Dad told his WWII life and death story with a certain reserve in his voice. His memory was sharp and so was the moment he zigged and his best Marine buddy zagged. One went left, the other right. On yet another island hop in the South Pacific, Japanese infantry tucked in the hills above rained ordnance on arriving U.S. Marines below. Many a mortar found its mark.
Choose To Be a Marine
Just months before in the early 1940s, Hugh Audas had migrated from his Appalachian roots in Kentucky to the gleaming city of Cincinnati, a then hub of industry, commerce, and employment. He found work, but the country found itself in war and duty became apparent. There was a military draft in that era… and then there was December 7th, 1941. Dad saw no sense in waiting for a draft letter when he could decide his own fate. That of a U.S. Marine. I had the honor of authoring his story in the World War II Memorial Registry.
Once a Marine Always a Marine
Activity During WWII
ON THE 4TH OF JULY, 1942, HUGH AUDAS WAS ON A TRAIN TO PARRIS ISLAND AND BOOT CAMP. HE HAD ENLISTED IN THE U.S. MARINE CORPS TWO DAYS EARLIER IN CINCINNATI, OHIO. TO BE CERTAIN, PARRIS ISLAND WAS MORE THAN INTENSE, AND IN FACT, TWELVE WEEKS OF BASIC TRAINING WAS COMPLETED IN TEN. HE OPTED FOR THE MARINE AIRCRAFT WING (MAW) AND HOPED TO BE A GUNNER. AT SIX FEET TWO INCHES, HE WAS TOO TALL. INSTEAD, HE WOULD TRAIN AS AN AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AT MILITARY BASES IN CHERRY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA AND JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. THAT AIRCRAFT PROFICIENCY TOOK HIM TO EL TORO, CALIFORNIA, WHERE HE FIRST WORKED ON GRUMMAN F4F WILDCAT FIGHTER PLANES. HE WAS ASSIGNED TO THE FIRST MARINE AIR CORP, FIRST DIVISION. FROM THE NAVAL AIR STATION AT ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, HE SET SAIL FOR THE PACIFIC THEATER AS A MEMBER OF THE ALREADY DECORATED MARINE FIGHTING SQUADRON (VMF) 223 HE SERVED AS A CREW CHIEF ON THE VMF 223’S NEW PLANE, THE VOUGHT-SIKORSKY F4U-1 CORSAIR. HE PREPARED AND REPAIRED F4US IN MULTIPLE PACIFIC CAMPAIGNS INCLUDING BOUGAINVILLE FROM OCTOBER 27 TO DECEMBER 15, 1943. HE SERVED AS CREW CHIEF FOR CAPTAIN FRANK POOLE, F4U FIGHTER PILOT. AFTER BOUGAINVILLE WAS SECURED, HE AND THE VMF 223 SAW COMBAT DECEMBER 16, 1943 TO DECEMBER 12, 1944 AGAINST THE JAPANESE IN THE LONG SOLOMON ISLAND CAMPAIGN. QUALIFIED AS A PISTOL MARKSMAN AND RIFLE MARKSMAN. HE EARNED HONORABLE SERVICE AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDALS. AFTER WWII HE WAS HONORABLY DISCHARGED FROM THE MARINE CORPS ON APRIL 5, 1946.
Choose Which Way To Go
That day on the beach, Dad said he and his best Marine buddy were literally running for their lives as the mortars exploded around them. “Audas… this way!” His friend beckoned, but Dad said something urged him in a split second to not follow, not hit the fox hole together. His friend stepped one way, Dad the other. They both dove into separate pre-dug fox holes, one right and one left. An explosion forced a rush of debris Dad’s way. The exploding mortar zeroed a direct hit… on the other fox hole… where his friend beckoned seconds earlier. Dad lived to tell the story… his friend did not.
Destiny is Always Divine
He did not tell the story often, but when he did, Dad was certain about the urging that sent him the “other” way and spared him for 91 years of life. There was remorse but not despair in his story. God, for reasons only He would know, spared Dad. He could have saved both, or neither. I do not know whether Dad had a moment like that at the close of Saving Private Ryan. But I know he trusted Jesus Christ in that moment and for a lifetime to follow.
His story and service of country were not front and center for Dad’s lifetime. But we did take him to the World War II Memorial in DC a few years before his health declined. He wore a U.S. Marine ballcap. Other visitors sought him out, thanked him for his service and Dad was amazed at the attention. There had been a lot of life’s ups and down since those days as a Marine… since that day as a Marine. He was humbled and thankful… said it was the best trip he had ever made.
Dad… on this Veteran’s Day… we honor you one more time.
