"Gung Ho" portrait of Dog Company after the battle of Namur. Photo by Edward DuBeck.
Dog Company was the heavy weapons outfit of First Battalion, 24th Marines.
The majority of the men who made up Dog Company joined their company at Camp Lejeune in the late fall of 1942. Most of them learned to use the heavy Browning M1917 water-cooled machine gun; others trained on the 81mm mortar. They were specialists, but still front-line troops. In early 1943, they traveled to Camp Pendleton, California, where they became Company D, First Battalion, 24th Marines.
For a detailed look at the make-up of a heavy machine gun platoon, click here. For 81mm mortars, click here.
Dog Company only fought in one campaign as a unit. They served with great bravery during the Kwajalein campaign, but the planners and upper brass decided that heavy weapons platoons were no longer needed. In March, 1944, every weapons company was broken up and the men distributed among the rifle and headquarters companies of their battalion. Mortarmen and headquarters personnel were attached to the Battalion HQ company; each of the three machine gun platoons was assigned to a rifle company. Corporal Glenn Buzzard maintained that, for Dog Company, the First Platoon went to Company A, the second to Company B, and the third to Company C - although each man's reassignment was subject to the needs of the Corps.
Below are the men who served with D Company, 24th Marines, until they were disbanded.
Company Headquarters
Captain George D. WEBSTER (Commanding)
Captain Earl R. MARQUARDT (Executive Officer)
First Lieutenant Frederic A. STOTT (Reconnaisance Officer)
Master Gunnery Sergeant Victor A. GOLLER
First Sergeant Curtis C. DEKLE
Staff Sergeant Edward J. NELSON (Mess Sergeant)
Sergeant Joseph S. KRESHESKY (Clerk, Typist)
Sergeant Charles P. CZERWEIC (Armorer)
Corporal Franklin C. ROBBINS (Supply and Property NCO)
Chief Cook Benjamin C. LEWIS
Field Cook Ray C. PUGLIA
Assistant Cook Stanley Q. KARNES
Assistant Cook Virgil H. SANDY
Field Music First Class Joseph C. I. BOISCLAIR
Field Music First Class James G. DUNKELBERG
PFC Lester E. CARVER (Other Duties)
PFC Raymond M. RODGERS (Ammo & Supply)
PFC John J. SULLIVAN (Ammo & Supply)
PFC Thomas J. DAVENPORT (Cobbler)
PFC Andrew CHORZEMPA (Visual Signalman)
PFC Robert G. SHERRILL (Messenger)
PFC Albert F. REMENTER, Jr. (Truck Driver)
PFC Joseph ROZMUS (Truck Driver)
PFC Russell G. SANDERLIN (Truck Driver)
Private Milford A. CARBINO (Jeep Driver)
Private James J. MURPHY (Truck Driver)
81mm Mortar Platoon
Second Lieutenant Charles R. BECHTOL (Platoon Leader)
Second Lieutenant William C. JAMES, Jr. (Assistant Platoon Leader)
Gunnery Sergeant Thomas E. DRAKE
Sergeant Bruce L. BARNES (Ammo & Gas NCO)
Corporal Raymond L. SHERWIN (Ammo & Gas NCO)
Sergeant Lowell E. BUXTON (Decontamination NCO)
Corporal John J. DUEMLER (Decontamination NCO)
Sergeant John L. FORD (Wiring Chief)
Corporal Forest C. SCHLENKER (Communications Chief)
PFC Amos F. LEWIS (Telephone Lineman)
PFC Alfred C. PATENGE (Telephone Lineman)
PFC Harvey B. SMITH (Telephone Lineman)
PFC Stephen J. TRIGGS (Telephone Operator)
PFC Daniel A. ROCHE (Telephone Operator)
PFC Harry J. WATKINS, Jr (Telephone Operator)
PFC Orest J. SANTILLO (Messenger)
PFC Patrick W. NORTON (Jeep Driver)
PFC Bernard B. NOVAK (Jeep Driver)
Sergeant Woodrow BARFIELD (Section Chief)
Sergeant Olin O. ENGLAND (Section Chief)
PFC George E. REILLY (Squad Leader)
PFC David C. RING (Squad Leader)
PFC Harold J. ROSS (Squad Leader)
PFC Roger V. SAUVE (Squad Leader)
PFC Joseph N. COELHO (Gunner)
PFC James T. RAINEY (Gunner)
PFC Donald E. REINERT (Gunner)
PFC Billy REYNOLDS (Gunner)
PFC Clark D. ROYSTON (Gunner)
PFC William H. SKEENS (Gunner)
PFC Joseph S. SOLECKI (Gunner)
PFC Henry S. BROWER (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Alexander J. CALDWELL, Jr. (Ammo Carrier)
PFC John L. CHISMAR (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Allen L. CLINE (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Albert M. COTA (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Alfred ESKILDSEN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Ronald G. MASON, Sr. (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Donald L. MCCOY (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Daurice R. NARON (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Walter J. RECHKO (Ammo Carrier)
PFC John J. REILLY (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Thomas H. ROBERTS (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Grover D. ROTHGREY (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Clark D. ROYSTON (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Francis J. RYAN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC William J. RYAN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Vincent F. RZEBROWSKI (Ammo Carrier)
PFC George F. SARGENT (Ammo Carrier)
Private William C. GORDON (Ammo Carrier)
Private Bernard K. MULRENIN (Ammo Carrier)
Private Jess B. REMINGTON (Ammo Carrier)
Private William A. TILDEN (Ammo Carrier)
Machine Gun Platoons
First Platoon
First Lieutenant James R. DONOVAN (Platoon Leader)
Staff Sergeant Michael J. GRAZIADEI
Corporal Lee R. ANDERSON, Jr. (Ammunition NCO)
PFC William A. PECK (Messenger)
PFC James H. PRITCHETT (Messenger)
PFC Wallace W. DUNCAN (Other Duties)
Corporal Armond D. LEISURE (Section Leader)
Corporal John W. DONAHUE, Jr. (Section Leader)
PFC Clifford J. DEVOY (Squad Leader)
PFC Edward W. DUBECK (Squad Leader)
PFC Gerald F. PATTERSON (Squad Leader)
PFC Anthony A. PRAMBERGER (Squad Leader)
PFC David W. BRUNJES (Gunner)
PFC John A. CUTHBERTSON (Gunner)
PFC Luca A. DURANTE (Gunner)
PFC Aldo PASSANTE (Gunner)
PFC Peter PECORI (Gunner)
PFC Hamilton PENDERGAST (Gunner)
PFC Joseph M. PETERPAUL (Gunner)
PFC Dominick PICCOLOMINI (Gunner)
PFC Jack C. COMER (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Glenn E. DOSTER (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Theodore DROSZCZ (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Lawrence J. JASTER (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Prentis M. PARSONS (Ammo Carrier)
PFC William R. PETTYJOHN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC William F. SAVOY (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Alan M. SMITH (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Vernon E. SMITH (Ammo Carrier)
Second Platoon
First Lieutenant Joseph D. SWOYER (Platoon Leader)
Gunnery Sergeant Richard H. MURPHY
Corporal Harry E. GREGG (Messenger)
PFC Thomas T. PUCKETT, Jr. (Driver)
Sergeant Elza R. WALLACE, Jr. (Section Leader)
Corporal Robert E. NEWBURY (Section Leader)
Corporal Felix S. NAWODCZYNSKI (Squad Leader)
PFC Joseph T. MURPHY (Squad Leader)
PFC Salvadore M. NOBILE, Jr. (Squad Leader)
PFC Everett H. J. ECKERT (Gunner)
PFC Eugene F. MONAHAN (Gunner)
PFC James R. MOORMAN (Gunner)
PFC James B. NAUROT (Gunner)
PFC William J. O'CONNOR (Gunner)
PFC Edward J. OLKOWSKI (Gunner)
PFC Michael E. PITONIAK (Gunner)
PFC Charles PODOLSKI (Gunner)
PFC Donald E. ANDERSON (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Harvey S. ARMSTRONG (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Charles E. BROWN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Lewis J. CLINE (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Timothy B. COLGAN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Homer J. DAVIS (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Joseph L. DEVICTORIA, Jr. (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Leonard O. FRITZE (Ammo Carrier)
PFC James W. FUSSELL (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Charles B. GUM, Jr. (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Frederick C. MARTIN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Gilbert E. MONTOYA (Ammo Carrier)
PFC William E. MULLER (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Charles F. NAAB (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Robert F. NADLER (Ammo Carrier)
PFC James NICOLL (Ammo Carrier)
PFC John POGGIOLI (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Charles D. ROSPOP (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Frank P. ROSSEL (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Arnold F. STANEK (Ammo Carrier)
Private Ralph W. BROWN (Ammo Carrier)
Private Manuel MURGUIA (Ammo Carrier)
Private John P. MUSCATELL, Jr. (Ammo Carrier)
Private Edmond S. PICHE (Ammo Carrier)
Private Charles E. QUEEN (Ammo Carrier)
Third Platoon
First Lieutenant Alexander SANTILLI (Platoon Leader)
Platoon Sergeant Harry H. PERRY
Corporal Richard F. HEIM (Messenger)
Sergeant William W. BULLER (Section Leader)
Sergeant Frank W. CIECIERSKI (Section Leader)
Corporal Paul C. FITZGERALD (Squad Leader)
Corporal Stewart K. MOSS (Squad Leader)
Corporal Silvio A. PAULINI (Squad Leader)
PFC Harold R. RUCKER (Squad Leader)
PFC Aubrey W. BOWLES (Gunner)
PFC Ottis O. BOXX (Gunner)
PFC Glenn L. BUZZARD (Gunner)
PFC Otto T. CESCO (Gunner)
PFC Joey CHALIFOUR (Gunner)
PFC Eugene I. COLE (Gunner)
PFC Daniel J. COLLINS, Jr. (Gunner)
PFC Jack COUTTS (Gunner)
PFC Harold D. BOWMAN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Samuel CALANO (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Angelo B. CARROZZO (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Joseph B. COYLE (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Michael S. CUSIMANO (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Thomas J. ENRIGHT (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Paul W. EVANS (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Fred M. JONES, Jr. (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Robert F. POUNDERS, Jr. (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Edward R. RUBY (Ammo Carrier)
Private Paul E. CLAFFEY (Ammo Carrier)
Private Howard D. COOPER (Ammo Carrier)
Private Constantino CARBONE (Ammo Carrier)
Unknown Assignment
I was unable to determine the platoons of the men listed below based on their MOS assignment. Please contact me if you have any information!
Wounded on Kwajalein
PFC Virgil E. DAVIS (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Joseph A. DEATON (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Walter J. PARCHETA (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Charles L. PICKETT (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Patsy J. RENNA (Ammo Carrier)
Private Frank H. MITCHEM (Ammo Carrier) [note: Mitchem was later assigned to Co. B]
Killed on Kwajalein
PFC Carl E. COOPER (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Stephen E. NAVARA (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Howard J. PARKISON (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Carmen A. RAMPUTI (Ammo Carrier)
Transferred to Headquarters
Corporal Louis CONSENTINO (MOS 812)
PFC Vernon H. ISON (Squad Leader)
PFC Henry E. LUCIEN (Ammo Carrier)
PFC Jacob F. MOHR (Ammo Carrier)
PFC John C. POPE (Driver)
PFC Melvin L. PINKERTON (Machine Gunner)
Transferred to Company A
PFC Louis O. PENDLETON (MOS 606)
Transferred to Company B
PFC William J. QUADROZZI (Machine Gunner)
Transferred to Company C
Sergeant Philip E. FAGAN (Duty NCO)
Transferred to Unknown Unit
PFC J. D. BEVINS
PFC William D. BOYLE (Driver)
PFC James W. CLARK (Machine Gunner)
Private Edward V. BROSKA (Ammo Carrier)
Private Robert H. HUNT (Ammo Carrier)
Detached before Kwajalein, rejoined at Camp Maui
Sergeant Alfred R. OKSENDAHL
PFC William T. GREER
PFC Edward SWIES
Transferred Before Combat
Sergeant Hassan BASAGIC, Jr.
Sergeant Estus C. SMITH, Jr.
Sergeant William A. YOUNG
Corporal William N. BEESON
Corporal Francis J. GRONWALD
Corporal William D. KLINE
Corporal Robert J. ROPER
Corporal Richard T. WILLIAMS
Corporal Martin T. ZAKOWSKI
Assistant Cook Louis A. ROMAN
PFC Wyville H. ALLETAG
PFC Verlin L. R. BASSETT
PFC Harold H. FLUEKIGER
PFC Hollis HOLT
PFC Charles C. LAWSON
PFC Jasper E. MOYE
PFC Carlo RANA
PFC Preston E. RICHARD
PFC Raymond R. ROBERSON
PFC James M. WALKER
PFC William J. WOLFFE
PFC Richard T. ZEDICHER
Private Joseph L. CONWAY
Private William C. MCDOWELL