Captain Harold E Haught
Harold Eugene Haught was born in New Martinsville, West Virginia on August 7th, 1915 to Bertha Pyles and Clinton Haught, and would soon be followed by two brothers and a sister. A few years after completing high school and in the wake of his mothers death, Harold made the decision to join the Marine Corps on June 24th, 1937 in California.
China
With the conclusion of his two months of training, the USMC wasted no time in assigning Private Haught to Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade on August 25th. Four days later, the company boarded the USS Chaumont and set sail for the Pacific. The reason for the quick mobilization was due to Japan launching an all out offensive to capture the city of Shanghai, China on August 13th, where the United States and other global powers had citizens and property. The conflict necessitated more troops to be sent to Shanghai to protect American assets, and the 6th Marines were one of the units rushed over for that purpose. On September 19th, Private Haught finally reached the war torn country and after a few weeks in billet near the coast, made its way to the American Sector of the Shanghai International Settlement to keep tabs on the fighting and prevent either side from endangering the citizens there. Unfortunately for the Chinese and Marines, Japan succeeded in capturing the entire city by the end of the year, leaving the surrounded Americans in a precarious situation.
It was decided that the 2nd Marine Brigade would be evacuated back to the states, but instead of joining them, Private Haught was transferred to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines on February 11th, 1938. This regiment was the only one left behind and the sole unit between the International Settlement and Japanese interests. Regardless, Private Haught carried on his duties in Shanghai where he guarded the Riverside Power Plant in September, qualified as a marksman on May 17th, 1939, received a promotion to Private First Class on August 3rd, qualified as a marksman for the second time in January 1940, and gained a sharpshooter qualification for the Thompson machine gun. The outbreak of WW2 on September 1st, 1939 made the 4th Marines’ situation worse when Japan joined the Axis powers. While America continued to stay neutral, it was only a matter of time until something broke out, and Japanese hostilities against the Americans in China began growing. As a result, the Marines slowly began pulling out of Shanghai, with Haught leaving aboard the USS Chaumont on November 19th, 1940, shortly after a promotion to Corporal.
Iceland
At the end of a few weeks of furlough once arriving back in the states, Corporal Haught found a temporary home with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, on January 2nd, which began conducting training operations for the future possibility of war. The next two months were filled with minor landing operations and training exercises until Corporal Haught transferred to HQ Company, 6th Marines on May 27th for yet another overseas deployment. Iceland had just been seized by the British a few weeks prior to deny Germany access to the country, and since Britain was locked in combat with Germany, they requested for American forces to replace parts of their garrison to free up British troops. On the 31st, the 6th Marines embarked on the USS William P Biddle, and after a few stops, arrived in Iceland on July 7th.
For the next four months, Corporal Haught and the Marines built and expanded their camps, and provided support to the remaining British troops there, but refrained from any action due to America’s neutrality. Their situation would change very soon. With the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and the subsequent declaration of war on the Axis powers, the Marines stationed in Iceland were no longer neutral, however their attention was not on the Germans, but instead the Japanese, who had attacked their Marine comrades in the Pacific. Ten days after the attack, Haught was promoted to Sergeant, joined the Anti Tank Platoon of his current unit, and on March 8th, bid farewell to their British comrades in Iceland and arrived at Camp Elliott, California after twenty two days at sea.
Guadalcanal
Two months later, Sergeant Haught joined the newly created Weapons Company of the 6th Marines, and was once again placed in their Anti Aircraft and Anti Tank platoon. On October 19th, Haught, now a Platoon Sergeant, boarded the SS Matsonia with the 6th Marines for Wellington, New Zealand where they completed further training in preparation to join the Battle of Guadalcanal which had begun in August. On January 4th, 1943, the Marines finally made landfall at Guadalcanal, but by that time, resistance on the island was coming to a close. Platoon Sergeant Haught and the 6th Marines were paired up with Army units to clear the rest of the island of Japanese, but unbeknownst to them, they had already begun to withdraw after deeming the battle lost. As a result, the advance met only a few small pockets of resistance and they officially cleared the island on February 9th, 1943. Soon after, the regiment was transported back to New Zealand where they underwent seven months of preparations for their next offensive; the invasion of Tarawa atoll.
Tarawa
On October 23rd, Platoon Sergeant Haught and the 6th Marines boarded the USS Ormsby, and after a brief stop at Efate, converged on the island of Tarawa with invasion force. The 6th Marines were designated as the division reserve for the attack which began on the morning of November 20th, but the Marines encountered such high casualties on the first day that reinforcements were badly needed. During the night of the 21st, the 6th Marines were finally committed to the attack, with 1/6 landing on Green Beach, 2/6 on Bairik, and Platoon Sergeant Haught’s Weapons Company arriving the next afternoon. On the 22nd, the 8th Marines overran enemy positions to the north and the 6th Marines attacked up the south coast. At nightfall, an enemy counterattack created a gap in the 6th Marines’ line, but with the help of Platoon Sergeant Haught’s company, it was quickly filled and all other enemy assaults were beaten back. By the end of November 23rd, Tarawa had been cleared and the battle was finally over but at a very high cost.
The end of Haught’s second invasion brought a transfer back to the United States and after a well deserved furlough, he joined the Regimental Weapons Co, 26th Marines, of the brand new 5th Marine Division on February 7th, 1944, which later moved to Camp Hilo, Hawaii for amphibious training. While under instruction, Haught was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and shortly before the division shipped back to the Pacific, he was transferred to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines on December 20th. Sixteen days later, the regiment boarded the USS Darke and sailed to their new objective, the island of Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima
After three days of violent preliminary bombardments, the assault waves rushed towards their designated beaches on February 19th, with the first LVT landing at 9:02 AM. They encountered heavy enemy fire almost immediately, and as a result, casualties began to rapidly mount, and LVTs plus knocked out vehicles clogged the beaches. Gunnery Sergeant Haught’s 26th Marines spent the majority of DDay watching the carnage offshore until landing at 5:32 PM and quickly moving to defensive positions near Airfield Number 1. By the end of the first day, Marine casualties had been extremely high and there was still a lot of work to do. The next morning saw the 28th Marines attacking towards Mount Suribachi and the other regiments pushing to the O-1 line in the north, with Haught’s battalion remaining in reserve until relieving the depleted 25th Marines on the 22nd.
Their zone was hotly contested and any advances were met with immediate enemy fire. As a result, Gunnery Sergeant Haught and his battalion only advanced 400 yards by nightfall, and were unable to capture further ground the next day. On the 24th, the Marines attacked Airfield Number 2 in the face of heavy machine gun fire. The 26th Marines easily captured the ground in front of their positions, but GySgt Haught’s 3rd Battalion came under deadly flanking fire from a bluff on the right after passing the 21st Marines’ line. Nevertheless, they pushed 400 yards ahead until halting at nightfall. The attack resumed at 8:00 AM supported by tanks, and the 26th Marines succeeded in gaining 300 more yards until being relieved for much needed rest. Upon returning to the line on March 1st, GySgt Haught and the 5th Marine Division assaulted a seemingly invisible enemy on Nishi Ridge and Hill 362B, which were finally captured on the 3rd.
The 26th Marines had lost over one thousand troops in just thirteen days from their determined attacks, but they had to press on. During the assault towards Kitano point on March 15th, GySgt Haught’s luck ran out when he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. With his regiment already lacking manpower, Haught refused evacuation for his wounds and continued fighting with his men. Iwo Jima was declared secure the very next day, but determined resistance was still being encountered at Kitano Point which the 26th Marines were tasked to clear. While fighting a battle of attrition at this last strongpoint, Gunnery Sergeant Haught suffered another gunshot wound to the chest during the action in which he was awarded the Silver Star on March 23rd:
“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Harold E. Haught (MCSN: 259703), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Gunnery Sergeant of Company H, Third Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 23 March 1945. Assuming command of a disorganized platoon at nightfall after it was pinned down by heavy enemy fire; Gunnery Sergeant Haught braved intense small arms fire and bursting grenades to reorganize the group and, after establishing contact on his flanks, dug the platoon in for the night. Although wounded during the action, he remained with his platoon and inspired his men to hold their position during the night and launch a successful attack in the morning. His courage, leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
Home
After the successful counterattack, GySgt Haught allowed himself to be evacuated and his wounds proved serious enough to warrant his immediate removal from the island and back to a hospital stateside. The next four months in the US were spent recovering, during which the Marine Corps offered him a 2nd Lieutenant commission due to his heroic actions and leadership abilities, which he accepted on August 29th, 1945. Just a few days later, Japan announced their unconditional surrender, ending World War Two, but it was not the end of 2nd Lieutenant Haught’s career in the Marine Corps. Shortly after WW2, 2nd Lt Haught married Leola Councilman, former Miss North Carolina, on March 2nd, 1946 while stationed at Camp Lejeune. Harold’s long military service came to an end when he retired from the USMC on December 31st, 1966 with the rank of Captain, and later became a member of the Retired Officers Association. After his wife died in 1991, Harold moved to St Cloud, Florida where he would sadly pass away on October 9th, 1994, leaving behind no children.
China
With the conclusion of his two months of training, the USMC wasted no time in assigning Private Haught to Company C, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines, 2nd Marine Brigade on August 25th. Four days later, the company boarded the USS Chaumont and set sail for the Pacific. The reason for the quick mobilization was due to Japan launching an all out offensive to capture the city of Shanghai, China on August 13th, where the United States and other global powers had citizens and property. The conflict necessitated more troops to be sent to Shanghai to protect American assets, and the 6th Marines were one of the units rushed over for that purpose. On September 19th, Private Haught finally reached the war torn country and after a few weeks in billet near the coast, made its way to the American Sector of the Shanghai International Settlement to keep tabs on the fighting and prevent either side from endangering the citizens there. Unfortunately for the Chinese and Marines, Japan succeeded in capturing the entire city by the end of the year, leaving the surrounded Americans in a precarious situation.
It was decided that the 2nd Marine Brigade would be evacuated back to the states, but instead of joining them, Private Haught was transferred to the 1st Battalion, 4th Marines on February 11th, 1938. This regiment was the only one left behind and the sole unit between the International Settlement and Japanese interests. Regardless, Private Haught carried on his duties in Shanghai where he guarded the Riverside Power Plant in September, qualified as a marksman on May 17th, 1939, received a promotion to Private First Class on August 3rd, qualified as a marksman for the second time in January 1940, and gained a sharpshooter qualification for the Thompson machine gun. The outbreak of WW2 on September 1st, 1939 made the 4th Marines’ situation worse when Japan joined the Axis powers. While America continued to stay neutral, it was only a matter of time until something broke out, and Japanese hostilities against the Americans in China began growing. As a result, the Marines slowly began pulling out of Shanghai, with Haught leaving aboard the USS Chaumont on November 19th, 1940, shortly after a promotion to Corporal.
Iceland
At the end of a few weeks of furlough once arriving back in the states, Corporal Haught found a temporary home with Company L, 3rd Battalion, 8th Marines, on January 2nd, which began conducting training operations for the future possibility of war. The next two months were filled with minor landing operations and training exercises until Corporal Haught transferred to HQ Company, 6th Marines on May 27th for yet another overseas deployment. Iceland had just been seized by the British a few weeks prior to deny Germany access to the country, and since Britain was locked in combat with Germany, they requested for American forces to replace parts of their garrison to free up British troops. On the 31st, the 6th Marines embarked on the USS William P Biddle, and after a few stops, arrived in Iceland on July 7th.
For the next four months, Corporal Haught and the Marines built and expanded their camps, and provided support to the remaining British troops there, but refrained from any action due to America’s neutrality. Their situation would change very soon. With the Japanese surprise attack at Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 and the subsequent declaration of war on the Axis powers, the Marines stationed in Iceland were no longer neutral, however their attention was not on the Germans, but instead the Japanese, who had attacked their Marine comrades in the Pacific. Ten days after the attack, Haught was promoted to Sergeant, joined the Anti Tank Platoon of his current unit, and on March 8th, bid farewell to their British comrades in Iceland and arrived at Camp Elliott, California after twenty two days at sea.
Guadalcanal
Two months later, Sergeant Haught joined the newly created Weapons Company of the 6th Marines, and was once again placed in their Anti Aircraft and Anti Tank platoon. On October 19th, Haught, now a Platoon Sergeant, boarded the SS Matsonia with the 6th Marines for Wellington, New Zealand where they completed further training in preparation to join the Battle of Guadalcanal which had begun in August. On January 4th, 1943, the Marines finally made landfall at Guadalcanal, but by that time, resistance on the island was coming to a close. Platoon Sergeant Haught and the 6th Marines were paired up with Army units to clear the rest of the island of Japanese, but unbeknownst to them, they had already begun to withdraw after deeming the battle lost. As a result, the advance met only a few small pockets of resistance and they officially cleared the island on February 9th, 1943. Soon after, the regiment was transported back to New Zealand where they underwent seven months of preparations for their next offensive; the invasion of Tarawa atoll.
Tarawa
On October 23rd, Platoon Sergeant Haught and the 6th Marines boarded the USS Ormsby, and after a brief stop at Efate, converged on the island of Tarawa with invasion force. The 6th Marines were designated as the division reserve for the attack which began on the morning of November 20th, but the Marines encountered such high casualties on the first day that reinforcements were badly needed. During the night of the 21st, the 6th Marines were finally committed to the attack, with 1/6 landing on Green Beach, 2/6 on Bairik, and Platoon Sergeant Haught’s Weapons Company arriving the next afternoon. On the 22nd, the 8th Marines overran enemy positions to the north and the 6th Marines attacked up the south coast. At nightfall, an enemy counterattack created a gap in the 6th Marines’ line, but with the help of Platoon Sergeant Haught’s company, it was quickly filled and all other enemy assaults were beaten back. By the end of November 23rd, Tarawa had been cleared and the battle was finally over but at a very high cost.
The end of Haught’s second invasion brought a transfer back to the United States and after a well deserved furlough, he joined the Regimental Weapons Co, 26th Marines, of the brand new 5th Marine Division on February 7th, 1944, which later moved to Camp Hilo, Hawaii for amphibious training. While under instruction, Haught was promoted to Gunnery Sergeant and shortly before the division shipped back to the Pacific, he was transferred to Company H, 3rd Battalion, 26th Marines on December 20th. Sixteen days later, the regiment boarded the USS Darke and sailed to their new objective, the island of Iwo Jima.
Iwo Jima
After three days of violent preliminary bombardments, the assault waves rushed towards their designated beaches on February 19th, with the first LVT landing at 9:02 AM. They encountered heavy enemy fire almost immediately, and as a result, casualties began to rapidly mount, and LVTs plus knocked out vehicles clogged the beaches. Gunnery Sergeant Haught’s 26th Marines spent the majority of DDay watching the carnage offshore until landing at 5:32 PM and quickly moving to defensive positions near Airfield Number 1. By the end of the first day, Marine casualties had been extremely high and there was still a lot of work to do. The next morning saw the 28th Marines attacking towards Mount Suribachi and the other regiments pushing to the O-1 line in the north, with Haught’s battalion remaining in reserve until relieving the depleted 25th Marines on the 22nd.
Their zone was hotly contested and any advances were met with immediate enemy fire. As a result, Gunnery Sergeant Haught and his battalion only advanced 400 yards by nightfall, and were unable to capture further ground the next day. On the 24th, the Marines attacked Airfield Number 2 in the face of heavy machine gun fire. The 26th Marines easily captured the ground in front of their positions, but GySgt Haught’s 3rd Battalion came under deadly flanking fire from a bluff on the right after passing the 21st Marines’ line. Nevertheless, they pushed 400 yards ahead until halting at nightfall. The attack resumed at 8:00 AM supported by tanks, and the 26th Marines succeeded in gaining 300 more yards until being relieved for much needed rest. Upon returning to the line on March 1st, GySgt Haught and the 5th Marine Division assaulted a seemingly invisible enemy on Nishi Ridge and Hill 362B, which were finally captured on the 3rd.
The 26th Marines had lost over one thousand troops in just thirteen days from their determined attacks, but they had to press on. During the assault towards Kitano point on March 15th, GySgt Haught’s luck ran out when he suffered a gunshot wound to the chest. With his regiment already lacking manpower, Haught refused evacuation for his wounds and continued fighting with his men. Iwo Jima was declared secure the very next day, but determined resistance was still being encountered at Kitano Point which the 26th Marines were tasked to clear. While fighting a battle of attrition at this last strongpoint, Gunnery Sergeant Haught suffered another gunshot wound to the chest during the action in which he was awarded the Silver Star on March 23rd:
“The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Silver Star to Gunnery Sergeant Harold E. Haught (MCSN: 259703), United States Marine Corps, for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity while serving as Gunnery Sergeant of Company H, Third Battalion, Twenty-sixth Marines, FIFTH Marine Division in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands on 23 March 1945. Assuming command of a disorganized platoon at nightfall after it was pinned down by heavy enemy fire; Gunnery Sergeant Haught braved intense small arms fire and bursting grenades to reorganize the group and, after establishing contact on his flanks, dug the platoon in for the night. Although wounded during the action, he remained with his platoon and inspired his men to hold their position during the night and launch a successful attack in the morning. His courage, leadership and devotion to duty were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”
Home
After the successful counterattack, GySgt Haught allowed himself to be evacuated and his wounds proved serious enough to warrant his immediate removal from the island and back to a hospital stateside. The next four months in the US were spent recovering, during which the Marine Corps offered him a 2nd Lieutenant commission due to his heroic actions and leadership abilities, which he accepted on August 29th, 1945. Just a few days later, Japan announced their unconditional surrender, ending World War Two, but it was not the end of 2nd Lieutenant Haught’s career in the Marine Corps. Shortly after WW2, 2nd Lt Haught married Leola Councilman, former Miss North Carolina, on March 2nd, 1946 while stationed at Camp Lejeune. Harold’s long military service came to an end when he retired from the USMC on December 31st, 1966 with the rank of Captain, and later became a member of the Retired Officers Association. After his wife died in 1991, Harold moved to St Cloud, Florida where he would sadly pass away on October 9th, 1994, leaving behind no children.