Marine53
10-16-2006, 09:17 AM
Two years ago I was sitting in a Cracker Barrel Restaurant in Forsythe, Il. I had a red MC sweatshirt on. I was tapped on the shoulder by an elderly gray haired gentleman. He commented about my shirt and introduced himself as Bill Faulkner. We then started to discuss the Corps.
During this conversation, and others, I learned that he is the Fualkner of Flags Of Our Fathers. He and Ira Hayes went through boot camp together, and then trained together as para Marines.
He told numerous humorous stories about those times.
He also related that he and Hayes shared a foxhole on Bougainville. One night while he slept and Hayes stood watch, two Japs silently crawled up to the edge of their hole. Both Japs were killed by bayonets. The one Hayes got stuck to his bayonet, and he pulled him into the hole. After removing the body, Hayes got sick. Faulkner also got wounded on Bougainville, and the 'hospital' was a tent. He also got dysentery and suffered a great deal, both from it and the 'hit' he took.
Both he and Hayes were on Iwo together, but by this time in other other outfits. Faulkner also got wounded on Iwo.
Faullkner and Hayes were also on Guadacanal with the 1stMarDiv.
We all owe a great deal to men of that time.
Semper Fi
During this conversation, and others, I learned that he is the Fualkner of Flags Of Our Fathers. He and Ira Hayes went through boot camp together, and then trained together as para Marines.
He told numerous humorous stories about those times.
He also related that he and Hayes shared a foxhole on Bougainville. One night while he slept and Hayes stood watch, two Japs silently crawled up to the edge of their hole. Both Japs were killed by bayonets. The one Hayes got stuck to his bayonet, and he pulled him into the hole. After removing the body, Hayes got sick. Faulkner also got wounded on Bougainville, and the 'hospital' was a tent. He also got dysentery and suffered a great deal, both from it and the 'hit' he took.
Both he and Hayes were on Iwo together, but by this time in other other outfits. Faulkner also got wounded on Iwo.
Faullkner and Hayes were also on Guadacanal with the 1stMarDiv.
We all owe a great deal to men of that time.
Semper Fi