Fallen WWII combat medic, Navy Cross recipient from Roland gets long overdue honors
The Roland American Legion is honoring a fallen hero as it observes the Memorial Day holiday.
"Our small community lost 11 sons, 11 heroes, during World War II," said Legion Post 307 Commander Jim McCormick. "One, who never came home, (Jimmy Twedt), was fatally wounded on Iwo Jima during the invasion of the island.”
Roland native Larry Ritland, now of Cedar Rapids, knew that Twedt was killed in Iwo Jima, but his research uncovered several details that were not well known.
“Unfortunately, we learned most in the community had never heard of his heroism,” McCormick said. “This year, the Roland Legion has taken steps to change that.”
Through research at the Ames History Museum, which also houses countywide information, Ritland discovered that Twedt was recommended for the Medal of Honor. However, following a customary review by a Navy review board, the award was downgraded to a Navy Cross. The Navy Cross is the second-highest decoration awarded for valor in combat.
More than 650 corpsmen were wounded during the 36-day battle for Iwo Jima, and 332 were killed or died later of their wounds.
More than 110,000 servicemembers from all branches of the military were engaged in the battle. Casualties numbered 6,821 dead, 19,217 wounded and two captured.
James "Jimmy" Twedt will be honored during the Roland American Legion's Memorial Day service. Twedt was killed in Iwo Jima and was awarded the Navy Cross.
Roland's Jimmy Twedt enlisted at age 17
James “Jimmy” Twedt was 17 years old when he graduated from Roland High School in 1943. With the consent of his parents, Albert and Edith Twedt, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Navy.
After attending boot camp at Farragut Naval Training Station in Idaho and having a short leave at home in Roland, Twedt attended Naval Hospital Corps School near San Diego. He later enlisted in Field Medicine School at nearby Camp Elliott.
The training was to prepare a Twedt to be a corpsman, also called a combat medic, for duty attached to a Marine unit. He was assigned to the newly activated Fifth Marine Division.
They were eventually sent to Camp Tarawa in Hawaii, near Hilo, where they trained for an island invasion.
In mid-December 1944, troop transport vessels began arriving at Hilo for loading. By Jan. 4, 1945, the last units of the Fifth Marine Division sailed from Hawaii. Their destination was Iwo Jima, 750 miles from mainland Japan, an island defended by Japanese infantry soldiers ready to die for Emperor Hirohito.
Although the volcanic island was only about eight square miles and five miles long, it was strategically important to the Allies because of its three airfields. From Iwo Jima, the Allies could launch aerial bombing runs to Japan and have a safe place for Allied planes to make unscheduled landings.
Beginning in June 1944, the Allies bombed Iwo Jima sporadically, and three days before the invasion, battleships blasted the island. Japanese defenses were well prepared with an 11-mile tunnel system. The bombardment did little to weaken their defense.
James "Jimmy" Twedt will be honored during the Roland American Legion's Memorial Day service. Twedt was killed in Iwo Jima and was awarded the Navy Cross.
Twedt was in the first day of battle at Iwo Jima
The invasion began on Feb. 19, 1945.
Although he was not part of the first wave, Twedt and the rest of his unit were in the fight on the first day. They faced a barrage of enemy artillery, mortars and small arms fire.
Calls for corpsmen were coming from all over, and Twedt’s job was to follow those calls and tend to wounded Marines.
Twedt was severely wounded while assisting his fellow soldiers. Shrapnel from an exploding mortar amputated one foot and badly mangled the other.
Despite his own dire circumstances, Twedt continued to tend to a wounded Marine until other help arrived. He was evacuated to a Navy ship for medical treatment. Twedt died nine days later from his wounds and was buried at sea.
James "Jimmy" Twedt will be honored during the Roland American Legion's Memorial Day service. Twedt was killed in Iwo Jima and was awarded the Navy Cross.
Twedt’s heroism was nearly lost at sea
Twedt's heroism has gone relatively unnoticed for the last 80 years.
“When I found out about the Navy Cross, I began searching for a piece of local recognition, a memorial marker, a plaque, something to remind us of his sacrifice,” Ritland said. “The search turned up nothing, no recognition of Jimmy’s heroism anywhere in town.”
A memorial service was held for Twedt in May 1945, with a capacity crowd filling his hometown church. However, there's no marker in Roland to recognize Twedt for his Navy Cross or to tell his story.
“As I read about Jimmy’s memorial service, I nearly cried,” Ritland said. “Not only because of how sad it was, but because my late father, Obed Ritland, was listed as one of the Honorary Pallbearers.
James "Jimmy" Twedt will be honored during the Roland American Legion's Memorial Day service. Twedt was killed in Iwo Jima and was awarded the Navy Cross.
World War II was a difficult time for the whole community because everyone knew each of the boys who were killed, Ritland said.
"It must have really affected dad because he never told me about his high school friend," Ritland said. "So, I don’t know if he even knew about Jimmy’s Navy Cross medal.”
A marker has been placed at Twedt’s grave in the Roland Cemetery. He will be honored during a public ceremony at 10 a.m. Monday, May 26. In case of rain, the event will take place in the Roland-Story Middle School gym.
“The names of all the boys from Roland lost during World War II will be read as well,” Ritland said.
Ronna Faaborg covers business and the arts for the Ames Tribune. Reach her at [email protected].
