PLATOON SGT. DORNIE B. REYNOLDS

From a handwritten entry in a seven-page preprinted booklet titled:

"THE SERVICE RECORD"

Beginning on the page titled:

"COMBAT DUTY"

"Left for Tarawa Nov. 1, 1943. Stopped at New Hebrides for 4 or 5 days.

Combat - Tarawa, Nov. 20-22.

B Company was attached to the 6th Regiment which landed on the afternoon of the second day. The beach and coral reef formation was very wide and flat affording the Japs an excellent defensive advantage. They had sewn the area (which was exposed at low tide) extensively with land mines. These were partially cleared by marines to make safe lanes for incoming traffic, but it was impossible to destroy or remove them all. Not only were these mines on the beach and reef, they were inland as well.

B Company landed with very few casualties and was being established ashore. During the third night a very urgent call came from the front lines (which were about 200 yards inland) for blood plasma, ammunition and water. Two amph tracs were needed to deliver these necessities.  Capt. Royster led off with the first and Dornie took the second one. During the darkness and enroute both tractors ran into undetected mines only a few yards apart and in a matter of seconds. The blast was terrific and even the 8 to 10 ton vehicles were completely demolished."

NOTE: This document must have been prepared at least a year or so after Dornie's death in 1943, since it lists him as being KIA on 22 NOV 1943, and it mentions that he was awarded the World War II Victory Medal. The handwriting appears to have been the work of one person, at one sitting, with one writing instrument - a fountain pen. The handwriting is not recognized by anyone now in his family. Most observers of the document believe that it was written by a woman.

TRANSCRIBED BY
J. Hildebrand
02 APR 2004