William Genaust wrote this letter describing the death of his friend Howard McClue on Saipan.

"Central Pacific Area 25 January, 1945

Dear Mrs. McClue, I have tried a number of times to write to you before now, but seeing how inadequately my words expressed my thoughts I have given up and put it off until later. I-(censored) so I'll send this no matter how it sounds. You probably know that Howard shipped out with me and that we were in very close contact from the time we left Quantico until his death on Saipan. We worked, ate and slept together thru the whole miserable campaign and his passing has taken something from me which can never be regained. I read your letter to Bob Swain in which you expressed regret at the fact that Howard has received none of your last letters. You will be glad to know that some mail was delivered to him on Saipan and that he did hear from you around the first part of July. He also wrote you about the same time. I hope that his letter got through to you. Sunday morning, July 9, 1944, was warm and bright. I awoke first and built a small fire and made coffee. After Howard got up and had morning chow he attended divine service while I checked over my gear. We left the command post early, and with Bob McNally, made out way up to the line in time to join the advance which was to wipe out all organized resistance on the island. Noon found us on Marpi airstrip where our regiment ran up our colors. We advanced around the end of the island to join the forces which were driving up the other side to meet us. We three were out in front and made the first contact with the other division; a tank which had advanced in front of their infantry. The tank driver asked for some riflemen to go back with him to clean out about a dozen Japs from some buildings he had just passed. We had slung our cameras and were using our rifles, so we took the job. As the tank turned around to start back, it ran over a land mine and was put out of action, so we went on alone. We found and killed ten or twelve Jap soldiers who were hiding in the houses. Soon the other infantry came up and the action seemed over. We started back toward our C.P> at around 1600, to turn in our film and get a little rest. It was on our way back that we were attacked by a group of about fifteen Jap soldiers who fired on us at a distance of about 200 yards and then charged us in one of their Banzai rushed. We hit the deck and sought what cover we could-Howard on my right and McNally on my left. We knocked down several of them on their way down the slope and the rest of them sought shelter and firing positions behind some rocks and 50 or 75 yards in front of us. I was so busy for a while that I didn't notice the withdrawal of either Howard or McNally. McNally had run out of ammunition and Howard had gone to get help for us. In about 30 or 45 minutes, I saw Howard coming in on the right, leading a group of Marines he had picked up further back. When I saw help arriving, I stood up and moved forward, directing the group toward the Jap position. Howard called over and asked if I was all right. When I answered "O.K." he gave me the "on the beam" signal and be both moved forward. I had taken but a few steps when I was hit with a rifle bullet, fired from another Jap position in the cliff which overlooked the area. Howard again called over when he saw me go down, asking if I was hit bad. When I answered "No", he went on."

From the William Genaust Collection (COLL/5364), Marine Corps Archives & Special Collections