I have information on the career of PFC William Bernard Norton K.I.A. on Guadalcanal 11/11/42 while serving in Company M 3rd Battalion 8th Marines. I would also like to contact the Lutes family as I have information on the USMC Reserve units that Lewis Lutes served in prior to WW2. - Dick Whitaker, Thu, 12 Apr 2012 8:18AM
1 MusterRoll 3rd Bttn 8th Marines Nov 1943.pdf
2 3rd Battalion 8th Marines Company M Mortar Platoon Circa 1942, after Guadalcanal and before Tarawa. "Top row, 4th man from righ..." View Comments...
3 1st Sgt Lewis W. Lutes 3/8 Marines Prior to his promotion of course.
4 Lewis and his Marine sister Marti
5 AuntMarti
6 Wedding pic after returning home 1945
7 100 1073
8 Captured Japanese sword, army officer
9 100 1071
10 100 1072
11 SWORDINSERT1130 This piece of paper was discovered inside the sword hilt folded in 3rd's, possibly used to tighten the sword to the sheath, and/or a receipt from the original purchase.
12 SWORDINSERT2131
13 Medals case. Original medals case my grandfather made after the war, including the frame. Note the four stars on the Asiatic campaign ribbon, that is for Guadalcanal, Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian. The two bluish stars on the blue/yellow/red PUC ribbon represent the presidential unit citation for Guadalcanal and Tarawa.
14 Medals and insignia Medals case Lewis made, including frame, and a copy his grandson Mark made for brother Paul, the rifleman, pistol expert,2nd Div. patch, and EGA's along with dogtags are all authentic, the rest are aftermarket replicas.
15 IMG 0151
16 Platoon sheet, Mortar platoon 3/8 Marines M company 1943+
17 Platoon sheet These platoon sheets were courtesy of Ambrose Fox (R.I.P. 2009) who allowed me to photograph them. Ambrose was a Gunnery Sgt at the time, and gave up his promotion to 1st Sgt so my grandfather could have it. He had a successful military career after that.
18 IMG 0192
19 IMG 0195
20 IMG 0196
21 monroviapica1940 This is the ship that carried the 3rd Bttn. 8th Marines from NZ to Tarawa and back to Hawaii after the battle. This picture is prior to it being refitted for military service.
22 Monrovia brochure
23 monroviapage2
24 monroviapage3
25 monroviapage4
26 USS Monrovia 1960s
27 Lewis Lutes in the newspaper. This was after he came home and gave a description of the action at Tarawa, there are numerous articles similiar to this one througout his service in the war.
28 Lutes Picture Notification
29 1st Sgt Lutes 1944 Stock military photo taken after he returned home. 1st Sgt Lutes holding a hari kari knife captured on Saipan. This is the same pic used in the previous article.
30 Telegram received by Lutes mother 2 months after Tarawa
