for Okinawa. Infantrymen of the 77th ran into the heaviest artillery fire of the Pacific war. They would encounter resistance day and night with more superior firepower than they experienced before. Standing before the Division’s front was Shuri, central fortress of the enemy’s southern defense line on Okinawa. Treacherous ridges lined the path forward. Opposition defenses blocked the way to the high ground commanding Shuri. The assault division specializing in machine gun fire, tanks, explosives and flamethrowers launched their coordinated attack and dislodged the enemy, but not without sustaining heavy losses.
The 77th was then tasked with taking Ie Shima, a tiny island of the Ryukyu group. After two hard earned victories the ‘Statue of Liberty’ division was prepared for battle but had grown weary. The enemy managed to withstand the raining naval and air bombardment that preceded the landing and when the 77th landed on the beaches were attacked by the Japanese from their caves and tunnels.
Through the haze of smoke and dusk the battalion’s distant treasure barely came into view—Ishimmi Ridge, the heart of the inner Shuri defense line. Their orders were to seize and hold the center of the 500-yard-long ridgeline. It would be their most dangerous mission yet with cliffs and ridges with no way to view the enemy’s position before they engage. Though he would not indicate it to his men, the commanding officer had a sinking feeling they had little chance of surviving and carefully planned around these risks.
The Japanese were masterful with nighttime attacks and Americans rarely ventured beyond their secure perimeters after dark for this reason. The attack plan would use these known habits and launch pre-dawn attack. At 2:15 am, Easy Company awoke and silently marched toward Ishimmi Ridge. The thick blackness of night forced the officers to use illumination flares to lead 204 men in a coordinated mass. The 77th approached the ridgeline within minutes of dawn rising over the ridge. Scurrying under the last shadows of night the men come to the top of a steep rise. To their dismay the company found that the center of Ishimmi Ridge was only about 20 feet wide at the summit with a 1,500 feet cliff to right. Urgently, the platoons fanned apart to take refuge wherever they could in shallow holes in the coral and rock. It was suddenly clear they had been too successful with their surprise attack as the enemy stirred and spotted the infantry groups so close to their station.
By 5:30 am, the Japanese scurried to arm themselves against a brazen American attack that had penetrated the heart of their fortress. Relentless artillary fire fell upon the sparsely protected American soldiers. Machine gun fire hit moving targets while mortars and artillery slammed into the rocks and hard ground. The men of 77th lay as flat as they could in their unfinished foxholes to escape the mortar attacks. Company E ahead of the other assaulting companies and found themselves surrounded. Both flanks were taking heavy fire as the enemy poured out of caves and tunnels to engage with any suvivors. Throughout the morning, the Japanese steadily fired upon the isolated units. The attached heavy machine gun section that Prvt. Ervin O. Jones served under were disabled. By 10:00 am, most of the crews were killed or wounded. By noon, 50 percent of the 2nd Platoon was killed or wounded. At 6:00 pm there were few able-bodied survivors left.
Pvt. Ervin O. Jones lay in a shallow ditch, dead, still clutching his rifle.
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