Matthew Joseph Kruszewski
Lieutenant-Colonel
1st Marine Air Wing
Adventure & Aeroplanes
Long shifts in the loud and dingy spinning mills were a reality of daily life for many residents of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To some, this hard work might not have been the epidemy of the “American Dream” envisioned in the city that claimed to be “the cradle of liberty”, but it paid the bills, which meant a lot during the Depression years. Wages from these mills had ensured Matthew Kruszewski and his 3 siblings had food to eat growing up. Though their life wasn’t glamorous, it was still a huge improvement from what it could have been in Poland where both Matthews parents had emigrated from. A job in a mill in this nation was a blessing to them and seemed to give Matthew a predetermined career path to follow. He would do so after dropping out of High School prior to his junior year. Yet years spent in a spinning mill left him dreaming of what could have been and eventually led to him making a huge decision at 21, he was joining the Marine Corps. The combination of a smart uniform, potential for adventure, and the chance to serve the country proved too much for the young man to ignore and saw him sign his name on the enlistment in the Philadelphia recruiting office in 1934. Not long after, the Philly youth was sent to Parris Island in South Carolina where the instructors molded him into a disciplined Marine.
A trip across the country to San Diego would lead to Matthew getting his first assignment as a fleet marine of Company A, 1st Battalion, 6th Marines. The posting was aboard the U.S.S Chaumont, a metal hulk of a troop transport that was built in the 1920’s (1). Though probably not the most pleasant vessel to be sailing aboard, the trip itself proved somewhat exciting, allowing the young Marine a glimpse of the Panama Canal and Guantanamo Bay in Cuba (1). Upon returning, he was assigned to the USS Antares and served during another voyage. Then in 1935, Matthew was assigned to an altogether different and unique posting. He became a member of a service squadron for the Marine aviation unit designated Aircraft Two. The unit was made up of both Marine piloted bombers and fighters that drilled and trained off aircraft carriers (2). Carrier tactics were still very much new and the planes themselves were almost all prop biplanes, which were already starting to become obsolete. Yet the opportunity to work with planes proved fruitful for Matthew who excelled at his posting.
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For nearly two years he served throughout the various units of Aircraft Two in San Diego until being transferred to the Naval Air Station in Pensacola. From here his understanding and expertise in aircraft only took off as he was constantly shifted between units. His home posting became Quantico, Virginia, though he saw service with aircraft units at airfields in both Puerto Rico and in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The Marine Corps recognized his skill with aircraft electronics as well as communications and positioned him accordingly. His diligence and technical ability earned him promotions from Private to Corporal to Sergeant and finally to a Technical Sergeant in 1940.
Matthew had proved he was able to handle the challenges thrown at him by the Corps and now proudly commanded his own Wing Radio Section in Quantico, Virginia in 1941, unaware that the greatest challenges of his career and of the nation were to begin. December 7th, 1941, became an unforgettable date for the Marines as the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, leaving many Marine Aviation personnel among the dead (2). The subsequent attack on Wake Island and invasions across the Pacific only increased the death toll, many likely having been men Matthew has served alongside in the past. The destruction of American naval and ground forces left the country vulnerable and lead to the scrambling of all assets. Matthew was among the few available personnel with aircraft experience and was quickly amalgamated into a new unit at Quantico known as the First Marine Aircraft Wing.
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The unit was quickly moved to the West Coast, which was now considered under threat. For a period, Matthew would serve as a gunner likely due to the lack of trained personnel that were needed in the event of a Japanese air attack. Thankfully, the great victory at Midway would end any threat to the West and gave the Marines some time to reorganize and bring the new volunteers up to speed. By the spring of 1943, Matthew had been promoted to a Lieutenant and was preparing to put his expertise in communications to the test in theatre.
The South Pacific
Two relatively uninhabited islands with beaches and the warmth of the Southeast Pacific sounded like a tropical paradise more than a deployment posting. Yet Matthew quickly realized upon arrival that there was very little pleasant about the Russell Islands. These two little specs of sand in the Pacific had only just been captured a few months earlier and had been selected as a home for Navy and Marine personnel. Both islands had been used as coconut plantations and as cattle feed lots prior to the war, the former inhabitants having seemingly disappeared (3). What greeted Matthew in this corner of the Pacific was the heinous aroma of rotting coconut and a wonderful welcoming party of rats and crabs that seemed to dwell everywhere. To add to the misery was the heat of the Pacific, though his days spent in Caribbean Islands had prepared him for that much. The airfield that was to become his home was located on the island of Banika, which the Navy managed to turn into a relatively pleasant place compared to neighboring Pavuvu (3). It was here Matthew took charge of communications for the entire 1st Marine Air Wing and other elements that had begun flying missions from this plantation airfield.
The pilots were fortunate to have such a solid leader in charge of communications as it proved far from an easy task. The unit was continually being expanded well also flying a large number of missions on targets throughout the South Pacific. Though new planes and aircraft personnel were continually added, Matthew’s command of communications never received any fresh hands. They also never seemed to get any new material and had to keep everything operational through whatever means. This was easier said than done given the Japanese attacked the airfield multiple times and did immense damage to their equipment. Even with all these challenges, Matthew continued to press on, pushing himself and his crew to their limits. Their expenditure in sweat and sometimes ingenuous repairs, ensured minimal communication issues during the Wings operations in New Georgia, Kolumbangara, Vella La Vella, Bougainville, and the British Solomon Islands. These operations ensured that the Japanese air power in the South Pacific was neutralized and allowed for amphibious landings to occur unhampered.
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Southeast Asia
Matthews hard work from the spring to fall of that year earned him a personal commendation, which highlighted “his unremitting perseverance and technical skill” that had ensured the success of the entire unit. He was a clear leader and was quickly plucked from his position and sent to North Carolina to train new communication specialists as part of the 9th Marine Air Wing in August of 1943. Though he likely wished to remain in a more active combat role, the generation of communications specialists he trained during the rest of the war would help ensure an Allied victory in the Pacific. In 1946, he was transferred back to the 1st Marine Air Wing and joined them on occupation duty in Northern China (4). Here he once again took over communications for the Wing as they operated out of Tsangkou Airfield in support of Marine ground elements (4). The initial mission of the Marines had been to disarm and process the mass number of Japanese soldiers here (4). But 1946 quickly dragged into 1947 and the Marine forces remained watching as the Chinese Civil War reignited (3). Though there were a few incidents involving Communist Chinese forces, the posting was relatively quiet and allowed Matthew to enjoy a part of the world he had never before seen.
It was fitting that near 6 years later Matthew would return to that part of the world after a number of posting across the United States. This time it was to the smaller country of Korea in July of 1953. He was again posted to the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, though he was now a Major. His weathered look and the many stars upon his Pacific campaign ribbon left no doubt to any of his staff that he was one of the ‘Old Breed’ and helped him earn their respect. He quickly settled into his command, though the ceasefire would be signed only seven days after his arrival. The war was officially over, but he remained in his role in South Korea for 6 months well U.S. forces vigilantly watched the DMZ to see if peace would truly hold. His professionalism and expertise again earned him a commendation, proving that the now 40-year-old still had it. He returned to the United States where he would finish out his career that continued until 1964. By this point, Matthew had been promoted to a Lieutenant Colonel and was in charge of the new advanced guided missiles located in California. He was in his 50’s when he finally retired and perhaps felt a bit old when dwelling on the fact that the Corps had gone from single prop Aircraft to air guided missiles during his tenure.
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Sources:
(1) Havern, Christopher B, and Robert J Cressman. “Chaumont (AP-5) 1921-1946.” Naval History and Heritage Command, 31 May 2018, www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/chaumont.html.
(2) Sambito, William J. History of Marine Fighter Attack SQUADRON 232. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1978.
https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/A%20History%20Of%20Marine%20Fighter%20Attack%20Squadron%20232_1.pdf(3)
(3) “Banika (and Pavuvu), Russell (or Russel) Islands.” 93rd Seabees Battalion, www.seabees93.net/MEM-BANIKA%20Index.htm.
(4) Shaw, Henry I. The United States Marines in North China, 1945-1949. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, U.S. Marine Corps, 1968.
https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/TheUnitedStatesMarinesInNorthChina1945-1949.pdf
(1) Havern, Christopher B, and Robert J Cressman. “Chaumont (AP-5) 1921-1946.” Naval History and Heritage Command, 31 May 2018, www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/c/chaumont.html.
(2) Sambito, William J. History of Marine Fighter Attack SQUADRON 232. History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, 1978.
https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/A%20History%20Of%20Marine%20Fighter%20Attack%20Squadron%20232_1.pdf(3)
(3) “Banika (and Pavuvu), Russell (or Russel) Islands.” 93rd Seabees Battalion, www.seabees93.net/MEM-BANIKA%20Index.htm.
(4) Shaw, Henry I. The United States Marines in North China, 1945-1949. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, U.S. Marine Corps, 1968.
https://www.usmcu.edu/Portals/218/TheUnitedStatesMarinesInNorthChina1945-1949.pdf