Redifer

Redifer, Santos, Shelton, and Sarrett leveled their carbines and sent all three of them tumbling.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

Of the dozen mortar men involved, only Redifer and PFC Lewis Porter had been wounded, both by grenade fragments, and neither was hurt seriously enough to require evacuation.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

“Those Japs have an automatic weapon in there,” Redifer said.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

“Hey, look at this,” Santos said, waving Redifer, Sarrett, and Sledge toward him and pointing to another vent pipe protruding a few inches above the top of the pillbox.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

While Redifer and Shelton argued, Santos busily checked out the top of the pillbox.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

Shaking and breathless, Sledge struggled to the top of the pillbox, joining Redifer, Santos, and Shelton there.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

His friend and assistant gunner, PFC John Redifer, looked at Santos and shook his head.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

When MacKenzie talked excitedly about “taking my Ka-Bar between my teeth and my .45 in my hand” and charging the enemy, men like George Sarrett, John Redifer, and Snafu Shelton tended to smirk and roll their eyes.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

Hugging the deck, the corporal scrambled over to where PFCs Vincent Santos, John Redifer, and Gene Sledge were staring and pointing at a vent in the side of the pillbox.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005

Santos was also endlessly curious—as Redifer would attest after following him into an “empty” cave and being scared out of his wits by a dead Japanese, sitting upright in the gloom—and his curiosity now led to a striking discovery.

Brotherhood of Heroes Bill Sloan 2005