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There is no greater story teller than a veteran of war. However,
it is often difficult for them to articulate the things they had
seen in a way that the average civilian might understand. Sometimes
the story gets lost in the details. Sometimes the humor or
significance of a certain situation is lost on the listener. The
term “you just had to be there” is far too often an understatement.
Damaso Sutis found a friend to share his story. In fact, he found
two.
Retired Gunnery Sergeant Damaso Sutis began his day
boarding a bus heading to Camp Pendleton for the 72nd Battle of Iwo
Jima Commemoration Tour. The tour made stops at the Santa Margarita
Ranch House and the Mechanized Museum that houses military vehicles
past and present.
It was here that Sutis met a Camp
Pendleton fire captain that happened to be assisting with the tour.
Jonathan Charfauros was there at the Mechanized Museum to assist
with any of the veteran’s potential health issues. These veterans,
although battle hardened and war seasoned, are pushing 90 years old
... And those are the “young ones.”
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February 16, 2017 - U.S. Marine Corps Camp Pendleton fire
captain, Jonathan Charfauros, (center) with U.S. Marine Corps
veterans, Damaso Sutis and Gene E. Bell in front of a mechanized
vehicle at Camp Pendleton during a tour for Iwo Jima veterans,
commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. (U.S.
Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Keely M. Dyer)
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Charfauros, standing in the musty-old warehouse amongst
old tank-like vehicles and trucks and newer up-armored
humvees and light attack vehicles was approached by Sutis.
Sutis, proudly wearing his black Iwo Jima Survivor baseball
hat and a red silk jacket with multiple military unit
patches, asked Charfauros where he was from.
“I
walked up to this young man in the blue uniform and I asked
if he was Guamain, that was my first battle, Guam,” said
Sutis.
The Battle of Guam was part of the Pacific
Campaign to regain Japanese-held strongholds in the Mariana
Islands. More than 7,000 Americans were wounded, 3,000
killed in action.
Meeting a hero brings out a certain feeling that cannot be
replicated. Charfauros smile was infectious; from ear to ear. There
were briefs and explanations from tour guides around them. There
were other veterans shuffling around the old vehicles. But
Charfauros and Sutis did not leave each other’s side. Both gentlemen
were engaged to tell their story.
Charfauros shook Sutis’
hand and thanked him for his service and sacrifice. He began to tell
the veteran about his family’s story, and how he wouldn’t be here
had it not been for the 3rd Marine Division liberating Guam.
“When I was young, I noticed my grandfather had these scars on
his back that he would never tell us kids where they came from,”
Charfauros said. “After he passed away I asked my father, and he
finally told us what happened. He said when the Japanese occupied
Guam, they would use the locals to build their fighting positions
and basically do any other labor they needed. Afterwards the
Japanese would lock them in bamboo cages, stab them and leave them
to die. Had the Naval Corpsman not saved him, I wouldn’t be here
today.”
Sutis told Charfauros all of his war stories from his
time in Guam. Sutis then gave Charfauros one of his challenge coins.
The challenge coin in itself is a unique military memento.
In the past, service members would carry a challenge coin given to
them by someone of higher rank or Lance Cpl. Keely M. Dyerity. If a service member was
in a bar and had a challenge coin from their sergeant major, another
service member could put their commanding officer’s challenge coin
down and the lesser of the coins buys the other a drink.
Charfauros was given a challenge coin by a Marine veteran.
That Marine veteran was retired Gunnery Sgt. Sutis who fought in
World War II and is also a Battle of Iwo Jima survivor.
Charfauros was proud to receive this honor. He knew the implications
of what that coin really meant. Marines just don’t give out these
coins whimsically. And the old-timers definitely don’t.
As Sutis and Charfauros were sharing their moment, another
veteran came by and caught their attention.
Gene Bell was
also at the Battle of Guam as a young corporal. Bell’s career as a
Marine and a police officer has taken him many miles away from the
Battle of Guam. Bell thought that he was one of the few, and
possibly the only, Marine veteran on the tour who was at the Battle
of Guam. Service members that were in during World War II and part
of the Battle of Guam are known as the Liberators.
It was
then that Bell had found another veteran, who was at the same
battles. He found another Liberator. However, they were not only on
the island together, they even went on the same ship.
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February 16, 2017 - U.S. Marine Corps veterans, Damaso Sutis and
Gene E. Bell reminisce about their experiences during World War II
at Camp Pendleton during its tour for Iwo Jima veterans,
commemorating the 72nd anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima. (U.S.
Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Keely M. Dyer)
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“Come to find out, we both went overseas on the same tramp
steamer,” Sutis said.
“Oh, that was a terrible thing!” Bell
said.
“Terrible thing, absolutely,” Sutis said.
“He’s
the only other guy I’ve met that was on the same 28th replacement
draft going overseas the first time we went to Guam,” said Bell.
Although the Battle of Guam was a site of heavy loss, the men
were able to recall the good times they had during their deployments
and the fulfillment it brought them.
Bell was eager to tell
Sutis about his stories and Sutis the same. They began to trade each
other coins and lapel pins. Inside this warehouse, two war veterans
found a sanctuary to tell their stories that otherwise will be
forgotten when they pass. These stories included getting drunk on
coconut milk and old buddies that did not make it back and how one
of the biggest and deadliest battles in our Nation’s history is
experience by a 17 year old kid.
Bell explained how their
company clerk died and his platoon was asked if anyone could type.
Bell took three years in high school and that was enough for him to
be the new clerk. A story that someone would pass off as a minor
detail, but it made both laugh. For a moment, both veterans weren’t
in their 90s with their secrets. They were 17 again sharing their
stories.
The reminiscing was cut short as everyone was
rounded up for group photos. But for a few precious moments,
reminiscing about their time as Battle of Guam liberators and Iwo
Jima survivors, made them happy.
Happy to tell their stories.
By U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Keely M. Dyer
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2017
The U.S. Marines
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