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"THE DEATH OF
BENNY SLOWE "
*Don
Abbott
to
John Lindgren
12
Aug 2001 |
Pfc. Slowe was machined gunned on an obscure ridge in the rain on May 2nd, 1945 on the Island of Negros. I cite him because he was additionally a great soldier on Corregidor, particularly on the 19th February during Lt. Endo's Banzai charge. He is interned in the military cemetery, International Falls, Minnesota. It gives me the impulse to some day visit him and recall his service with the regiment. Tony
Sierra
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BENJAMIN
R
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[Extract from BLESS 'EM ALL]
D Company History, 2 May 1945: "At 0900 the Co, Lt. Collins, with Lt. Watkins and seven men moved NE along the road for the purpose of locating a platoon outpost. Approximately 900 yds. from the perimeter the group was ambushed by several enemy armed with automatic weapons. S/Sgt. Wister, platoon sgt. of the attached machine guns, was killed and the intensity of the enemy fire did not allow the group to neutralize the enemy fire or recover S/S Wister's body. The group withdrew but were again fired upon at approximately 100 yds. along the road. Pvt. Buchanan of the attached machine guns was killed. A patrol of two squads under S/Sgt. Davis, which had left the CP at 0930 to reconnoiter the area to the north of the road, heard the firing and assaulted the enemy on the left flank. The attack was repulsed, and S/Sgt. Davis was hurt in the leg. The patrol reorganized under S/Sgt minor and again assaulted the position causing the enemy to withdraw. Reinforcements consisting of the 3rd platoon, mortar platoon, and one section of machine guns were ordered from the CP. Attempts to lay mortar preparation on the area failed because of the heavy rain, ruining the available ammunition. The attack continued with one squad under S/Sgt Howard and one section of the light machine guns moving up the road to east and the 3rd platoon under Lt. Watkins moving up the ridge to the north. As the 3rd platoon moved thru the area as skirmishers an enemy automatic weapon opened fire on the right flank killing Pfc. Slowe, but because of the thick undergrowth and heavy rains, the enemy could not be located. The platoon continued on until it joined the machine gun section on the road and then under covering machine gun fire and small arms fire, the first squad under SGT. Dablock advanced and recovered S/SGT Wister's body. The enemy had stripped the body of all equipment and some clothing. The Co. returned at 1400."
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BOOZE AND BOOTY | THE TRUCK | THE CORREGIDOR BRASS TURKEY SHOOT | FT MILLS PLAQUE | BOB HOPE AT NOEMFOOR | NO SUICIDE CLIFF | 'DOC' BRADFORD | MYSTERIOUS WAYS | MY FIRST COMBAT PATROL | THE DEATH OF BENNY SLOWE | MIRACLE AT NOEMFOOR | THE DEATH OF KARSTEN HALL | SONGS & SLOGANS |WATER, WATER NOWHERE | NO SMOKING! | BRONZE STAR AT BANZAI POINT | ON THE BEACH AT CORREGIDOR | REUNION GOSSIP 1949 | CORREGIDOR WHISKEY |
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Here are some
photos sent to me by Betty Slowe Olen, sister of one of the Pfc rifleman
killed on Negros. I unexpectedly convened with her in San Diego and a
connection was set. She was a younger sister when Slowe was with the the
503rd. Benny Slowe and I trained in the same jump class and ended up in
the same platoon with the regiment. Only the joining in the same squad was
unachieved. Slowe was an incredibly boyish looking trooper, fresh out of
high school. Of course so were many others. I have conjectured he was
killed due to his desire to excel as a soldier and hence dared beyond most
of us. He was a wonderful young man and is typical of the unexhalted
troopers of that era.
