The Biography of Herman Shooster

Herman’s 1st battle star New Guinea

Herman’s 2nd battle star Philippines

Dec 5 Letter to brother Izzy Dec 17 The US Army Air Corps begins

are landed in a few days. (D-day in Normandy was 156,000 troops.) Jan 11 Air raid against Japanese bases in Indochina by US carrier-based planes. Jan 11 Herman with 637 Med. Clr Co. in Rabon Area / Luzon / Manila. Jan 23 Letter to brother Izzy Jan 28 The Burma road is reopened. Feb 3 US Sixth Army attacks Japanese in Manila. Feb 6 Letter to brother Izzy Feb 12 Letter to brother Izzy Feb 14 637 Med. Clr Co. in Rabon Area / Luzon / Manila. Feb 15 637 Med. Clr Co. in San Jacinto area for rest and recovery. Feb 16 US Troops recapture Bataan in the Philippines. Feb 19 US Marines invade Iwo Jima. Herman Earns 2nd Battle Star - Philippines Feb 20 637 Med. Clr Co. leaves San Jacinto Area. Feb 24 637 Med. Clr Co. in Tagaytay Area / Cavite / Luzon (2 Weeks). Mar 1 A US submarine sinks a Japanese merchant ship loaded with supplies

preparations for dropping the Atomic Bomb by establishing the 509th Composite Group to operate the B-29s that will deliver the bomb.

Dec 23 Letter to brother Izzy Dec 26 Letter to brother Izzy Dec 31 637 Med. Clr Co. leaves Sjoriboe Area Noemfoor. TIMELINE 1945 Jan 3 Gen. MacArthur is placed in

command of all US ground forces and Adm. Nimitz is placed in command of all naval forces in preparation for planned assaults against Iwo Jima, Okinawa, and Japan. MacArthur says, “Hit ‘em where they ain’t,” by passing large pockets of enemy soldiers and letting them die on the vine. Deny them resupply and let the jungle do its business. This became the Leapfrog plan.

for Allied POWs, resulting in a court martial for the captain of the submarine, since the ship had been granted safe passage by the US Government.

Mar 2 US airborne troops recapture Corregidor in the Philippines. Mar 3 US and Filipino troops take Manila Mar 7 637 Med. Clr Co. leaves Tagaytay Area Cavite / Luzon (2 Weeks). Mar 9/10 Fifteen square miles of Tokyo erupts in flames after it is fire-bombed by 279 B-29s.

MacAurthur’s Plans

Jan 4 Herman is on a troop ship as part of a large convoy heading to the Philippines. Jan 4 British occupy Akyab in Burma. Jan 9 US Sixth Army invades Lingayen Gulf, Luzon, Philippines. 175,000 troops

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