HE WAS AN AMPHIBOUS TANK COMMANDER WITH THE RANK OF SERGEANT. HIS TANK WAS HIT BY A JAPANESE ARTILLERY SHELL AND WATER WAS POURING IN. SEVERAL OF HIS MEN WERE WOUNDED. WITH HIS REMAINING CREW HE SUCCEEDED IN SHIFTING THE CARGO TO RAISE THE HOLE ABOVE WATER LEVEL. HE GAVE FIRST AID TO THE WOUNDED AND SUMMONED A NAVY PATROL TO EVACUATE THE MOST SERIOUSLY WOUNDED. IT WAS SUGGESTED FROM THE SHIP THAT HE ABANDON HIS STRICKEN TANK, BUT HE REJECTED THAT. HE GOT IT TO THE BEACH WHERE REPAIRS WERE MADE. BY DOING THIS HE WAS ABLE TO TAKE HIS TANK THROUGH TWO DAYS OF THE TSUGEN CAMPAIGN. ALSO CALLED L- DAY PLUS 9.

HE ENTERED THE ARMY ON NOVEMBER 13, 1942. HE IS THE S/O ROBERT OWEN BOLLEN OF VILLAGE SPRINGS, AL.

THE DAY HE ENTERED THE ARMY WAS ON FRIDAY THE 13TH. MUST HAVE BEEN GOOD LUCK FOR HIM.

John H Bollen