I COMPANY
THE FIRST AND LAST TO FIGHT ON OKINAWA
by
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Golia was leading the 3rd Platoon when they spotted two men wearing U.S. helmets. He identified his position as American by setting off two smoke grenades and then led the platoon forward to investigate when they didn't receive the proper reply. Golia stopped the platoon when he spotted an area that might conceal enemy troops. He then continued forward with Brad Bradford carrying the platoon radio, Dennis Fortenberry with his BAR and Clarence Moore. The four men pushed through tall kunai grass toward the suspicious brush covered position. When they'd closed to one hundred yards an enemy rifleman suddenly appeared and was shot. Several Japanese Nambu machine guns opened fire immediately and one of them was behind the four men. Then 50 enemy soldiers rose as one from hiding and charged Golia's party with fixed bayonets, firing and yelling "Banzai" as they came. When the four men opened fire, the Japanese troops dropped to the ground and started crawling toward the Americans. 1
During the initial onslaught a bullet creased Golia's scalp knocking off his helmet and dropping him to the ground. He quickly returned to his feet and hurled two grenades at the onrushing enemy. Moore, who was ten yards to the left of Golia, was slightly wounded. Bradford, who was standing between Golia and Moore, had his helmet shot off by one bullet while another put his radio out of action and yet a third put a hole in his canteen. Holding his ground, Golia ordered the other men to seek cover back with the platoon. He remained standing, half hidden behind a coconut tree, with blood streaming down his face as he covered the withdrawal of Bradford and Moore. Bradford was undaunted and as one of the other men remembered, he emerged from the action laughing. 2
Fortenberry remained with Golia and emptied his BAR into the oncoming Japanese then dropped to one knee to reload and resumed firing despite the close approach of the enemy. He ignored Golia's order to pull back and fired his fourth magazine before retreating to a position where he could provide better cover for his leader. He took cover behind a small mound, where he continued to respond to the orders from Golia and maintained a high rate of fire.
Golia was struck again by a burst of machine gun fire that dropped him to the ground and knocked the wind out of him. Fortunately his bandoleer had deflected the bullets. He returned to his feet and hurled another grenade at the enemy. Then both he and Fortenberry retreated to a low terraced area where the platoon was dug in. Back with the platoon, he raced behind their positions and shouted encouragement to the men as he fired rapidly at the enemy. When the Japanese attack failed, he expedited their withdrawal by calling in a mortar barrage and only then did Golia allow the medics to treat his heavily bleeding scalp wound.3
1 Albert Bradford Draft Comments, 07/22/98; Return to the Philippines, by Rafael Steinberg, pp. 91
2 Ervin Schroeder Questionnaire Response, 01/30/95 & Albert Bradford Draft Comments, 07/22/98
3 Silver Star Citations for Lieutenant Albert Golia and Pfc. Dennis Fortenberry
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About the Book
This is the story of I Company, 305th Infantry Regiment of the 77th Division. Follow I Company and its men from its activation in March 1942 until it was disbanded four years later. Two years were spent preparing them for their combat role including seven months in the Arizona desert in the summer of '43, only to be assigned to the Pacific Theater. Once in the Pacific they helped liberate Guam and Leyte. They were the first American soldiers to land on Imperial Japanese soil and helped to take the last hill on Okinawa. They were typical American fighting men who dealt with training and combat as best they could. It describes the humor and ingenuity the men used to protect themselves against Army rules, regulations and life as a combat infantryman. These men were older than most found in other divisions; one of the men killed on Guam was 39 years old. The 18 year old Marine riflemen nicknamed them the "Old Bastards," but thought enough of their fighting ability to dub them the "305th Marines."
About the Author
George Nelson worked thirty-five years for Grumman Corporation in a variety of management positions. Since retirement he has devoted time to his abiding interest in military history, especially World War II. His uncle was killed in action while a member of I Company and he always wanted to know how it happened. He spent the first several retirement years researching I Company including traveling to all their battlefields and many of the US training sites. He has interviewed and corresponded with 40 former company members and still remains in contact with them. George also teaches military history at the Duke Institute for Learning in Retirement and has been a guest speaker to civic groups in the Raleigh Durham area. George and his wife now live in Durham, NC.