“I felt as if I were finally doing what I should be doing for the war effort. I felt as if I were making a contribution to the cause.” (Video Interview, 18:23)

John H. Sharda

John Sharda, 2003 War: World War II, 1939-1946 Branch: Marine Corps Unit: 4th Marine Air Wing, 1st Marine Division Service Location: San Diego, California; Newport, Rhode Island; University of Chicago, Illinois; New Hebrides; Invasion of Peleliu Rank: Corporal Place of Birth: West Frankfort, IL

Trained as a flying Navy radio man, John Sharda had to wait until the island of Peleliu was secure until he could fulfill his ambition. Sharda went ashore as a sniper in the second wave of the Peleliu invasion and saw men on either side of him cut down when they reached the beach. With island’s airstrip in U.S. hands, Sharda was able to take off on 48 missions to bomb the next island target, Yap. He served as both radioman and gunner on a small, two-man plane and was credited with 2½ enemy planes shot down. Later, Sharda became a newscaster and disc jockey on Armed Forces Radio, spinning jazz and classical platters for homesick GIs.