15-298 Garand Picture of the Day

[RCS]

I had the chance to talk with Gunnery Sgt Neil Iovino in August 2005, he had enlisted in the USMC in Chicago in 1939. After training, he was sent to China with the 4th Marines. Sometime in November 1941, they shipped his unit to Bataan. During the Japanese invasion, Neil was wounded by shrapnel, his M1903 rifle was struck by a fragment which caused the butt to hit him in the face, knocking out his front teeth. Another fragment struck him below the belt, two other marines picked him up as they were being captured.

After arriving in prison camp (by train) Neil removed his trousers to show the japs his wound and they sent him to Bilibid Prison where an American doctor operated on him (he also needed another operation soon after). Neil was at
Cabanatuan when the US Army Rangers freed them in Jan 1945. About five months later, Neil want on a US Bond tour and was with a lot of movie stars. Neil died in in Nov 2008