Photos

After 40 Thieves on Saipan was sent to our publisher in July of 2019, the war photos of 40 Thief PFC John J. Zuziak were sent to me by his son, Richard.

The most wonderful aspect of these, were the names provided.

It was very uncommon for privates to be issued pistols. But being members of the elite Scout-Sniper Platoon, they were quite proud of their new weapon.

The beautiful pearl-handled pistol in the photos is the same in every shot. The center photo is of Daniel “Red” Kenny.

I learned, from Lonnie Jackson Jr, that his father “acquired” it from an Army officer and was quite pleased….

Zuziak  was  part  of  a training  mission  into  the  Waipio  Valley,

where they wandered into the off-limits-to-all-military-personnel village of Pololu. Off-limits because the population consisted of Japanese loyalists. So much so, all the men had been sent to internment camps leaving the entire population consisting of women and children.

The woman who ran the General Store in Pololu was  a spy. She took such good care of the boys, they called her “Mom.”

Mom introduced the boys to some girls their own age, and they had the time of their lives.                                      

Eventually, the head of the Hawaiian Home Guard caught wind of their escapades and invited them to a lunch at his home, just north of Pololu.

They got into a bit of trouble over their unauthorized holiday, but only Emerick and Orozco served brig time.

This last photo from the Zuziak collection was taken on D-Day for the Battle of Saipan. Zuziak is center, looking back at the camera; the platoon leader, Lt Frank Tachovsky is far left; Cpl Don Evans is in the foreground, resting his head on his hand.