Deadeyes fought well and hard on Leyte and Okinawa, thousands were wounded and hundreds died serving their country. They had met the enemy and fought with ferocity, secured the objectives with tenacity and high purpose, and emerged victorious. For their effort and results, they were recognized and honored by their nation by being awarded their country’s highest award; The Presidential Unit Citation.
Those who had lived through those bloody and trying times developed a camaraderie that has endured for decades.
In the beginning one Deadeye took the initiative in 1956 to get 96th Division men together by placing an ad in a military magazine. From that beginning the legacy has been remarkably perpetuated by dedicated Deadeyes and their wives and children, to the proud legacy enjoyed today.
Ponder these results if you will; this evolving group of volunteers proved to be diligent, spectacular and honorable, because this legacy has lived for over six decades and continues.
From that seed of friendship long ago literally battalions of men and women accepted leadership rolls and applied their energy and foresight and held great reunions, city by city, year by year all across the country.
Hundreds attended each reunion, and old buddies met in jovial groups, and often relived the painful battles of Leyte and Okinawa, and shared their present lives. They visited the host cities, took sightseeing trips together and enjoyed beer busts, and many festivities. Deadeye wives formed the Women’s Auxiliary and provided meaningful programs for the wives and daughters to enjoy.
Deadeyes without exception remembered their fallen buddies with the most impressive and honorable of memorial services. Their reunions customarily ended with a formal dinner and dance, and they enjoyed the presentation of the keynote speaker, and honored their members. Usually the groups met together by company unit and over time these emerged into close families, and often tearfully departed the following mornings with the pleasant glow of brotherhood within them.
Over the years many members were involved with countless hours planning the next reunion. Many produced their division newsletter; the Deadeye Dispatch, as well as others diligently doing those mundane tasks of collecting dues and keeping records up to date.
Other members proudly have made sure that the heavy Deadeye contribution to victory in WWII was recognized by establishing monuments and memorials both in Leyte and Okinawa, with a total of seventeen locations in the United States, and listings in four other sites. This involved travel across the country by several active members and overseas trips. Several members toured the old battle sites on guided tours. A Heritage Fund has been created to provide more plaques, flags and other items at various military sites around the country.
The Deadeyes are also most fortunate to have access to a great website where everyone can make meaningful connections with buddies and friends. It is also provides a great trove of information. The new group; The Infantry Deadeye Association” also has a great website to keep everyone informed of current events and the 96th Readiness Command also publishes the Deadeye Magazine
The past Deadeye Dispatches have been digitalized and are available on a CD as well as CDs of pictures of Leyte and Okinawa, another CD covers training, and the last one covers memorials and monuments. Many have written memoirs and a few have written books, given testimonials, contributed poems, articles and pictures. Many have recorded their oral histories and have stored them in the National Archives. Regis University of Denver has recorded and stored many Deadeye video interviews, and the Deadeye Dispatch continues to be published today.
At last count there are two other Deadeye groups that meet annually; one in Ohio and another in Oregon.
These veterans of Leyte and Okinawa held their forty-eighth reunion fittingly in Washington D.C, in 2005. With their numbers depleted and aging, the responsibility of planning and conducting reunions had to be passed on. The 96th Readiness Command stepped up and admirably continued reunions these last few years, for the remaining WWII Deadeyes, their families, and Readiness Command members.
Many of us all around the country feel we are privileged to celebrate all these men and women and their accomplishments, and it is why we are now dedicated to preserving their history, and keeping the glow of camaraderie alive
Certainly we would be remiss if we would do less for these gallant people and the legacy they have created, whose deeds were and are legion; who gave and are giving their very best for their country, the America we all love.
