CHRONOLOGY OF SERVICE & PROMOTIONS
William T. Paull
Enlisted at Butte, Montana, to serve during the Nat'l Emergency - Jan 05, '42
Weapons qualifications: Pistol - Marksman; Rifle - Sharpshooter - Feb 12, '42
Iwo Jima: Commission as 2nd Lieutenant - Feb '45
Quantico, VA; relieved from active duty - Dec 8, '45
Butte, MT: USMC Reserves - Dec '45 - inactive duty
Relieved of active duty with USMC Reserves - '55
HONORS
USMC Good Conduct Medal
Presidential Unit Citation - won 3 times, indicated by three gold stars.
Navy Unit Citation - won twice, indicated by 2 battle stars.
Victory Medal
American Theatre
Asiatic-Pacific - won five times, indicated by 5 battle stars.
Marine Corps Reserve MedalNote: "Forgotten Battalion" survivors feel that we are entitled to six combat stars for our "Asiatic-Pacific" ribbon, but the brass considers the Marianias campaign as one battle. We were the only outfit that had to endure two combat landings.... Saipan AND Guam.
Medals shown below: USMC Good Conduct Medal, USMC Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, and Asian-Pacific Campaign.
SERVICE
Aug 07, '42 - Nov 13, '42 South Pacific Area
Nov 20, '42 - Dec 08, '45 Central Pacific Area
PROMOTIONS
Promoted to PFC 1st Class - Apr '42 
Promoted to Corporal - Mar '43
Promoted to Sergeant - Sep '44 
Commission as 2nd Lieutenant - Feb '45 --- (backdated to Dec 2, '44) 
Promotion to 1st Lieutenant - Dec 02, '45
Promotion to Captain - Jun 25, '52BATTLES
Aug 07 - Aug 09, '42
Guadalcanal - Tulagi Area, Solomon Islands Oct 09 - Jan 30, '42
Guadalcanal - Tulagi Area, Solomon Islands Nov 20 - Nov 27, '43
Tarawa Atoll, Gilbert Islands Jun 18 - Jul 15 '44
Saipan, Marianas Islands Jul 21 - Aug 15 '44
Guam, Marianas Islands Feb 20 - Mar 16, '45
Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands CAMPS, BIVOUACS & DUTY STATIONS
Jan 05 - Mar 01, '42
Boot Camp, U.S.M.C. Recruit Depot, San Diego, CAMar 01 - July 01, '42
Camp Elliot, CAJul 01 - Aug 07, '42
USS President Jackson; Tonga Tabu; & Fiji IslandsAug 10 - Oct 08, '42
Espiritu Santo, New Hebrides IslandsFeb 01 - Nov 19, '43
Camp Pahantanui, New ZealandNov 30, '43 - Jun 15, '44
Camp Tarawa, HawaiiAug 15, '44 - Feb 15, '45
Camp Tarawa, HawaiiMay - Aug, '45
Camp Pendleton, CASept - Dec. '45
Quantico, VADIVISIONS
1st Marine Division
Guadalcanal, Tulagi Area, Solomon Islands 2nd Marine Division
Tarawa Atoll Forgotten Battalion:After Tarawa, I was in the half of the 3rd Battalion
which was detached from the 2nd Division and attached
to the "Fleet Marine Force". This meant that we could be
assigned to any Marine Division needing extra artillery support.
This is how we earned our title, "The Forgotten Battalion".
3rd Marine Division
Guam, Marianas Islands Jul 21 - Aug 15, '44 4th Marine Division
Saipan, Marianas Islands Jun 18 - Jul 15, '44 5th Marine Division
Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands 
. 
| Memoirs Title Page | Tipi's Retreat |
Copyright 1996 by /\/\ / ( /-/ = // =