From: "RAYMOND JACOBS" <RAY1JACOBS@msn.com> | This is Spam | Add to Address Book
To: "Rayfor" <Doc666usmc@aol.com>, "R.W. Gaines" <gyg1345@yahoo.com>
Subject: Fw: LT. Harold (Hal) G. Schrier
Date: Thu, 27 Feb 2003 08:17:05 -0800
I thought you would want to see this.I am working on an answer.Interesting portrait of Lt.Schrier..Real Marine.
Semper Fi,Ray
----- Original Message -----
From: John David JD Eaton
Sent: Wednesday, February 26, 2003 4:13 PM
To: Ray1Jacobs@msn.com
Subject: LT. Harold (Hal) G. Schrier
From: John David JD Eaton <jdeaton7@juno.com>
Subject: 2nd LT. Harold (Hal) G. Schrier
The Flag-Raisers
Dear Mr. Jacobs,
My Uncle, Harold (Hal) George Schrier, retired a Lt. Col. USMC, 1917 -
Jan 3, 1971. I have learned a lot about this Old Carlson's Raider. Who
as platoon sergeant in D Company that saw action at Midway Island. Walk
out with the Raiders on the Long Patrol (31 days behind enemy lines) at
Guadalcanal. This Mustang who lead missions with Coast Watcher Donald
Kennedy that earned Hal a Legion of Merit, and lead to the landing at
Vangunu Island. Hal landed at Bougainville as ( Col. Harry Liversedge's
1st Raider Regiment ) HQ defense coordinator. Later Hal was with
Liversedge's 28th Reg. served as E Co.'s XO. (E/2/28/5) that landed on
Iwo Jima, Liversedge selected Schrier to lead the patrol up Mt.
Suribachi, and was one of four Marines to raise the first flag over Iwo
Jima. 31 of 34 days on the line, and at D+34 had reached the sea and
offensive operations ceased. The 28th Reg had their Combat efficiency at
25%.
Major General Oscar F. Peatros said " George was the finest leader of
Marines I have Ever know, bar none, had enlisted in the Marine Corp in
the late thirties and become a sergeant as quickly as one could. As a
drill instructor at Recruit Depot in san Diego, he had consistently
turned out honor recruit platoons and had the reputation of being the
best drill instructor of them all. Then had come the war, volunteering
for the 2nd Raiders...."
Harold stared with John Wayne in 1948 in 'The Sands of Iwo Jima" ( This
was all that I knew till last year).
In 1950 he was a Captain of Item Company I/3/5. The landed at Wolmi Do
Island that initiated the Inchon Invasion. Leading I Co in the Wonson
landing, securing of Hamhung & all operations in the Chosin Campaign till
December 1, After the night of the using a Thousand Grenades in the pull
back from Hill 1282. (Later Schrier told Lt.Col. Taplett that the
withdrawal from Hill 1282 was the toughtest fight he had ever been
in).Changing the line of attack (down the road) by 3p.m. I Company was
spearheading the southern advance to Toktong Pass. I Company was about
half a mile to three-quarters of a mile down the road ready to relieve
the 3rd battalion 7th, on hill 1520 about 3 miles south, but the 3rd was
still milling around a one mile back up the road. Midafternoon Taplett
discussed the changed situation with his company commanders and decided
to put How Company in the lead, followed by I & G Companys. It was dark
by the time How Company called to ask "if it's okay with you, (Taplett),
Item Company has taken the left side of the road and How Company will
take the right" Taplett agreed. Taplett was ordered "to keep going,
attack all night long." This meant Taplett Had to clear Hill 1520 so the
5th & 7th Marinescould get though Toktong Pass and on to Hagaru-ri. Late
that night Item took the first objective on Hill 1520, a big spur. About
midnight, Schrier radioed from the hill "I'm running into a buzzsaw up
here. It's Going to be a disaster." "Okay," said Taplett. "Pull back to
the other position and set up for the night." Then came another message
from regimental HQ: "Resume the attack." "I am not going to resume any
attack at night," replied Taplett. "not over terrain I know nothing
about." "I said to resume the attack." Taplett reluctantly called
Schrier. " I got pressure from the two combined commanders." (Murray &
Litzenberg). "Can you attack again?" "I'll try." said Schrier. Item ran
into another buzzsaw. After taking heavy casualties, Schrier called
Taplett. "We're under very heavy attack, Tap. From the front and both
sides." "Can you withdraw?" "We're trying to withdraw now." There was no
further word from Item, Taplett radioed G Company in reserve "I want you
to go into defensive positions behind Item Company," said Taplett. Once
George got into position, they radioed, "We can hear a lot of activity
ahead. There's a lot of heavy firefighting." As a last resort, Taplett
moved his engineer company behind H Company position. Schrier after being
wounded a second time thought the neck and was too weak to continue
gavecommand to 2nd Lt. Willard Peterson, who took over and the attack
continue.
Again and again Taplett tried in vain to reach Item, and hours later in
the early dawn he found Schrier at the aid station. All Schrier could say
was "Impossible. Everybody killed." That morning only 20 marines were
left of I Company. Schrier was evacuated by air to US Naval Hospital in
Yokosuka, Japan. Then Hal was sent back to CONUS from there.
In the mid 50's Major Schrier was Provost Marshal at Marine Corps Recruit
Depot, San Diego.
I do not know what happen atfer that.
The movie was all I knew for years.
books: "Iwo" by Wheeler was the 1st book after that: "Bless em All" by
General Peatros, "Munda Trail" by Eric Hammel, "in Mortal Combat" by John
Toland, "Breakout at Chosin Reservoir Campaign" by Martin Russ, and other
great books.
Schrier had come home only once for the death of his brother.
After Bougainville, I know nothing about what happen to Hal Schrier till
Iwo.
Do you have anything on this? All most a year went by, before Iwo.
Thank you,
John David Eaton
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