FReeper Canteen ~ Hall of Heroes: Alexander Bonnyman, Jr ~ 05 August 2019

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[Kathy in Alaska]

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~ Hall of Heroes ~

Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.
Story from this website.

           

Born in Atlanta, Georgia, Bonnyman (May 2, 1910 - November 22, 1943) grew up in Knoxville, Tennessee and attended Princeton University where he studied engineering and established himself as a football star in his sophomore year, in part for his ferocity on the field. Dropping out of college, he worked first in the coal industry then later moved to New Mexico, where he started a copper mining business.

At the outbreak of the war, Bonnyman was exempt from any military obligation due to his age and role in running a company producing strategically vital material for the war effort. Nevertheless, he signed up for Army Air Corps flight training; he was reportedly washed out "for buzzing too many control towers". Determined to fight, he then enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps as a private at Phoenix, Arizona. Bonnyman received his recruit training at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego, California.
Bonnyman and his assault party storming Japanese stronghold
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In October 1942, Bonnyman sailed for the South Pacific aboard the SS Matsonia. He distinguished himself at the Battle of Guadalcanal as part of a Marine pioneer unit (akin to a lightly equipped version of an Army combat engineer group). In February 1943, he received a battlefield commission to the rank of second lieutenant in recognition of what his superiors described as exceptional leadership skills.

Bonnyman's civilian background, temperament and skills would come to play an important role at Tarawa in November 1943, where he was assigned to a shore party handling beachhead logistics. When the assault troops were pinned down by heavy enemy artillery fire at the seaward end of the long Betio Pier, on his own initiative Bonnyman organized and led five men over the open pier to the beach. There he voluntarily obtained flame throwers and demolitions and directed the blowing up of several hostile installations.

On the second day of the struggle, Bonnyman, determined to effect an opening in the enemy's strongly defended defense line, led his demolitions teams in an assault on the entrance to a huge bombproof shelter which contained approximately 150 Japanese soldiers. The enemy position was about forty yards forward of the Marine lines. Bonnyman advanced his team to the mouth of the position and killed many of the defenders. His team was forced to withdraw to replenish its supply of ammunition and grenades. Bonnyman again pressed his attack and gained the top of the structure, thereby flushing more than one hundred of its occupants into the open where they were shot down. When the Japanese fought back, the lieutenant stood at the forward edge of the position and killed several attackers before he fell mortally wounded. Betio Island was declared secured on the same day.

Bonnyman was listed as buried at sea by the Navy, but the Missing Personnel Office maintains that his body was "non-recovered"

USNS 1st LT Alex Bonnyman (T-AK-3003), 1985-2009, is named in honor of First Lieutenant Alexander Bonnyman, Jr.

The President of the United States takes pride in presenting the MEDAL OF HONOR posthumously to

FIRST LIEUTENANT ALEXANDER BONNYMAN, JR.
UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS RESERVE

for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as Executive Officer of the Second Battalion Shore Party, Eighth Marines, Second Marine Division, during the assault against enemy Japanese-held Tarawa in the Gilbert Islands, from 20 to November 22, 1943. Acting on his own initiative when assault troops were pinned down at the far end of Betio Pier by the overwhelming fire of Japanese shore batteries, First Lieutenant Bonnyman repeatedly defied the blasting fury of the enemy bombardment to organize and lead the besieged men over the long, open pier to the beach and then, voluntarily obtaining flame throwers and demolitions, organized his pioneer shore party into assault demolitions and directed the blowing of several hostile installations before the close of D-Day. Determined to effect an opening in the enemy's strongly organized defense line the following day, he voluntarily crawled approximately forty yards forward of our lines and placed demolitions in the entrance of a large Japanese emplacement as the initial move in his planned attack against the heavily garrisoned, bombproof installation which was stubbornly resisting despite the destruction early in the action of a large number of Japanese who had been inflicting heavy casualties on our forces and holding up our advance. Withdrawing only to replenish his ammunition, he led his men in a renewed assault, fearlessly exposing himself to the merciless slash of hostile fire as he stormed the formidable bastion, directed the placement of demolition charges in both entrances and sized the top of the bombproof position, flushing more than one hundred of the enemy who were instantly cut down and effecting the annihilation of approximately one hundred and fifty troops inside the emplacement. Assailed by additional Japanese after he had gained his objective, he made a heroic stand on the edge of the structure, defending his strategic position with indomitable determination in the face of the desperate charge and killing three of the enemy before he fell, mortally wounded. By his dauntless fighting spirit, unrelenting aggressiveness and forceful leadership throughout three days of unremitting, violent battle, First Lieutenant Bonnyman had inspired his men to heroic effort, enabling them to beat off the counterattack and break the back of hostile resistance in the sector for an immediate gain of four hundred yards with no further casualties to our forces in this zone. He gallantly gave his life for his country.

/S/HARRY S. TRUMAN

Thank you sir, for your service and sacrifice for our country!

Please remember the Canteen is here to honor, support and entertain our troops and their families.  This is a politics-free zone!  Thanks for helping us in our mission!

[Kathy in Alaska]

In first....Mac grabs the gold!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

And in second....ML snags the silver!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

TAPS

RIP

Spc. Michael Isaiah Nance, USA
1st Battalion, 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Amazing Grace

[Kathy in Alaska]

And rounding out the top three....mountainlion bags the bronze!!

[luvie]

What a guy our hero of the week was! May he rest in peace.

[radu]

Howdy, LUV.

I gather you made it there in one piece. LOL
Hope you and the family have had a grand day!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good evening, radu...recovered from museum day? Any rain in sight?

None here and it is staying in the mid 70s...fans going.

[radu]

Hey there, Kathy.

Yes, recovered from yesterday and have puttered around doing housework today. Such an exciting life. LOL! When the last load of laundry comes out of the dryer in a few minutes, I’m heading over to the other house for a bit. Now that I have more shelf paper I can finish lining shelves and drawers.

We got a little rain late this afternoon that cooled us off a lot. None expected tomorrow so it’ll be hot and steamy all day long. Ugh!

I can’t help but giggle a little. You’re hot at 70 degrees and that temp sounds divine to us. LOL

[luvie]

I did for sure. Everything went smooth except for all the walking to get from one gate to the other in Denver. Then when we landed in Jackson Hole there was lightning close to the airport so the ground crew had to go inside. I thought I’d NEVER get to go to the bathroom. LOL!

But it sure was good to see them when they picked me up. We went to the DQ for supper.

It was soooooo nice and cool. That was good, too. :)

[radu]

Glad you had a good trip, except for having to wait to go to the bathroom when you landed. LOL!

I’ll bet the girls have grown a lot since you last saw them. They grow so fast at that age.

Enjoy that nice cool weather! It was awful here early today but a couple of rain showers cooled things off. It’s going to be hot and steamy all week.

[MoochPooch]

Evening, Kathy! Thanks for another great bio!

[luvie]

They have grown a lot! Piper is nearly as tall as me...even though that’s not that hard to do. LOL!

The weather is the 2nd best thing about being here. Then there is that seeing a beautiful sight no matter which way you look.

Sorry it was so hot there. It was nearly 100 by the time we left the house this morning at 9:30. Blech.

[E.G.C.]

A very pleasant good Monday morning and ((HUGS)) to everyone at the Canteen and to all our military at home and abroad. Thanks for your service to our country.

How's everyone doing this morning?

[Kathy in Alaska]

LOL! Got all the outside watering done.

Gave myself permission to read for an hour, which was really nice.

A couple little projects complete and laundry...just have to fold and put away.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mayor, and thank you for today’s sustenance for body and soul.

Have a great Monday and be sure to rest!

[radu]

By this time next year, Piper will probably be taller than you. :-)

The scenery up there really is gorgeous. Seeing it on the live cams is one thing but to be there with it surrounding you ......

Whew, it sounds like you left at just the right time. I didn’t realize it was getting that hot in TX this week. OUCH! Glad it isn’t that hot here but it’s plenty hot enough. We’re grateful it isn’t an exceptionally hot year. We keep expecting one of those summers because we’re overdue but as long as it wants to hold off, it’s welcome to do so. LOL

[radu]

Howdy, E.G.C.

Did you and Gizmo have another good day at the lake? Was it crowded or did you have the place to yourselves?

[radu]

Sounds like you had a pretty good day. Got things done but weren’t rushed.

I got the kitchen shelves and drawers finished but still have to do the dressers. I didn’t realize out gritty the bottoms were with accumulated dust and had to wash them so the shelf paper will stick. They sat over there for years with a bunch of junk in them ... including Avon. PEEEUUUU!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Oh no....the dreaded Avon! Glad you are done with that.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Good morning, Mooch...glad you enjoyed his story...a true hero!

Hope you have cooled off some.

We are HOT for us...mid 70s.