Bernard Reilly

Age 96

Born in Lone Rock, Iowa on family farm in 1919

Currently lives in Swea City, Iowa

U.S. Marine Corps World War II Veteran

It was November 1941, just three weeks before the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, taking the United States in to World War II, when 21-year-old Bernard Reilly enlisted into the U.S. Marines. He was following his brother's footsteps.

After boot camp, Reilly joined up with the 10^th Marines artillery battalion and headed to the South Pacific aboard the transport ship USS President Jackson. Reilly said the cargo ship was ill-equipped to defend herself against enemy attack. “So the Marines set up .50 caliber machine guns on the fantail,” he recalled.

“We came under attack and the Marine shot down a Jap(enese) plane, a torpedo bomber and turned away others. If it wasn't for the Marines we'd been swimming.” Reilly said. The skipper of the ship was so grateful he gave each Marine who had manned a gun a crisp $10 bill. “At the time, that was a half month's pay for us,” Reilly said.