Personal Muster Roll History

Company C, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment

Muster Roll Personal History

Gordon W. Kraft

Pre- 23rd Marines History:

Enlisted Jan 26, 1940 - regular. Gordon was a member of the Iceland occupation force in 1941. The Islandic contingent returned to the U.S. in April/May 1942, and thereupon he was assigned to C-1-9 in Camp Elliot, California. C-1-9 split in July 1942 to form C-1-23. (See History of C-1-23, Chapter One.)

• 1. July 1942 Corporal Kraft became an original member of C-1-23 on July 22 - stationed in New River, N.C.

  2. Aug 1942 General Duty

  3. Sept 1942 28th promoted to Sergeant

  4. Oct 1942 Acting Gunnery Sergeant

  5. Nov 1942 1-12

     1. 1. 13-18 furlough.

        2. 19-30 Acting Platoon Sergeant.

  6. Dec 1942 Acting Platoon Sergeant

  7. Jan 1943 Act. Platoon Sergeant. See History of C-1-23 for description of Chesapeake Bay maneuvers.

  8. Feb 1943

  9. Mar 1943 1-18 Acting Platoon Sergeant

• • • 1. 19 promoted to Platoon Sergeant

• 10. Apr 1943 1-29 Platoon Sergeant - Co.

• • • 1. 30 Acting Gunnery Sergeant.

• 11. May 1943 1-31 Act. Acting Gunnery Sergeant.

  12. July 1943 Act Acting Gunnery Sergeant

• • • 1. 6th embarked aboard train at Camp LeJeune, New River, N.C.

      2. 6-11 enroute

      3. 12th arrived & disembarked at Camp Joseph H. Pendelton, Oceanside, California.

• 13. Aug 1943 Acting Gunnery Sergeant

  14. Sept 1943 Acting Gunnery Sergeant

  15. Oct 1943

  16. Nov 1943

  17. Dec 1943 14th embarked aboard APA -102 (USS LaSalle);

• • • 1. 15th sailed fr San Diego, Calif;

      2. 15-16 participated in divisional maneuvers;

      3. 17 arr and disemb (landing exercise) in the vicinity of Oceanside, California.

      4. 30, emb aboard APA-102,

      5. 31 sailed from San Diego, California

• 18. Jan 1944 1, enroute;

• • • 1. 2, participated in landing exercise aboard USS LaSalle at San Clemete Island, Calif.

      2. 3, enroute;

      3. 4 disembarked in the vicinity of Oceanside, Calif.

      4. 5-10 temporary duty aboard USS LaSalle at San Deigo Calif. In connection loading supplies.

      5. 11, disembarked to rejoin company.

      6. 11, re-embarked aboard USS LaSalle at San Deigo, Calif;

      7. 13 sailed therefrom.

      8. 13-31 enroute.

• 19. Feb 1944 1, arrived (Marshall Islands) and disembarked from USS LaSalle.

• • • 1. 1-4 participated in the Battle of Roi and Namur Island, Kwajalein Atoll, Marshall Islands.

      2. 5, re-embarked.

      3. 8, sailed therefrom.

      4. 8-16, enroute.

      5. 17, arr and disemb at Maui, T.H.

• 20. Mar 1944

  21. Apr 1944

  22. May 1944

  23. Jun 1944 (Now) Gunnery Sergeant

• • • 1. 1-14, enroute via USS Callaway.

      2. 15 arr and disembarked at Saipan, Marianas Islands

      3. 15-20 participated in the Battle of Saipan, Marianas Islands

• 24. Jul 1944 Act Co. 1st Sergeant.

• • • 1. 1.1-9 participated in the battle of Saipan, Mariana Islands.

      2. 24-31 participated in the Battle of Tinian, Marianas Islands.

• 25. Aug 1944 1-30 Act Co 1st Sergeant.

• • • 1. 1 only, paticipated in the Battle of Tinian, Marianas Islands;

      2. 10 embarked aboard SS Young America;

      3. 11, ssailed therefrom;

      4. 11-23, enroute.

      5. 24, arr and disemb at Kahalui, Maui, T.H.

      6. 31 promoted to 1st Sergeant.

• 26. Sep 1944 Co. 1st Sergeant

  27. Oct 1944

  28. Nov 1944 Co. 1st Sergeant.

• • 1. 15, emb aboard USS Hendry at Kahalui, Maui, T.H.

    2. 16, sailed therefrom.

    3. 17-18 participated in the Amphibious exercises in the vicinity of Maalaea Bay, Maui, T.H.

    4. 19, disemb in the vicinity of Maui Amphibious Training Center, Maui,T.H.

    5. 20, warrant changed from 1st Sergeant (org) to 1st Sergeant. (temp.)

• 29. Dec 1944

  30. Jan 1945 Co. "C" 1st Sergeant.

• • • 1. 1, sailed fr Kahalui, Maui, T.H. via USS Newberry;

      2. 2 arrived at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T.H.;

      3. 2-11, anchored thereat;

      4. 12-17, participated in the landing exercises in the vicinity of Maalaea Bay, Maui, T.H.

      5. 18, sailed therefrom.

      6. 19-26 anchored at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T.H.

      7. 27, sailed therefrom.

      8. 27-31, enroute

• 31. Feb 1945 "C" Co. 1st Sergeant.

• • • 1. 1-10 enroute via USS Newberry;

      2. 11, arr and disemb at Saipan, Marianas Islands;

      3. 11 embarked aboard LST #716.

      4. 11-14, moored thereat.

      5. 15, sailed therefrom;

      6. 15-18 enroute;

      7. 19, arr and disemb at Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands.

      8. 19-28, participated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands.

• 32. Mar 1945 "C" Co. 1st Sergeant.

• • • 1. 1-16, particpated in the Battle of Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands.

      2. 16, emb aboard USS Kingsbury at Iwo Jima, volcano Islands;

      3. 20 sailed therefrom;

      4. 20-21 enroute.

• 33. Apr 1945

  34. May 1945

  35. Jun 1945

  36. Jul 1945 1-2 SK V Phib Corps Hosp.

• • • 1. 3-31,"C" Co. 1st Sergeant.

• 37. Aug 1945

  38. Sep 1945 HQ Co.(?) 1-13, Co. 1st Sergeant;

• • • 1. 14 only, Act Co. 1st Sergeant(?);

      2. 14 promoted to Sergeant Major.

      3. 15-30, Bn Sergeant Maj.

      4. 15 joined fr Co. "C"

• 39. Oct 1945 Battalion Sergeant Major.

• • • 1. 25th, embarked aboard USS Rudyard Bay (CVE81) at Kahalui, Maui, T.H. and sailed therefrom.

      2. 25-30, enroute.

      3. 31, arr and disemb at San Diego, Calif.