Beschreibung:

Lot of 6 dispatches from the US Naval Communication Service. 6 x 7 in. 20 Mar 1945: "It is a pleasure to pass to you the following message received from General of the Army Arnold Chief of Army Air Forces. 'Successful accomplishment by the forces under your command in the capture of Iwo Jima has again proven the indomitable courage and will to win in the American tradition. My most hearty congratulations to and the men of your command in this splendid achievement.’" 25 May 1945 (Restricted): "The [USS] Bunker Hills excellent damage control performance is outstanding in so far as the progress of the war is concerned the saving of our own ships is better than building new ones Bunker Hill will fight again and inflict further damage on the enemy. Well done." 10 June 1945 (Secret Plus): "Summary 94 of 092400. All times item. 14 night heckling raids during period. Bombs were dropped ashore at IE Shima and Hagushi. 2 Japs show down by shore based AA at Ie Shima. Cap planes splashed 3 bogies. Tanylwrbucts returning Kyushu destroyed 1 Judy each off Amami...." Extensive listing of engagements. What is interesting is that they are beginning to probe the Japanese mainland and harass military bases, ports and industrial areas, likely in preparation for a future invasion. 27 May 1945: "The operation which we have been conducting for the capture of Okinawa has been the largest and longest one so far undertaken by the 5th Flt. The fighting by ships of the fleet has been marked by great courage and determination and has caused us the highest naval casualties of any operation up to this time. In particular, the destroyer and small type vessels which have so successfully screened the transport and unloading areas around Okinawa from enemy gun and submarine attack have set us examples of great heroism in actions too numerous to be cited individually. Our air has one more exhibited marked superiority over what the enemy has had to offer it as targets. I am proud to have been associated once more with so fine a body of fighting men and I regret having to leave you before our job is completed. Well done.” "To all hands Spruance." 21 June 1945: "Organized resistance on Okinawa has ceased. To officers and men of all United States armed forces of the Pacific Ocean areas and of the British Pacific Fleet who have had their part in achieving this important victory. Well Done. Nimitz." 24 June 1945: "The Commander in Chief United States fleet sends the following. 'To all officers and men of United States Armed forces of the Pacific Ocean areas and of the British Pacific flleet who had a part in achieving victory in the long an difficult campaign for Okinawa hearty congratulations on a job well done.' Fleet Admiral King.’" ______________________________________________________________________________________________________ World War II Dispatch Collection Lots 222-228 J. John Fox (1905-1999) was born in Paterson, NJ, but grew up in and worked most of his adult life in Boston, MA. He attended Boston University, then enrolled in Boston University Law School. It was there he acquired the nickname “Just John” Fox, his reply to a professor’s question about his name. When Pearl Harbor was attacked, Fox enlisted in the Navy, despite being around 36 years old. Initially he served in the North Atlantic before being assigned to the amphibious forces in the Pacific Theater under Admiral Richmond “Kelly” Turner. Fox became an intelligence officer and was involved in the planning of the assaults on Kwajelein, the Marianas, Palau, Leyte, Iwo Jima and Okinawa. In late 1945 he was also deeply involved in planning the invasion of Japan itself. Had the invasion occurred, he was to have been in charge of prisoner interrogation and captured documents. He was awarded the bronze star for his service in the Pacific Theater. Before being discharged in 1946, he helped in preparation of amphibious operations training materials at the Naval War College in Newport, RI. After his dis