Oral History Interview with M. T. Hebel Page: 2 of 3

                                
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Q: What did you think of the quality of leadership while you were in the service?
A: I am debating between the words superb and great.
Q: Please describe instances of particularly good or bad leadership?
A: In one instance, each of our companies had three tanks with them. The only communication was through an
antenna on top of the tank. And what the Japanese would do was come up to the antenna and attach a hand
grenade, then they would pull the pin and blow it up. Well that is the end of the communication. You can
understand that. O.K., in our A company, Captain Martin would get out in front of these tanks with his back
to the Japanese and pull them forward.
Q: Who were the real leaders?
A: I felt everyone I served with was dedicated.
Q: What did you think of the discipline at the time?
A: Strict.
Q: What forms of off-duty recreation were common?
A: Drinking beer.
Q: What songs were popular during your military service?
A: That is one I was not prepared for--I really do not know. Can we come back to that one?
Q: Did you note any instances of ethnic, racial, or religious discrimination?
A: Some.
Q: When you first learned you would go overseas, what was your reaction?
A: I am debating between the words elated and happy.
Q: What did you think of the wartime civilian newspaper, magazine or radio coverage of the war and your unit?
A: Poor.
Q: Please describe a "typical" day when your unit was committed to the front lines.
A: How much time do we have? No, I mean how much time do you have? In the Marine Corps, in combat was
a matter of taking over an island or beach head. I do not know whether you can visualize a place you have
to take away from someone, and you have to take it away from them by going over water. I was always in
the third wave. It was a matter of firepower, overcoming your enemy. It was just fighting, fighting, fighting.
The island that I was on was always full of craters or bomb holes. So, you would dive over land in a hole, and
somehow get your nerve up and dive again. We would set up our sick bay in these holes to protect us from
being sunk. One of my jobs was to decide what to do with the men, whether to patch him up and send him
to the front line, or I am going to patch him up, put a tag on him, and send him back to the ship. That was
a typical day for me.
Q: Did you ever participate in cooperative operations with a sister service?
A: Yes--the Army.
Q: Please describe a typical day in reserve when your unit was not committed to the front lines.
A: After I had been in the Navy awhile, I was tranferred to the Marines. In the Marine Corps you were always
training (25 mile hikes, running, etc.).
Q: How did you and your comrades regard enemy troops as fighters?

A: Great, just great.

50th Anniversary

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