General Rupertus assumed command of the 1st Marine Division in July 1943 after the Tulagi/Guadalcanal Campaign.
In December 1943, the 1st Marine Division were prepared for their second campaign, the Battle of Cape Gloucester.
Our grandfather, General Rupertus, sent this iconic Christmas card home. He was on Goodenough Island with the 1st Marine Division, preparing for their upcoming battle on the island of New Britain in the Pacific during WWII.
On December 26, 1943, the 1st Marine Division was to attack the Japanese on Cape Gloucester.
But, before they shoved off, they had a moment of peace to celebrate Christmas.
The regimental chaplain held a midnight Mass.
As reported in General Rupertus’s Marien Corps biography (circa 1946), “An hour before midnight, one of the tropics famed torrential rains drenched the area where the mass was to be celebrated. The rains continued through the service, but the men knelt on the mud, seemingly oblivious to it all, and there in the front row, with the water pouring down his face and trickling off the end of his nose, the two stars on his collar reflecting the candlelight, was their division commander, just as humble, as miserable and yet as happy as any of his men. It was acts like these that endeared the general to his tough, hard-bitten Marines.”
The Cape Gloucester campaign (December 26, 1943 – April 22, 1944) was the second WWII landing of the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific.
And under the overall command of the 6th Army and the Army’s General MacArthur.
It was noted for its near-perfect amphibious landing, and the monsoon-like rainfall the natives predicted would challenge the Marines.
Its was tough, and wet, but the sun did come out on Cape Gloucester. And the Navy Seabees worked hard to rebuild the airfield so planes could land.
See General Rupertus, his plane and happy Marines enjoying the sunshine in this Marine Corps WWII video: https://youtu.be/tIEiT7kfmaE?si=Ey5_NHi8_SzZ6XsD
After the successful campaign, Rupertus was awarded the Army’s Distinguished Service Medal.
Merry Christmas. Peace on Earth. Good Will to Men.
Semper Fi.
