A Front Row Seat to History

A Military Overview of John Geretschlaeger

Nov 21, 2023

Like many men of his generation, my step-grandfather, whom I knew all of my life as simply “Grandpa John”, served in World War II. He died before I was old enough to even think about asking him questions related to his time in service. As it turns out, he didn’t talk to many people about it, even when asked. But despite not having details from him, I was able to track his time in the military including battles served which turned out to be quite dramatic.

The United States had been engaged in the war for two and a half years by the time the Allies successfully landed on the beaches of France and began the Battle of Normandy on June 7, 1944. That same day, John Geretschlaeger received his draft notice. He was 22 years old, had been married for over two years, and had a young daughter.

Following some brief training in both Illinois and Virginia, he was in San Francisco boarding the USS Hansford, where he would serve until almost one year after the end of the war. Assigned to the Asiatic-Pacific Theater, the USS Hansford was an Attack Transport Ship designed to transport invasion forces ashore. An Attack Transport carries its own fleet of landing craft unlike standard troop ships that rely on tenders; or landing ships that beach themselves. The Hansford was also armed with anti-aircraft weapons.

The U.S. Navy attack transport USS *Hansford* (APA-106) in San Pedro Bay, 19 November 1944. USN - Official U.S. Navy photo 19-N-74581 from the U.S. Navy Naval History and Heritage Command/[1] Public Domain.

After initial training maneuvers and cargo loading in Pearl Harbor, Hansford headed for Saipan – the staging area for Operation Detachment. The campaign’s purpose was to capture Iwo Jima which was providing an air base for Japanese fighter planes to intercept Allied bombers. The capture of the island would eliminate this problem.

The initial assault waves which stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, included units transported from Hansford. She continued to land troops and equipment through the following week. At times during the Battle, the ships and boats of the Allies contended with Japanese fire from shore, aerial counterattacks including kamikaze suicide planes, and submarine attacks. Hansford continued to land men and equipment during the fighting, often closing to within 1,000 yards of land in spite of enemy fire. Although so close to land, Hansford managed to escape the enemy shells. However, four of her landing boats were lost during the operation, and her beach party suffered 17 casualties. Servicemen onboard recall that Hansford’s proximity to shore enabled them to observe the carnage at close hand.

John’s rank as a Seaman 1st Class meant that he had many duties ranging from the mundane of scrubbing the deck, handling ropes, and mooring lines to carrying out battle station duties. Given the continuous state of heavy enemy mortar and automatic weapons fire, it’s easy to consider that John’s time was not spent scrubbing the deck but rather working as a member of a gun crew or ammunition-passing detail.

A week into the assault on Iwo Jima, six U.S. Marines raised a United States flag atop Mount Suribachi to mark the capture of the most strategic point on the island. According to in-person accounts, the raising of the national colors immediately caused a loud cheering reaction from the Marines and sailors on the beach below and from the men on the ships near the beach. Although we don’t know for sure, it seems likely that John was a witness to this watershed moment.

*Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima*, by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press. Created: 23 February 1945. Public Domain.

Hansford sailed for Saipan a few days later and after some time for repairs, equipment replacement, and preparation for the next operation, she was ready for further combat. She sailed for Okinawa, landing troops and cargo and taking on casualties amidst the frequent raiding of enemy planes, some of which took kamikaze aim. And then by August 27, Hansford entered Tokyo Bay, passing the battleship Missouri as the surrender ceremonies ending the war took place.

Witnessing the attack and subsequent raising of the flag on Iwo Jima, along with the surrender ceremonies in Tokyo Bay were truly quintessential events. But there was more: while in Tokyo Bay, the ship provided quarters for several hundred former Allied POWs liberated from the Japanese. The men were emaciated and weakened from neglect and brutality. Compassion was required from all the crew. Finally, though, the ship was assigned to Operation Magic Carpet in October of 1945, transporting officers and enlisted passengers back to the United States. John himself wasn’t discharged until February 1946, likely disembarking from Hansford in Shanghai.

John M. Geretschlaeger, circa 1944-1946 and later as I knew him, circa 1970s.

For his service, John was “entitled and authorized” to wear the campaign stars, decorations and insignias associated with the Asiatic-Pacific area, Philippine Liberation and the Occupation of Japan. If he still had them when he died in 1984, they may have passed to one of his adult children. I know that I’ve never seen them.

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