MARINE WON WAGER

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25017, 10 September 1942, Page 5

MARINE WON WAGER

ATTACK ON THE SOLOMONS FIRST TO KILL A JAPANESE SYDNEY, Sept. 5. “ United States marines aboard a transport had a wager before landing at Guadalcanar (in the Solomons) on who would kill the first Japanese,” says Robert Miller, United Press of America correspondent, in a delayed despatch from Guadalcanar.

“ Lieutenant Jack Gately, who won the bet, relates: ‘ Our patrol pushed inland through jungle. The Japanese let us pass and then'fired from the rear, wounding me twice. Lying in the grass, I saw something moving. I thought it was a marine, and waved to him, but, too late, discovered it was a Japanese aiming a gun point-blank at me.

‘“Fortunately, his trigger had jammed, giving me the opportunity to get a bead on him. Next moment I was horrified when I found that my trigger also had jammed. For endless seconds both fumbled with the triggers, realising it was a matter of life and death who was ready first. “ ‘ I got the trouble straightened out before he did, and my bullet lifted him from the ground. Next thing I knew I opened my eyes on a stretcher in hospital, but I had won the bet.’ ”