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Hello Gentlemen and Women,
I found this picture among others in a local antique store. It has very interesting stamps and descriptions stapled to them, along with potentially awesome history.
This one is a burned Japanese skull on a Japanese tank, with a Marine holding the head upright.
With the description on the back: GUADALCANAL -- Photo shows Japanese "head," helmet and cross-bones atop wrecked Jap tank at the mouth of Matanikau River. This tank was cornered and destroyed by Marine half-tracks during bitterly contested Battle of the Matanikey River where Marine forces pushed Nipponese beyond River, thus securing the safety of Henderson Field from possible grown attack. PHOTO BY SGT. ERNEST DIET. CAPTAIN CHARLES L. HAYWORD, PHOTO OFFICER, SECOND MARINE DIVISION.
It also had several stamps on the back and writing on the front.
Where it gets interesting is that this Japanese Skull looked familiar. After a cursory internet search I find it is the same skull and helmet used in the famous LIFE Magazine February, 1943 picture.
Ralph Morse was attached to the US Army and relieved the 2nd Marine Division. In re article Mr. Morse goes on to say they thought the tank and skull were left by Japanese to draw them in to a mortar ambush. It looks like the picture I have might be from before the famous one was taken, and may show the marines set it up for the photo opportunity.
There are other awesome pictures I picked up together with similar markings. I will post them if anyone is interested in this one. The history of this picture is exciting and I can't wait to find out more. Any help or comments are appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Matt A.
http://time.com/3518085/life-behind-...dalcanal-1942/
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Hello Gentlemen and Women,
I found this picture among others in a local antique store. It has very interesting stamps and descriptions stapled to them, along with potentially awesome history.
This one is a burned Japanese skull on a Japanese tank, with a Marine holding the head upright.
With the description on the back: GUADALCANAL -- Photo shows Japanese "head," helmet and cross-bones atop wrecked Jap tank at the mouth of Matanikau River. This tank was cornered and destroyed by Marine half-tracks during bitterly contested Battle of the Matanikey River where Marine forces pushed Nipponese beyond River, thus securing the safety of Henderson Field from possible grown attack. PHOTO BY SGT. ERNEST DIET. CAPTAIN CHARLES L. HAYWORD, PHOTO OFFICER, SECOND MARINE DIVISION.
It also had several stamps on the back and writing on the front.
Where it gets interesting is that this Japanese Skull looked familiar. After a cursory internet search I find it is the same skull and helmet used in the famous LIFE Magazine February, 1943 picture.
Ralph Morse was attached to the US Army and relieved the 2nd Marine Division. In re article Mr. Morse goes on to say they thought the tank and skull were left by Japanese to draw them in to a mortar ambush. It looks like the picture I have might be from before the famous one was taken, and may show the marines set it up for the photo opportunity.
There are other awesome pictures I picked up together with similar markings. I will post them if anyone is interested in this one. The history of this picture is exciting and I can't wait to find out more. Any help or comments are appreciated.
Thanks in advance
Matt A.
http://time.com/3518085/life-behind-...dalcanal-1942/
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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