| On the left is the patch of the Second Marine Division, Roush's unit during World War II, with a current Marine logo in the middle and onthe right the classic Marine Corps logo. |
At age 17 Roy Roush, having dispeled previous notions of getting into
military aviation, enlisted in the Marines on July 4, 1942 and soon found
himself at Camp Elliott in San Diego for the famous Marine training that
sets them apart. Exactly five months later he landed at Guadalcanal with
the historic Sixth Regiment.
When they left the island of Guadalcanal on February 19th, 7 days after
it was declared secured, most members were ill from malaria or injured
the Regiment would not be ready for combat for nine months. Next stop
for Roush and his fellow soldiers would be a place now associated with a
victory that was all too bloody indeed.
military aviation, enlisted in the Marines on July 4, 1942 and soon found
himself at Camp Elliott in San Diego for the famous Marine training that
sets them apart. Exactly five months later he landed at Guadalcanal with
the historic Sixth Regiment.
When they left the island of Guadalcanal on February 19th, 7 days after
it was declared secured, most members were ill from malaria or injured
the Regiment would not be ready for combat for nine months. Next stop
for Roush and his fellow soldiers would be a place now associated with a
victory that was all too bloody indeed.
| A group of Marines crossing a creek on the island of Guadalcanal, part of the Solomon chain and plucked by fate and geography as a major point of contention in Pacific during World War II. |
| Being the largest man in the squad, Roy Roush is assigned the legendary .30 caliber Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) |
Saipan, with neighboring Tinian, presented new problems for the Marines. The islands, part of the Japanese homeland
since 1914, were home to a large military establishment complete with a modern city, a government and a large
population of civilians. Fiercely defended by the largest military force the Marines had encountered yet, the civilians on
the island, along with many soldiers, chose deathby hurtling themselves over the famous suicide cliffs, a spector
unimagined by Americans at that time.
On Saipan, the author's Company was chosen to take the beachhead at the hot spot of the invasion, the extreme left
flank. Located on Red Beach One, it was the closest to Garapan, the capital city, where truck loads of Japanese troops
were brought from and were unloaded close by. Then, they come in wave-after-wave of Banzai attacks for the first day
and night. But the Company held their positions in heavy fire fights after suffering heavy casualties.
During the first 24-hours, the action of the author's four-man fire team won a Navy Cross, a Silver Star and a Purple
Heart for their leader, the most courageous fighter the author ever knew. The Company then had a leading role in the
capture of Mt. Tapotchou and the rest of the island, including the area of the suicide cliffs and retaking the two-mile
area where, in the largest Banzai attack of the war, the fanatical Japanese had broken through the Army's line. The
author, with his BAR, experienced much action here, including fighting
his way out of a deadly ambush.
since 1914, were home to a large military establishment complete with a modern city, a government and a large
population of civilians. Fiercely defended by the largest military force the Marines had encountered yet, the civilians on
the island, along with many soldiers, chose deathby hurtling themselves over the famous suicide cliffs, a spector
unimagined by Americans at that time.
On Saipan, the author's Company was chosen to take the beachhead at the hot spot of the invasion, the extreme left
flank. Located on Red Beach One, it was the closest to Garapan, the capital city, where truck loads of Japanese troops
were brought from and were unloaded close by. Then, they come in wave-after-wave of Banzai attacks for the first day
and night. But the Company held their positions in heavy fire fights after suffering heavy casualties.
During the first 24-hours, the action of the author's four-man fire team won a Navy Cross, a Silver Star and a Purple
Heart for their leader, the most courageous fighter the author ever knew. The Company then had a leading role in the
capture of Mt. Tapotchou and the rest of the island, including the area of the suicide cliffs and retaking the two-mile
area where, in the largest Banzai attack of the war, the fanatical Japanese had broken through the Army's line. The
author, with his BAR, experienced much action here, including fighting
his way out of a deadly ambush.
| A photo of F Company hitting the beach at Saipan—This is the Third Platoon landing at the extreme left flank. Two men have already been hit and are going down. The author could be the one with the BAR between them. Here, F Company stayed for three days, defending the strategic beach-head area from truckloads of Japanese and some tanks that came down the beach road from Garapan to attack F Company. The outskirts of Garapan can be seen in the background. |
| Roy Roush (Left) Continues his Military Career as a Fighter Pilot for the just formed U.S. Air Force in the Korean War |
The Infantry Fighter Becomes a U.S. Air Force Fighter Pilot
Ever since, as young boy in Oklahoma, he saw Charles Lindbergh fly over his hometown en route the jump off for the historic
flight from New York to Paris, Roy wanted to be a pilot. As World War II began for the U.S., Roy signed with the U.S. Marines at
the age of 17, in early 1942, and was told by the recruiter he would get a chance to be a Marine fighter pilot. Instead he
found himself with a BAR machine gun on his shoulder trapezing across the Pacific.
After the war a glut of pilots on the market precluded him from entering that field, so he went to school and got a degree in
journalism. However, when the Korean War broke out it was widely reported the newly formed Air Force was looking for pilots.
Roy immediately signed up and was soon flying fighter jets and, although he did not see combat in Korea, Roy managed
to chase quite a few Russian planes away from U.S. airspace.
Roy was finally in the element he had been dreaming about his whole life, and the joy he felt blasting aroundthe sky in
his jet fighter was absolute and pure. The Lindbergh inspired pursuit had become a reality.
Ever since, as young boy in Oklahoma, he saw Charles Lindbergh fly over his hometown en route the jump off for the historic
flight from New York to Paris, Roy wanted to be a pilot. As World War II began for the U.S., Roy signed with the U.S. Marines at
the age of 17, in early 1942, and was told by the recruiter he would get a chance to be a Marine fighter pilot. Instead he
found himself with a BAR machine gun on his shoulder trapezing across the Pacific.
After the war a glut of pilots on the market precluded him from entering that field, so he went to school and got a degree in
journalism. However, when the Korean War broke out it was widely reported the newly formed Air Force was looking for pilots.
Roy immediately signed up and was soon flying fighter jets and, although he did not see combat in Korea, Roy managed
to chase quite a few Russian planes away from U.S. airspace.
Roy was finally in the element he had been dreaming about his whole life, and the joy he felt blasting aroundthe sky in
his jet fighter was absolute and pure. The Lindbergh inspired pursuit had become a reality.
| A must have book for those interested in history, Open Fire should also be read by those who need a renewed appreciation for the sacrifices made by the men and women who left the farms and cities to fight all around the world. Contact Roy Roush at Deepgold1@aol.com Visit his website at www.open-fire.us |
Open Fire Roy Roush gives the reader a personal and fact filled look at the life of a young man
entering and serving throughout World War II as a young, fresh faced Marine infrantryman from
Oklahoma. Roush fought in some of bloodiest and most famous battles in the Pacific and then
ended up as a fighter pilot for the newly formed U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
Roush uses over 1,000 photos and visual aids as he begins his adventure at Boot Camp in San
Diego and moves on to Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, places now hallowed in Marine
Corps and United States military history. His book stands tall with the best in military literature,
as noted (see below left and right) by World War II fighter Ace Joe Foss and Mercury
Astronaut and Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Gordon Cooper.
entering and serving throughout World War II as a young, fresh faced Marine infrantryman from
Oklahoma. Roush fought in some of bloodiest and most famous battles in the Pacific and then
ended up as a fighter pilot for the newly formed U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.
Roush uses over 1,000 photos and visual aids as he begins his adventure at Boot Camp in San
Diego and moves on to Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian, places now hallowed in Marine
Corps and United States military history. His book stands tall with the best in military literature,
as noted (see below left and right) by World War II fighter Ace Joe Foss and Mercury
Astronaut and Colonel in the U.S. Air Force, Gordon Cooper.
| "Roy's treatment of the Marine Corps certainly brings back a lot of memories to me, since I also was a Marine before joining the Air Force. He has a remarkable ability to write in a comprehensive manner that keeps your attention. "Sometimes, we forget what a terrible toll of human lives that were lost, plus others maimed for life, in order to preserve the freedom that we all enjoy today. It makes interesting reading, and I couldn't put it down until I finished it. It's real history and an epic of World War II." Gordon Cooper, Mercury Astronaut Native of Oklahoma like Roush, Colonel in U.S. Air Force |
"It's one hell of an exciting book written by someone who was there
at the time and lived it—not by a researcher later. He went from a
jungle fighter in one war to fighter pilot in another. I don't know of
anyone else who did that. It's an epic of action and adventure i
n real history."
Captain Joe Foss, Marine Fighter Pilot on Guadacanal and the War's
Leading Ace, Brigadier Gen. South Dakota National Guard, Governor
South Dakota
at the time and lived it—not by a researcher later. He went from a
jungle fighter in one war to fighter pilot in another. I don't know of
anyone else who did that. It's an epic of action and adventure i
n real history."
Captain Joe Foss, Marine Fighter Pilot on Guadacanal and the War's
Leading Ace, Brigadier Gen. South Dakota National Guard, Governor
South Dakota
| A sea wall at Tarawa Island. Dead Marines still float in the water while the picture shows all too well why it is referred to as Bloody Tarawa |
Tarawa (the toughest battle in Marine Corps history) is a tiny, remote island, described by
historians as the most heavily fortified for its size anywhere in the entire war, either there or
in Europe. It was defended by 5,000 Imperial Marines (Japan's finest), and the Japanese
had bragged that he would take a million men a hundred years to take the island—but the
men the Second Marine Division did it can only 76 hours in the fiercest fighting of the war.
For the time involved, it set the record for the highest casualty rate on both sides.
historians as the most heavily fortified for its size anywhere in the entire war, either there or
in Europe. It was defended by 5,000 Imperial Marines (Japan's finest), and the Japanese
had bragged that he would take a million men a hundred years to take the island—but the
men the Second Marine Division did it can only 76 hours in the fiercest fighting of the war.
For the time involved, it set the record for the highest casualty rate on both sides.
| Open Fire A Marine's Personal Story of Front Line Combat on Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian in the South Pacific in World War II, then F-51 and Jet Fighter Pilot in the USAF During the Korean War Roy Roush, Ph.D. |
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| Bloody Tarawa |
