Marines: Good Old Siwash

A veteran of Tarawa, Saipan and Tinian was on his way home last week, on leave. His name: Siwash. His species: duck (the mascot of a Marine Corps artillery outfit). His combat record:

¶ At Tarawa, where he landed with the early waves, Siwash routed, single-winged, a Jap rooster.

¶ At Saipan, he did not hit the beach until several days after the fight began, but his managers blame this on a working party aboard ship.

¶At Tinian, Siwash got back into his waddle: he hit the beach on D-day and personally captured a tiny Jap duck. But he had to leave his war bride behind him.