July 4, 2024, is a special day for millions of Americans. Americans have been commemorating the holiday for 248 years since July 4, 1776, the official beginning of the Nation and the day Americans declared their complete Independence from England. The first Thirteen Colonies of America delegates met in Philadelphia, PA, and declared themselves to be States and no longer part of the British Empire.
On my way home from a special mission in the Philippines, from 34,000 feet above, I looked down from the portside window of United Airlines (MNL TO SFO) on June 7, 2024; I was reminiscing and remembering the sacrifices of our World War II veterans. More than eighty years ago, our sea service warriors and soldiers were executing the “Pacific Island-Hopping Campaign,” the Pacific Strategy in 1941-1944. Admiral Chester Nimitz led the Central Pacific offensive, and General Douglas MacArthur led the South Pacific offensive. It was a military strategy of recapturing the Pacific islands starting from New Guinea, Solomons Islands, Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Guam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Okinawa, and other smaller islands from the Imperial forces of Japan.
In the Battle of Midway in April 1943, a US carrier aircraft dealt a devastating blow to the Japanese navy, destroying four Japanese aircraft carriers. The Battle of Midway marked the first major US victory against Japan and was a turning point in the war. Britannica recorded the following: the human casualties included approximately “3,000 Japanese sailors and airmen killed. A total of 317 United States sailors, airmen, and marines were killed.”
Winning the Battle of Midway shifted the balance of naval power in the Pacific. Midway allowed U.S. forces to take the offensive for the first time. The Allies soon set their sights on Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands and New Guinea, beginning the Pacific Island-Hopping Campaign.
“The Pacific Island-Hopping Campaign was a strategic military operation undertaken by the United States during World War II to break Japan’s defensive perimeter in the Pacific. The campaign involved a series of amphibious assaults on key Japanese-held islands, with the goal of advancing toward Japan’s home islands and ultimately defeating the Japanese Empire,” Sang Micheal commented.
The first amphibious Island-Hopping Campaign in the Battle of Guadalcanal resulted in many casualties. For instance, in Second Lieutenant Benjamin C. Currey's U.S. Marine Corps essay called “Amphibious Doctrine’s Evolution in the Pacific,” they wrote, “nearly 1,600 men were killed during the battle, multiple ships and aircraft were lost, and the United States was left with only a single aircraft carrier in the Pacific theater.”
Secondly, about 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans died in the Battle of Tarawa, fought on 20–23 November 1943. It was a battle between the United States forces and Japanese Imperial forces at the Tarawa Atoll in the Gilbert Islands. It was called “Operation Galvanic,” the U.S. invasion of the Gilberts.
One of the Marines we lost on the first of the battle was Private Herman Fred Sturmer Jr. For nearly 70 years, his remains were missing. Nevertheless, “in 2002, a construction crew uncovered remains of what was believed to be an American serviceman from World War II. A Peace Corps volunteer notified a U.S. government representative, and the news was relayed to the U.S. Army Central Identification Laboratory in Hawaii,” reported Kevin Graman. A modern-day DNA testing finally positively identified PVT Sturmer’s remains. His only remaining sister, Lexey Lyons (75), Spokane, WA, provided the sample. Lexey and Herman’s DNA matched. She was only seven when her brother PVT Sturmer left for War in the Pacific.
While serving as Command Chaplain of Naval Base Kitsap, my Commanding Officer sent me to assist the Sturmer family. Meeting Lexey and her family in July 2011 in Spokane, WA, was a blessing. What an honor for me to serve as chaplain during the dignified return of the remains and lead the funeral service of a WW-II hero, PVT Herman Sturmer, Jr., on July 1, 2011, PVT Sturmer’s 86th birthday.
About a week before PVT Sturmer shipped off overseas bound for battle in the Pacific islands, he promised his seven-year-old sister Lexey that someday he would return home to Spokane. PVT Sturmer was one of the 7,100 who GAVE his all for FREEDOM, FAITH, FAMILY, AND FLAG on November 20-23, 1943, in the Battle of Tarawa. The Marine was buried next to his parents, Herman and Norma Sturmer, at Spokane Memorial Gardens. He made the ultimate sacrifice! There is a somber saying, “All Gave Some, SOME GAVE ALL!” PVT Sturmer GAVE HIS ALL!
SSGT Wesley Kroenung, WW-II us Marine veteran, was the other Marine KIA on the day, November 20, 1943, that PVT Sturmer was killed in the exact location in Tarawa. SSGT Kroenung was laid to rest on Wednesday, 14 August, at MIRAMAR NATIONAL CEMETERY. SSGT Kroenung was killed in action on November 20, 1943, during the first wave of coastal assault on The Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert’s Islands. I had the honor of leading the ceremony and services on Tuesday, 13 August, at the San Diego International Airport and Wednesday, 14 August 2019, at Miramar National Cemetery.
The Family of SSGT Wesley Kroenung was very sad that their Loved One was KIA in the Battle of Tarawa but thankful to the US Government and military that Wesley came back 76 years later. It was a scorching day on Tuesday, 13 August, at the San Diego International Airport when we received SSGT Kroenung's remains at the San Diego International Airport tarmac during the ceremony. SSGT Kroenung GAVE HIS ALL!
Sadly, many, many more warriors lost their lives after the Battle in Tarawa. The Battle of Leyte Gulf, a major naval battle of World War II fought between the Allied forces and the Empire of Japan, resulted in heavy casualties for both sides. The United States suffered 16,043 soldiers and 7,270 sailors killed, while the Japanese lost 419,912 soldiers. During the Battle for Okinawa, Japan lost as many as 100,000 soldiers, while the US and Allies suffered 65,000 casualties, including 14,000 dead.
As we celebrate our freedom on July 4, 2024, let us remember the veterans who fought for our freedom! Many of these warriors made the ultimate sacrifice. We owe them an eternal debt we can never repay. Enjoy the sun, shores, sights, parades, fireworks, fellowship, foods, patriotic activities, and the sounds of freedom, but never forget the service members’ unselfish service and sacrifice!
Have a Blessed and Safe Holiday! May peace reign in our Country and Countries around the world. God Bless You, and May God Bless the United States of America!