8th & I Reunion Association - Photos of the 1940's

The 8th & I Reunion Association

An organization of Marines
who served at
Marine Barracks
8th & I Streets, S.E.,
Washington D.C.

Photos of the 1940's

These interesting photos were taken in 1946, and were submitted by John Melvin ('45- '46). Shown is an interesting piece of Barracks history — that Dress Blues were not required immediately after WWII. The top photo shows then-Lt. Melvin in what was then the parade uniform as well as the uniform for the Officer of the Day. The other two photos show Melvin as the Officer of the Day conducting rifle inspection of the Guard, the middle photo while wearing the winter dress uniform, and the bottom photo shows another inspection wearing the summer uniform.

The First Ceremonial Drill Team's premiere performance at the Tennessee State Society meeting at the Shoreham Hotel in Washington D.C. on October 14, 1948. It was led by 1st Lt. William H. Lanagan and SSgt James Jones. Other MCI/Barracks Marines formed a background depicting Marines who fought in various wars.

The United Nations Beauty Queen was crowned at the Statler Hotel in Washington D.C. on December 3, 1948. The queen, Belkis Temel, of Turkey, was crowned by Ambassador Tom Clark, Mrs Richard Harliss and actor Walter Pidgeon. 8th and I Marines escorted the contestants during the contest.

President Harry S. Truman and Brazilian President Dutra review the honor guard at National Airport, Washington D.C. on May 18, 1949. Two platoons from 8th and I participated.

The funeral of James Forrestal, America's first Secretary of Defense, at Arlington Cemetery on 25 May, 1949. Marines from 8th and I, as seen in the foreground and background, participated in the service.

SSgt James Jones presents summer camp donations at the Congressional Baseball Game on June 3, 1949. The Ceremonial Drill Team performed their maneuvers for the crowd before the game started.

President Harry S. Truman and President Quirino of the Philippines review the Honor Guard at National Airport, Washington, D. C. on August 8th, 1949. The last man in the front rank is George Sigler.

"Dutch" Genoble and Jim Carmickle at the flagpole, 8th and I, Washington, D.C. (Undated, 1949)

(Items submitted by Jim Carmickle)

This picture was taken on 4 July 1947 at the Second Division Memorial, President's Park, Washington, DC, and includes (Right to Left / last names only): Strom, Rudolph, Davis, Weiss, Robertson, Proux, Toner, and Sgt. Hilliard.

(submitted by 8th & I Marine RICHARD DAVIS, 1946-1948, Lutherville, MD)

1-30-23 ... A GRANDSON'S MEMORIES OF DECEASED 8TH & I MARINE FREDERICK E. ONGARO, BARRACKS DETACHMENT, 1944-45

He was posted at the Barracks at Washington, D.C. from 17May1944 until 13Jun1945.
On his separation paperwork (? - Form No. NMC 940A), it specifies that his primary duty was as "Guard-PAT 522.

My grandfather was overseas with the 3d Bn, 22d Marine Regt (under the 3d MarBrig) for 7 mo and 7 days and was primarily on American Samoa and then Uvea Island, Wallis Island (based on the muster rolls). There isn't a huge amount of information on the unit as it was an orphaned unit that still existed during the restructuring that occurred during the course of the war. From what I can tell, they were eventually wrapped into what formed the 6thMarDiv for the Battle of Okinawa, but before that saw combat on Eniwetok and Guam. This is another one of the do outs that I have with the Marine Corps History Division.

Based on what I have been able to gather and find through sentences here and there in some books, I believe the unit was in a defensive and training posture during his time with them as it was prior to the Battle of Eniwetok in early 1944. He was back at the USNH in Oakland, CA by mid-July1943 and was transferred to USNH St. Albans and then Guard Company, Marine Barracks, Navy Yard, New York, NY (he actually overlapped with Cpl Sterling Mace and have a bit of a suspicion that my grandfather may be the Marine that he mentions around the 4 min mark.).

In all honesty, I think that my family can thank those lucky numbers (7 mo, 7 days) because after he contracted filariasis (elephantiasis), he was on the US mainland for the remainder of the war and never made his way back to the 22d Marine Regt (As LCDR Jacko Willink says [paraphrasing], "Everyone's service is important and you did what your country asked of you."). After his time at the Barracks Detachment in Washington D.C., he was transferred to the Hq Co, HqBn at Camp Lejeune (I believe that this would be the 2dMarDiv, but this is another do out with the History Division as the 2dMarDiv was deployed in the Pacific during this time in support of the Battle of Okinawa) in June1945 until he was discharged on 28Nov1945. My guess is that he was there to train to be deployed as a rifleman (His MOS was 745, Rifleman) or fire team leader with the 2dMarDiv as the United States pushed on toward an invasion of mainland Japan. (As an aside, we have a Rifle Platoon Field Manual that has "Cpl Frederick Ongaro" on the inside cover in his handwriting. I believe that he was slated to pick up Corporal around this time as he was promoted to PFC in Sept1943. His "Professional and Conduct Records" are stellar as well and have 5's pretty much across the board. The other piece of evidence that I have is that it looks like he wrote Cpl on his Form NMC 940A in the Grade field when he was stationed at Camp Lejeune. It is erased though and replaced with PFC.)

The other thing that is truly messed up is my grandfather's awards. As he wasn't in theater for very long, I don't think he has any valor awards, but the only one that is listed on his records is the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal which I know for a fact he should have the American Campaign Medal and the WWII Victory Medal listed. I will say that the muster rolls will typically list PHs and other awards for valor. I actually think that this is pretty common though for the WWII era in the Marine Corps unfortunately. NARA has GySgt Basilone's personnel file up for public viewing and the only award that is listed is his MOH, which is a bit wild.

Obituary - 11March2008

(Submitted by Frederick Ongaro's grandson, Jonathan Burg, Ph.D, LTJG, USPHS Ready Reserve Corps / Region 4 about 8th & I Marine Frederick E. Ongaro, Barracks Detachment, 1944-1945

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