|
chief radioman george ray tweed!
** For twenty-one months Chief Tweed hid there, waiting for the day the Americans would return. **
Date: 8/8/2019 2:53:36 AM ( 5 y ) ... viewed 970 times
U.S. NAVY HISTORY!
THE STORY OF TWO EVADERS!
CHIEF RADIOMAN GEORGE RAY TWEED!
When the Japanese invaded Guam on 10 December 1941, six American Sailors managed to escape into the jungle:
AM1c Luther Wilbur Jones,
YN1 Adolph Yablonsky,
CMM Michael Krump,
RM1 Albert Tyson,
MM1 Clarence Johnston
RMC George Ray Tweed.
The Japanese systematically hunted the Sailors, offering 100 yen for the first five and 1000 yen for Chief Tweed, who was an experienced radioman.
While hiding in a cave, Chief Tweed managed to fix up a radio enough to receive an American station and for four months typed up an underground newsletter called the Guam Eagle, which renewed the local faith that the Americans would return to retake the island.
The Japanese caught and executed Jones, Yablonsky and Krump on 11 September 1942, and Tyson and Johnston on 22 October 1942.
With the help of some Chamorro families, Chief Tweed managed to evade capture, despite the 50-man patrol detailed to capture him.
In late October 1942 a local man, Antonio Artero, led him to a makeshift cave, high in the cliffs over the northwest coast of the island.
For twenty-one months Chief Tweed hid there, waiting for the day the Americans would return.
To pass the time he played solitaire, made shoes for the local families and studied algebra.
During that time, the Japanese forces on the island increased from 6,000 to around 20,000.
On 11 June 1944, Chief Tweed began seeing American planes flying over the island and dropping bombs.
From his cliff side perch, he watched the "Great Marianas Turkey Shoot" as American aviators decimated the Japanese air power.
When he spotted American destroyers cruising along the coastline, he tried signaling them with makeshift semaphore flags and a 3-inch mirror.
Finally, on 11 July 1944, one ship noticed his signals and Chief Tweed was able to tell them all that he had observed about the Japanese defenses.
That night, they sent a boat to pick him up. After 31 months, Chief Tweed was rescued.
Add This Entry To Your CureZone Favorites! Print this page
Email this page
 Alert Webmaster
|
