Chuck Tatum
| Chuck Tatum | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Chuck |
| Born |
July 23, 1926 Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Died | June 22, 2014 (aged 87) |
| Allegiance |
 United States
|
| Service/branch |
 United States Marine Corps
|
| Years of service | 1943–1945 |
| Rank |
 Private First Class
|
| Unit | Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
 Bronze Star Medal with Combat "V" Purple Heart
|
| Other work | Author Racing driver |
Charles William "Chuck" Tatum (July 23, 1926 – June 22, 2014) was an American World War II veteran, bronze star recipient, race car driver and builder. On February 19, 1945, he was among the first wave of Marines to land on the Japanese island stronghold of Iwo Jima.
Tatum's war memoir, Red Blood, Black Sand, was one of five books used as source material for the Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks produced HBO miniseries The Pacific. Tatum is portrayed in the series by actor Ben Esler.
Tatum enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps when he was seventeen. He became a machine gunner. He was sent to the newly activated 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California in 1944 and became acquainted during training (and on Iwo Jima) with Medal of Honor recipient, Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone ("Manila John"), a machine gun section leader who was killed in action the first day on Iwo Jima and awarded the Navy Cross posthumously.
He was sent for further training with the 5th division at Camp Tarawa near Hilo, Hawaii which was preparing for the assault and capture of Iwo Jima. He was a member of Baker ("B") Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. On February 19, 1945 (D-Day), his battalion (Landing Team 1-27) disembarked and landed on "Red Beach 2" on the southeast side of Iwo Jima off of landing boats from the attack transport, USS Hansford (APA-106 ) with orders to, "land, seize, and occupy Iwo Jima" ("Island X").
...
Wikipedia