World War II Honoree

Jack Salter

Branch of Service

U.S. Marine Corps

Hometown

Phoenix, Arizona

Honored By

John C. Burkhardt, AAG MOPH Chapter 1919

ENLISTED INTO THE MARINE CORPS RESERVE ON JUNE 4, 1942. EARLY IN THE WAR, THE JAPANESE HAD SEIZED LARGE EXPANSES OF THE PACIFIC. THE MARINES HASTILY FORMED A FORCE OF 'RAIDERS' TO CONDUCT STRIKES BEHIND ENEMY LINES IN HIT AND RUN RAIDS AGAINST JAPANESE SHORE INSTALLATIONS. HE ANSWERED THE CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS AND WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY Q, 4TH MARINE RAIDER BATTALION, 1ST MARINE RAIDER REGIMENT. HE WAS WITH THE UNIT ON SEVERAL RAIDS AND WAS WOUNDED ON JULY 20, 1943 DURING THE LARGEST OPERATION CONDUCTED BY THE RAIDERS, IN THE BATTLE OF BAIROKO, ON NEW GEORGIA ISLAND IN THE SOLOMON ISLANDS. WHEN JACK WAS BEING MEDICALLY EVACUATED A FLIGHT OF JAPANESE ZERO FIGHTERS PASSED HIS PLANE THAT WAS LOADED WITH MEDICAL EVACUEES AND ATTACKED ANOTHER ONE THAT WAS BEING LOADED. AFTER TWO WEEKS HOSPITALIZATION, JACK RETURNED TO HIS UNIT. AS THE WAR PROGRESSED AND THE ISLAND HOPPING CAMPAIGN SUCCEEDED THE RAIDERS TACTICS WERE NO LONGER NEEDED. THE RAIDERS PASSED INTO HISTORY, BUT WERE REMEMBERED IN THE MOVIE 'GUNG HO' STARING RANDOLPH SCOTT. THE RAIDER REGIMENT WAS REORGANIZED AND RE-DESIGNATED AS THE 4TH MARINE REGIMENT. JACK WAS ASSIGNED TO COMPANY F, 2ND BATTALION, 4TH MARINES AND WAS WITH THEM WHEN THEY RECAPTURED GUAM.