It was fall, and we were gearing up the pennicillin shots for all the recruits so they would not get the proverbial recruit crud that most recruits suffer from at one point in time or another.

Now, contrary to Marine belief, not all the needles we used were bent, square, rusted, barbed or resembling a garden hose of any sort. That's not saying that some of them were not of the larger variety. Anyone that has ever recieved a pennicillin shot can tell you exactly how big the needle is, millimeter by millimeter.

Well, this day we were in the process of giving approximately 400 recruits their shots right in the buttocks. As I finished giving an injection I grabbed another needle and turned to the next recruit. I found myself looking directly into the middle of the chest of what was easily the biggest recruit I have ever lay my eyes upon. He was every inch of six foot nine and probably just as wide.

This recruit looked down at me and requested to speak freely with me and I agreed with the DI's approval.

This mountain of a recruit informed me that he was scared to death of needles, like I had never heard that before, and promised me that if he was stuck with the needle he would pass out. Being the kind and compassionate Doc that I was I informed him there was no getting out of it but there was a way around it.

I told him to give me a good old fashioned Ooorah, then I would count to three and then stick him, thus giving him the feeling he had a little control over his destiny.

We got ready, and he broke loose with a boisterous Ooorah that promised of future DI material. Using my Doc psychology, I stuck him with the needle when he yelled Ooorah, and counted loudly.

One, I injected the pennicillin.

Two, I withdrew the needle.

Three, I wiped him down with alcohol and then stepped back viewing my handiwork.

Now, this young recruit was still on his feet, grimacing waiting for the shot. I got his attention and, he looked over at me with a quick yessir. I told him I was done.

Looking at me with a look of total amazement, all he could muster was a "No s**t!" as he fell to the floor gently with my assistance.

The saying is true, the bigger they are, the harder they fall.

Corpsman- Usually a young, long-haired, bearded, Marine hating sailor with certain medical skills who will go through the very gates of hell to get to a wounded Marine.

After we had been corresponding for a while, I learned that, in addition to his being wheelchair bound since 1964, he was typing out e-mail to me using only one finger and one eye. Harold is dedicated to the reuniting of the" Disabled and Able," and considers that he is now proceeding on what he refers to as "his last set of orders."

One day not long ago, I received an e-mail from this obviously elated old Marine who explained that he had just received a letter from a GySgt Cynthia Atwood USMC, the Public Affairs Chief of the Marine Corps Recruiting Command in Washington. D. C. The letter was in regard to Harold's dogtags which he had lost on Guadalcanal in 1942. He was very surprised by the letter, and as I said, elated! He considered this "A Real Christmas Gift after 54 Years, " and he wanted to share this with me by mailing me a photocopy of the letter. (The letter is reproduced below for you to read)  

Dear Sergeant Atwood,

I was delighted to recei~ve your letter of Decemb~r 1, 1997, advising that Mr Dangler has been located and that he is alive and well in Florida. I most happy for you to give Mr Dangler my name and address: XXXX NEW ZEALAND. My Telephone Number is XXX which is also my home fascimile Number as well. My Email address you have from this transmission.

As indicated in my initial letter to the US Embassay in Wellington, New Zealand, I recall my father saying he picked up Mr Dangler's Dogtag in the water on a beach in Guadacanal in the Solomon Islands sometime about October/November 1943. My father was in the 34th Battalion of the 3rd New Zealand Division which fought along side US forces. Indeed he was a member of a special advance troops drawn from US and NZ forces known as "Loganforce" that landed on Mono Island ahead of an allied invasion in the Treasury Island Group within the Solomons in October 1943.

My father died in February 1970 but not before he related the story of how he came by Mr Dangler's dogtags. My father's name was William (Bill) Herbert Jack (498328). He had told me from an early age that he beleived Mr Dangler must have been killed as he had found the tag in the water after extensive fighting and during a massive "cleanup" operation of the beach at Guadacanal, where many American lives were lost. Given his description of the scene he was sure Mr Dangler would have been killed. My father indicated he e' ways intended to check out Mr Danglerts fate but ~ust never got around to it.

The tag has been in my possession since 1970, and I am pleased that Mr Dangler and his Tag will soon be re-united after 55 years. After the passing of my father I approached the New Zealand Returned Servicemen's Association in an attempt to find out news of Mr Dangler. They were very keen to have the tag as part of their souvenir collection ~ but after my father having it all those years this did not seem right. Now that Mr Dangler has been located I am even more pleased that it can now be returned to its rightful owner. That Mr Dangler is alive and well is tremendous news.

I do not think I will be able to come to the US to give him the tag personally although that would truely complete an astonishing story. With Christmas holidays almost upon us I will be deciding finally if I could come to the US. I would very much like to meet Mr Dangler etc. and will contact you again prior to 2Oth January, to advise if I can make the trip to the US as you have suggested.

Finding Mr Dangler in Florida has been a delight to my family who are all familiar with the "Lost American Soldier in Guadacanal". In the meantime I would be grateful if you could pass on my best wishes to Mr Dangler and his family.

Sincerely,

Denny Jack

Thank you Harold for honoring me by sharing your letter with me; and now for sharing it with all who read this vignette. (RWG)