VETERAN OF FOREIGN WARS OF THE UNITED STATES

GUS MOTZ

Marine Corps       P.F.C.

1942 – 1945       Combat

Asiatic-Pacific Theater

Bougainville, Emiran, Guam, Okinawa, Japan

Military Honors and Awards:

Presidential Unit Citation

Navy Unit Citation

Sharp Shooter Rifle M1

I landed on Okinawa on Easter Sunday and April Fool’s Day.   We expected heavy casualties on Yontan Airfield.   Landing was unopposed.    We were half way across the airfield ……… a plane flew right over us, but it wasn’t ours.   It was a Jap Zero.   All we could see was two big red heatballs.   The pilot thought the Japs were still in control.   He made a nice landing.   He got out and looked around and probably said, “Oh, oh”.   He never made it back to the plane.  

They say 10 percent never get the word picture on Okinawa.