Stories by Sixth Division Marines
Letter From General Lemuel C. Shepherd to Adele A. Mante, 3 May 1945, Okinawa
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SIXTH MARINE DIVISION IN THE FIELD. Mrs. Adele A. Mante 3256 Riverdale Avenue Bronx, 63, New York My dear Mrs. Mante: Your very lovely letter of April 10 enclosing the specially blessed crucifix arrived today. It was most kind and thoughtful of you to send me this sacred emblem which brings with it a long chain of prayers offered by you and your priest. As I wrote you previously, I am a firm believer in the power of prayer. I feel confident that the prayers offered by you and the many mothers whose sons are engaged in this conflict, as well as our own, have enabled this division to attain its present successes with a minimum cost of life. From the time when I was informed that our landing on Okinawa would be on Easter morn, I had a feeling of confidence that Our Lord would look with favor on our operation. Such was the case. Although the beaches over which we were to land had been organized for defense, when we came ashore on Easter Day we found that the Japanese, for some unaccountable reason, had withdrawn inland, thus permitting us to land without casualties. During the past month the Sixth Division has conquered the central and northern parts of Okinawa. The enemy resistance encountered has only been moderate, and we have suffered a comparatively few casualties. You may, therefore, feel that your prayers have been answered. I sincerely hope that our casualties do not materially increase during the remainder of the campaign. I am pleased to inform you that your son, Andrew, is well and doing fine work. He has a splendid commanding officer in Lieutenant Colonel Hochmuth, who I am sure will do all in his power to take good care of your boy. Of course, only God can protect him in battle, but I earnestly hope through your prayers he will be spared. Although I can make no promises, I have every reason to believe that Andrew may return to the States before the summer is over. In closing, I wish again to thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers for my guidance and strength in this campaign. You may rest assured that I devote my entire thought and energies to the care and protection of the fine boys whom I am privileged to command. I pray nightly that God in His infinite mercy may guide me properly in the decisions I must make and for the protection of the officers and men under my command. May He bless our cause and bring us a speedy victory. With many thanks again for your beautiful crucifix which will give me strength and faith in the future, I remain Sincerely yours, LEMUEL C. SHEPHERD, Jr. Major General, U.S. Marine Corps Commanding, Sixth Marine Division |
 Generals Simon Boliver Buckner Jr., Lemuel C. Shepherd Jr., and William T. Clement on Okinawa, May 22, 1945 We thank Sallie Shepherd for providing us with General Shepherd's Address to the 6th Marine Division before the battle of Okinawa. |