Bobo sends us a link to the Marine Corps Times which reports the sad news that former First Lieutenant John Wells has passed at the tender age of 94. 1st Lieutenant Wells led 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines up Mount Sarabachi on February 21st, 1945. On his way up the mountain, he earned a Navy Cross, a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. Because of his wounds, he never made it to the peak, but he commanded his platoon through the pain of those wounds.
The battle for the 546-foot mountain overlooking the tiny volcanic island raged for another two days after Wells was evacuated to a hospital ship.
On Feb. 23, members of his platoon, along with E Company’s executive officer, 1st Lt. Harold Schrier, peaked the summit to raise the national flag above the island.
Wells, meanwhile, persuaded a corpsman to donate morphine to him, escaped from the hospital ship and joined his men shortly after the flag raising.
[…]
After the war, Wells studied petroleum geology at Texas Tech University and pursued a career in the oil industry.
He continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve, retiring as a major in 1959.
[…]
“He was a very warm, sensitive, spiritual man, all the way to age 94,” Connie Schultz, Well’s daughter, told ABC affiliate Denver 7. “He honored and loved the Marine Corps with all his heart and soul. He loved his family, and his last words were, ‘My family.’ ”
From his Navy Cross citation;
The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to First Lieutenant John K. Wells (MCSN: 0-21592), United States Marine Corps Reserve, for extraordinary heroism as a Rifle Platoon Leader of Company E, Second Battalion, Twenty-Eighth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 21 February 1945. When ordered to attack across open terrain and dislodge the enemy from a series of strongly-defended pillboxes and blockhouses at the base of Mount Suribachi, First Lieutenant Wells placed himself in the forefront of his platoon and, leading his men forward in the face of intense hostile machine-gun, mortar and rifle fire, continuously moved from one flank to the other to lead assault groups one by one in their attacks on Japanese emplacements. Although severely wounded while directing his demolition squad in an assault on a formidable enemy blockhouse whose fire had stopped the advance of his platoon, he continued to lead his men until the blockhouse was destroyed. When, an hour later, the pain from his wound became so intense that he was no longer able to walk, he established his command post in a position from which to observe the progress of his men and continued to control their attack by means of messengers. By his courageous leadership and indomitable fighting spirit, First Lieutenant Wells contributed materially to the destruction of at least twenty-five Japanese emplacements, and his unwavering devotion to duty was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.
I salute you, Major Wells, Sir. Rest In Peace.
Truly a man among men.
RIP, Major.
Hondo, you from Connecticut?
I do not believe we know one another.
Hondo resides in Fort Myers, FL.
Rest in peace, sir!
Fair winds and following seas, Major Wells.
RiP Sir, thank you for your service and sacrifice to this great nation…
And another lion of a man passes from this mortal coil towards his next adventure. Good Luck and Godspeed Major, you shall be remembered.
RIP
Semper Fi, Sir.
I read “Flags of Our Fathers” recently. If you want a book that’s hard to put down, this may be a good choice for you.
“We sleep safe in our beds because rough men [and women] stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm. — George Orwell
RIP, Brother. Thank you for our Liberty.
94, huh? Well, then, see you on the other side.
Rest in Peace, Major.
Bless this man’s soul and his entire family.
Editorial:
And for those who are interested, the NC is a most coveted award (although certainly not sought after) and the club of recipients is short when you look at the lists per conflict. The dividing line between NC and MoH is often blurred (sometimes) based on death, politics, nationality, place and time, classification of operation and other factors.
BLUF: Read NAVY CROSS, Naval Institute Press (both editions). Currently all NC from GWOT are under re-review as are DSC et al … Buy popcorn. Several NC awarded because … “Oh no … not a MoH syndrome” in early stage of GWOT may very well be upgraded.
But what do I know …
MAJOR WELLS
You are a Marines Marine I was a little bit to young when this happened ,but remember listing to the radio with my parents no TV’S in those days the war news, still do not understand how come you never received the MOH after reading your citation for Navy Cross my opinion after reading it you should have gotten the higher award.
GOD BLESS YOU SIR FOR WHAT YOU DID AND I SALUTE YOU,REST IN PEACE MARINE .
SEMPER FI
STEW USMC RETIRED
God bless him. He surely earned his eternal repose.
I shared this with the men and women of the USS Suribachi AE-21, via facebook group. One of our namesake warriors has passed. Rest in peace, Sir.
It is said that 25% of the Medals of Honor bestowed on Marines in all of WW II were awarded for action on Iwo Jima. Nearly 900 Silver Stars were issued also. How many Navy Crosses I have no idea. As for the Purple Heart, my guess is that anyone who didn’t receive one declined it because no one got off that hellhole unscathed. And, of course, the Marines at Iwo Jima gave us the greatest war photo of all time. It amazes me that such men as LT Wells were able to hit the restart button after their experience and build lives, careers, and families. Hardcore.
Marines plus one Navy Corpsman.
Yep. That was John Bradley – the father of James Bradley, who co-wrote “Flags of our Fathers” with Ron Powers.
It is difficult to not look at Marines like Lt Wells and wonder, “Could I have done what he did?”
Don’t know if I could have. I’d like to think so. But some acts of courage are so extraordinary…
I’d like to think so too, Marine_7002. But I also don’t know for certain. I don’t think anyone really knows until faced with the necessity.
I thank God I never had to find out.
To quote “Bull” Halsey; “There are no extraordinary men…just extraordinary circumstances that ordinary men are forced to deal with.”
Rest Well….. Sir
Salute…….
God bless him, and I thank God that we have such men to look up to.
Rest in Peace Major. Heaven is safe due to the presence of heroes like you and your men.
Go rest high on that mountain Marine. For you have had your brief encounter with Hell on this earth. Semper Fi until we die.
Most all of us on this post have done at least something, albeit insignificant to the sacrifices and efforts put forth by this Marine and many other men Regardless, it is men like this from EVERY branch of service that have earned our obvious respect. May God bless each and every one of them. He DOES know them by name, I feel certain.
Rest In Peace, Major… Semper Fi!
Rest in Peace and Godspeed Sir
R.I.P., Warrior. *Slow Salute*
As I read these stories and with each passing day I get a sense of dread.
My Father is a WWII Combat Vet and is also over 90. How much more time do we have?
What I know and what he has said about his time would not even fill this box. These guys do not say shit about what they saw and did.
RIP Old Warrior
I grew up in the seventies and eighties near a Military Installation and got to know WWI, WWII, Korea and Vietnam Vets while doing so. One thing I remember about them is that the ones who did the most talked about it the least.
Rest in Peace, Marine and Semper Fi.
Uncommom Valor Was A Common Virtue. Semper Fidelis Sir.
Another old Sheepdog who fortunately was able to live a long and fruitful life.
Semper fi, Major; rest well, Marine.
“…. Rather we should thank God that such men lived.”
RIP Marine.
When the Army and the Navy look on heaven’s scenes,they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.