Benjamin Michael Roebuck (17 January 1915 – 29 May 1945) was an American marine who served in the US Marine Corps as Corporal, and later a Sergeant in World War II during the Pacific theater. After the death of Tom Sullivan , he became the commander of the detachment. Participated in many battles: Makin, Cape Gloucester, Peleliu and finally Okinawa
Biography[]
Early life[]
Benjamin Roebuck was born on January 17, 1915 in Houston, Texas. In the family of a World War I veteran and a schoolteacher. He spent his childhood and youth on the street, which greatly tempered his character. Back in 1939, Roebuck guessed that his country would be drawn into World War II and decided to volunteer to join the US Marine Corps.
The Raiders[]
In 1942, Roebuck's colleague Miller and his squad were sent to Makin Atoll for reconnaissance purposes. But the American command did not receive news from them for a week and decided to act by sending a detachment of Tom Sullivan, which included Roebuck himself. First of all, the raiders rescued Miller and a couple of survivors of his squad. Roebuck Killed a sadistic Japanese captain himself Shihei Okura. Roebuck fought their way to the ammunition depot and finally blew it up and left the island. Roebuck fought in Guadalcanal from September 1942 to January 1943. Years later, they fought at Cape Gloucester in late 1943 to early 1944.
Peleliu[]
On September 15, 1944, Roebuck, along with Sullivan, Miller and recruit Tom Polonsky, landed on the white beach of Peleliu, breaking forward, Miller destroys Japanese tanks by letting the allied army pass, but the fighters did not celebrate victory for long, because a Japanese lieutenant jumped out of the door and killed Sullivan with a katana, and Roebuck had to be promoted to sergeant. Realizing what a burden of responsibility lies on him, Roebuck quickly recovered from Sullivan's death and takes energetic command into his own hands. Roebuck understands that there is no way to win this battle if you do not capture the enemy airfield. The Marines, although they suffered high losses, still destroyed all the Japanese tanks, the enemy's manpower captured the airfield. The Japanese launched a counteroffensive to retake the airfield, but Roebuck led the defense competently and during the napalm bombardment, thereby repulsed the enemy's counteroffensive. Despite the capture of the airfield, the Japanese resisted. Roebuck, Miller and Polonsky began mopping up mortar crews and trenches, which they successfully coped with and allowed the allied tanks to go forward. On September 16, Major Gordon gave the task to the Roebuck detachment to destroy the artillery in the caves. While advancing on tanks, they were ambushed, but Roebuck and his squad quickly recovered and destroyed the ambush. With the help of a flamethrower tank, Roebuck, Miller and Polonsky cleared their way into the caves, capturing the rock, the fighters celebrating the victory remember what a great price it was paid
Okinawa[]
In April, Roebuck and the Marines landed in Okinawa, and after a month of fighting, Roebuck faces a monstrous drop in the morale of the fighters for many reasons: high losses, lack of supplies, inability to evacuate the wounded. But on May 14, Roebuck, under vigorous control, recaptures Van's Ridge. But the fighters are in no hurry to celebrate the victory because they are annoyed by the news from Major Gordon that there will be no ammunition replenishment until tomorrow, especially Polonsky. Roebuck understands Polonsky's anger, but is silent so as not to aggravate the already tense situation. On May 29, Roebuck, Miller and Polonsky with other Marines storm the last stronghold of the Japanese resistance, surviving an ambush and mortar fire, the fighters break through the castle's defense lines. After destroying all the enemies on the outskirts, Roebuck and his squad descend into the caves, clearing the caves, Roebuck and Polonsky meet 3 Japanese with their hands raised, but it was a trap, Roebuck dies from a grenade explosion, and Polonsky beats kamikaze to death. Seeing that Roebuck died, Polonsky and Miller were filled with anger and promised himself to avenge the death of a friend. What happened, the Marines suffered heavy losses with the support of aviation destroyed the last defenders of the castle. Polonsky bitterly gives the Roebuck token to Miller, hinting that they are to blame for his death.
Gallery[]
