Message From Our Chaplain

Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460

Veteran-Owned and Serving You Since 1902

At Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460, we know how much it means to serve. As a veteran-owned organization, we are committed to meeting the needs of those in our community. We’ve been open since 1902, and that means we’ve spent over 120 years helping people right here in Solon, IA.

As part of our mission, we are open to the public for meals, special events, and more. To learn more about Solon American Legion Stinocher Post 460 and what we’re all about, read this recent letter from our chaplain from December 2024.

A Message From Chaplain Doug Thompson

The Japanese bombing attack on Pearl Harbor shocked America and especially the U.S. Navy. Japanese Naval and Army forces swept across the Pacific like a tsunami, leaving destruction and Japanese victories in their wake. It looked like U.S. Naval and ground forces were powerless to stop Japan's advances towards Australia and U.S. territories in the Pacific. 

A glimmer of hope would break through the dark clouds of despair that hung ominously over the Pacific. A small uninhabited island that was acquired after the Spanish-American War became that focal point of hope. In the 1930s, Pan American Airlines was permitted to build an airstrip on Wake Island. The airstrip turned Wake into the playground for the rich and famous, and soon other amenities were built. However, both America and Japan quickly realized that if Wake Island could be used for commercial airlines, it could also be used for military purposes. By early 1941, the U.S. military started to turn this playground into a fortress. Over 1,500 civilian contractors with their heavy equipment swarmed over Wake Island like ants. Adding to the population were 525 Marines who were to provide security, establish a military airstrip and facilities for military use, and, most of all. building gun emplacements. Unfortunately, by late 1941 the island was not nearly as prepared as it had been planned because Roosevelt diverted the much-needed supplies to England to help the British effort in stopping Hitler. 

Two thousand miles away on December 7, 1941, Japan launched a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.  After the Pearl Harbor attack, Japanese naval forces turned their attention towards Wake Island. With Japan's sweeping victories across the Pacific, the situation looked hopeless for the defenders of Wake, but the dire situation was about to change course. 

The 525 Marines taught the 1,500 civilian contractors how to use military weapons, and they would team up with individual Marines and groups of Marines. The Marine commander, General Devereaux, constantly reminded his Marines that in the history of the Corps the Marines had never surrendered.  On December 11th, after a decisive sweeping victory over Guam, Japanese Naval Command sent an understrength naval force, without air support, to bring the defenders of Wake to their knees. The Japanese ships had a far greater gun range of 4,500 yards than the U.S. shore battery range. The undermanned Marine force, fully aware that they were outgunned, decided to hold fire as the Japanese ships opened fire, raining down destruction. Now flush with confidence of an assured quick victory, the Japanese armada closed the distance as they were preparing to disembark their landing forces. Wake had only five Wildcat planes left to meet the oncoming Japanese. These remaining planes fought with fury, and they were credited with sinking a Japanese destroyer. The Marine shore batteries opened fire sending 5-inch shells into the ships. Soon seven ships were burning and severely damaged, and a second destroyer was sent to the bottom of the sea. These destroyers were the first Japanese ships to sink in the now global war. With seven ships on fire and the sinking of two destroyers, the Japanese were forced to withdraw, giving Japan their first naval loss and the first U.S. victory in the Pacific while giving the American people a modicum of hope. 

The news of this victory spread across America like a wildfire. Wake Island was given the name “The Alamo of the Pacific.” U.S. Naval forces and the Japanese Naval forces started a sea race towards Wake Island. In addition to sending more ships, the Japanese also sent planes from their carriers daily to bomb the tiny thorn in her Emperor's side. The Marine ground crews salvaged parts from planes that were no longer serviceable to keep their five planes flying. The wildcats engaged the Japanese bombers sending some of them crashing into the sea, but by December 22 the last two Wildcats were attacking the much larger air force when one was shot down and crashed into the sea. There was one bright moment when the last remaining Wildcat shot down an enemy plane, along with Japan's hero of Pearl Harbor, crashing into the sea. After exhausting her ammunition, the Wildcat limped back to Wake, but it was painfully obvious that the remaining plane was no longer serviceable. 

On December 23, nine hundred Japanese Marines advanced towards Wake Island. The U.S. Marine defenders, along with their civilian partners, opened fire, killing one third of the enemy force as they landed. The Marines and civilians took the fight to the enemy landing force, still filled with hope of a rescue. Unbeknownst to the defenders of Wake Island, rescue would not be forthcoming. Admiral Pye decided it wasn't worth risking his few remaining ships in a sea battle to rescue fewer than 500 Marines and 1,000 civilian workers. 

When word finally came that no rescue would be coming, the defenders still held their ground and were defeating the Japanese land forces for the next 15 days. Then Marine General James Devereaux did the unthinkable; he asked the U.S. Navy Commander Winfield Cunningham to order the Marines to surrender to the Japanese. 

The Japanese military was known not to spare the lives of prisoners, but orders from Tokyo to spare the lives of the American defenders were given. The Emperor knew that Wake Island had gained international attention and such war crimes could not be hidden; thus he spared their lives. However, 98 civilian workers were kept on the island to build defenses for the Japanese, to prepare for an assault by American forces. The pending attack never came, and this frustrated the Japanese commander of the island, and he later had these men shot. The Japanese Commander was later hanged for his war crime. The Marine POWs were sent to a work camp in China by transport ship. During the twelve-day voyage, five men from the Marine air wing were taken out of the cargo hold and were beheaded and their bodies tossed overboard. These men were killed because the commander of the Japanese guards sought revenge for the heavy damage to the Japanese naval forces caused by the Marine air wing. Other men were selected at random and beaten by their guards. Despite the harsh treatment aboard the transport ship and later at the prison camp, the vast majority of the civilians and Marines survived. Two of the Marines escaped, but one was recaptured after his leg was broken. The other prisoner, with the help of the Chinese communist leader Mao, was rescued by an American rescue team. Before the rescue Mao had a photograph taken of the two together, and he gave a copy to the rescued American POW as a souvenir. 

Wake Island to this day remains an active strategic small base that is home to 100 to 300 Marines and civilian contractors. The people stationed on this tiny island, though transient, still keep the memory alive of how this little patch of sand gave America hope during the darkest hours of World War Two. The guns of the shore batteries that defended the small island are now rusting relics of war. A large rock bears the names of the 98 civilian contractors, who themselves had etched their names into. Little did they know by doing so, they were building their own memorial.  For Wake Island and for those who perished in her defense, I hope that peace will prevail. 

Doug Thompson, Chaplain dotandjot@aol.com