Ssgt. Ermon G. Dunham

From American Battle Graves:

http://www.americanbattlegraves.com/index.php?page=directory&rec=64931

Name: Ermon G Dunham

• From: Illinois
• Service Number: 36059825
• Rank: Staff Sergeant
• Service: U.S. Army
• Regiment: 323rd Infantry Regiment, 81st Infantry Division
• War: World War II
• Date Death: 11-22-1944
• Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart
• Burial: Plot A Row 8 Grave 103, Manila American Cemetery, Manila, Philippines
• Cemetery Details: Manila, Philippines

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From the Wikipedia page for his unit, the 81st Infantry Division:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/81st_Infantry_Division_(United_States)

World War II

• Activated: 15 June 1942, Camp Rucker, Alabama.
• Overseas: 3 July 1944.
• Campaigns: Western Pacific, South Philippines.
• Days of combat: 166.
• Awards: DSC-7 ; DSM-2 ; SS-281; LM-7; SM-40 ; BSM-658 ; AM-15.
• Commanders: Maj. Gen. Gustave H. Franke (June–August 1942), Maj. Gen. Paul J. Mueller (August 1942 to inactivation).
• Inactivated: 30 January 1946 in Japan.

Combat chronicle

The 81st Infantry Division landed in Hawaii, 11 June-8 July 1944. The division minus RCT 323 invaded Angaur Island in the Palau group, as part of the Palau Islands campaign 17 September, and pushed through to the western shore in a quick movement, cutting the island in half. The enemy was driven into isolated pockets and mopping-up operations began on 20 September. RCT 321, attached to the 1st Marine Division, went into action on Peleliu Island in the Palaus and assisted in splitting defense forces and isolating them in mountainous areas in the central part of the island. The team aided in mopping up Ngesebus Island and capturing Kongauru and Garakayo Islands.

RCT 323 under naval task force command occupied the Ulithi atoll, 21–23 September 1944. Elements of the team landed on Ngulu Atoll and destroyed enemy personnel and installations, 16 October, completing the outflanking of the enemy base at Yap.

On 18 October, RCT 323 left to rejoin the 81st on Peleliu, which assumed command of all troops on that island and Angaur, 20 October 1944. Resistance was ended on Peleliu, 27 November. Between 4 November 1944 and 1 January 1945, the division seized Pulo Anna Island, Kyangel Atoll, and Pais Island.

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From the Wikipedia page on the Battle of Peleliu:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Peleliu

The Japanese eventually inflicted 70% casualties on Puller's 1st Marines, or 1,749 men.[1]:66 After six days of fighting in the ridges of Umurbrogol, General Roy Geiger, commander of the III Amphibious Corps, sent elements of 81st Infantry Division to Peleliu to relieve the regiment.[1]:66 The 321st Regiment Combat Team landed on the western beaches of Peleliu—at the northern end of Umurbrogol mountain—on 23 September. The 321st and the 7th Marines encircled The Pocket by 24 Sept., D+9.[1]:75,81

By October, the 7th Marines had suffered 46 per cent casualties and General Geiger relieved them with the 5th Marines.[1]:83 Col. Harris adopted siege tactics, using bulldozers and flame-thrower tanks, pushing from the north.[1]:83–84 On 30 Oct., the 81st Inf. Div. took over command of Peleliu, taking another six weeks, with the same tactics, to reduce The Pocket.[1]:85

On 24 November, Nakagawa proclaimed "Our sword is broken and we have run out of spears". He then burnt his regimental colors and performed ritual suicide.[1]:86 He was posthumously promoted to lieutenant general for his valor displayed on Peleliu. On 27 November, the island was declared secure, ending the 73-day-long battle.[9]

Footnotes:

• 1. Moran, J. and Rottman, G.L., 2002, Peleliu 1944, Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd., ISBN 1841765120
• 9. Western Pacific". United States Army. Retrieved 14 January 2014.