🇺🇲WWII uncovered: Private First Class Chuck Tatum: 5th Marine Division: Veteran of Iwo Jima
🇺🇲WWII uncovered: Private First Class Chuck Tatum: 5th Marine Division: Veteran of Iwo Jima Charles William Tatum, of Stockton California, enlisted with the US Marine Corps while attending Stockton High School. In 1944, at the age of 17 years old Chuck was sent to train with the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton, California. In 1944, the US Marines were building the 5th Marine Division--also known as "The Spearhead"--in preparation for the invasion of the Island of Iwo Jima. Tatum was sent for further training with the 5th Division at Camp Tarawa near Hilo, Hawaii. Tatum was a member of B Company, 1st Battalion, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. "On 19 February 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")." ...