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Statement of Commendable Service, by U.S. Ambassador K.L. Rankin Taipei, Taiwan, October 20, 1951.
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Presidential Unit Citation Second Marine Division
Harrisburg Telegraph (Harrisburg, PA) 23 December 1944.
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Second Marine Division Shoulder Patch Insignia
The scarlet and gold spearhead-shaped shoulder patch was designed and authorized in late 1943 to be worn by all 2nd Marine Division units serving in the Pacific Theater. The patch centers on a hand holding a torch, with the stars of the Southern Cross constellation as a reference to Guadalcanal.
The scarlet and gold spearhead-shaped shoulder patch was designed and authorized in late 1943 to be worn by all 2nd Marine Division units serving in the Pacific Theater. The patch centers on a hand holding a torch, with the stars of the Southern Cross constellation as a reference to Guadalcanal.
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Legion of Merit Recommendation by Lt. Col. Thomas J. Colley for Lt. Robert B. Sheeks, September 1, 1944.
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Bronze Star Medal Citation awarded to Lt. Robert B. Sheeks, USMCR
Lt. Sheeks being considered as an OSS Candidate.
Documents:
Documents:
Copy and paste this hyperlink to Google to watch an interview conducted by Daniel Martinez while on Saipan. https://vimeo.com/102658529
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Marine's mission on Saipan: Save lives.
Major Robert B. Sheeks, USMCR, Ret. poses for a photograph while being interviewed by The Press Democrat newspaper, Santa Rosa, August 14, 1999.
Major Robert B. Sheeks, USMCR, Ret. poses for a photograph while being interviewed by The Press Democrat newspaper, Santa Rosa, August 14, 1999.
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The Original pair of Dog Tags worn in battle by Marine Lt. Robert B. Sheeks, at Tarawa (Betio), Saipan, and Tinian Islands.
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Pictured to the left is an actual Japanese WWII map of Betio Island in the Tarawa atoll. The map was seized and analyzed for its intelligence value, along with many other documents during the battle for Tarawa, by Lt. Robert B. Sheeks. The details on the map are very hard to see since the lines have faded over the years and the paper is as thin as tracing paper. A smaller map has been superimposed over the artifact to give a better idea of what is shown on the original. The captured map measures about 30 x 21 inches. The Sheeks collection.
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The Fate of Lt. Sheeks' Custom Designed Speaker Jeep on Saipan. To the best of his recollection, this is the story of Lt. Sheeks' loudspeaker Jeep.
In nearly every theater of the Second World War, jeeps were commonly modified and converted for specialized uses. Aside from standard personnel transportation, jeeps were also designed to carry the wounded on litters, or mounted with machine guns and heavy weapons. The jeep used by Lt. Sheeks was unique.
· The jeep had been improvised at his special request, approved by D-2 of the Second MarDiv, located at Camp Tarawa, situated on the Parker Ranch at Kamuela, Hawaii.
· Loudspeakers and amplifier had been requisitioned from the Division’s Recreation Facilities unit. The gasoline powered generator, and the vehicle’s snorkel exhaust extension was assembled by the Second MarDiv motor pool, from which the Jeep was “borrowed”.
· The sound gear-equipped Jeep was landed ashore on Saipan in mid-June 1944 within days after D-day. Likewise, it was landed ashore at Tinian in July 1944. After Tinian it was sent back to Saipan.
· Lt. Sheeks had exclusive use of that Jeep on Saipan and Tinian, and made active use of it for beaming Japanese language voice broadcasts, often in very rough, no-road terrain locations. That was during the latter half of June 1944, and until April 1945.
· He continued to use it frequently during the first months of mopping up operations on Saipan, increasingly just for transportation as the number of hold-out Japanese troops and refugee civilians declined.
· When the Division was being readied for the Okinawa campaign, the vehicle was returned to the Motor Pool for refurbishing. Sheeks was told that its sound-gear components had deteriorated so badly they were beyond repair. A new system was to be assembled for the secret, unidentified ”next” campaign, which turned out to be Okinawa. Sheeks presumed he would have to find it on shore at Okinawa and reclaim it, but fate intervened. His Division did not land on Okinawa; most of it went back to Saipan by mid-April 1945. Robert stayed on Saipan until August when he went on “Home Leave” via Hawaii. His Jeep was left on Saipan for use by the military occupation forces (Army and Navy) and Civil Affairs. Robert was onboard the "baby flat-top" USS Makassar Strait, exiting the channel out of Pearl Harbor when it was announced the war had ended.
The image below was included in the WWII film documentary, Victory at Sea, Part 17. It shows a rare front end view of Lt. Sheeks' jeep in service on Saipan.
Japanese Words and Phrases Often Used by the Marine JLOs in the Field:
Hurry! Isoge (or) Hayaku
Slowly: Yukkuri
Dangerous: Abunai
Stop (halt): Tomare
Don’t worry: Shimpai shinade
Don’t shoot: Utsu na
Be careful: Chui nasai
Stand up: Tate
Good: Yoshi
Raise your hands: Te o agero
Come out raising your hands: Te o agete detekoi
Come out (polite form used towards civilains): Detekinasai
Come follow me: Tsuitekoi
Immediately: Sugu ni
If you don’t obey we will fire: Kikanaito utsuzo
Wait here: Kokode matte
There is drinking water: Nomimizu ga aru
Hurry! Isoge (or) Hayaku
Slowly: Yukkuri
Dangerous: Abunai
Stop (halt): Tomare
Don’t worry: Shimpai shinade
Don’t shoot: Utsu na
Be careful: Chui nasai
Stand up: Tate
Good: Yoshi
Raise your hands: Te o agero
Come out raising your hands: Te o agete detekoi
Come out (polite form used towards civilains): Detekinasai
Come follow me: Tsuitekoi
Immediately: Sugu ni
If you don’t obey we will fire: Kikanaito utsuzo
Wait here: Kokode matte
There is drinking water: Nomimizu ga aru
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Executive Officers List for The Second Marine Division, D-2, D-3, and D-4 Sections as of 25 October 1943.
