Marley Awarded Navy Commendation Medal 56 Years after the Fact
On June 8, 2000, Clement F. Marley, former Motor Machinist’s Mate, was awarded the Navy Commendation Medal for retrieving a telephone cable that had been lost in deep ocean water at Green Island in the Solomons.
The award was made after renewed interest in the action, this by Dr. Charles Darby, noted New Zealand historian. Dr. Darby made mention of the event in 1999 in his reports to all of New Zealand’s leading historical centers. Dr. Darby had received first notice of the cable story from WW2-P-38 Ace George Chandler Pratt, KS.
A New Zealand communications team was assigned the task of connecting their artillery post with the infantrymen on the front line. This was to enable the forward infantry to direct artillery fire onto a Japanese stronghold. After laying some 3 miles of telephone line in ocean water, a snag developed in the roll of cable, an accident that caused it to be jerked into the water and lost some 160 to 185 feet down.
Insert drawing indicates how cable became snagged and was
jerked off the stem of the landing boat. Larger drawing shows how
cable was threaded through a pulley and hung by a rope from boat side. By retracing the initial path, the cable was retrieved from depths up to 185 feet and then put into use immediately.
The NZ forces had no more cable so they could not go back for a new roll and start over. The NZ officer in charge was shaken by the event because he said their infantry would need the artillery immediately, and to make it worse, night was coming on.
Seeing their dilemma, Marley, the landing craft engineer, suggested to the NZ officer in charge that if so ordered he would try rigging a pulley on a rope made from a block and tackle used to control the ramp. Then he would thread the cable through the pulley, which could be reached at the artillery post, and then retrace their path and hopefully pull up the cable. It worked, and artillery fire started within minutes after establishing communications between the artillery and the forward infantry.
Why wasn’t the special award made at the time? Who knows? It was an operation under Allied Command, and there were pressures to get on with the operation. Also, there was confusion over who actually lost the cable. Some of those in command thought it was the landing boat crew, which is absolutely not the case.
Even at this late date, it made a big difference to have Dr. Darby, a New Zealander, express interest in the action. So, an investigation was launched to see if Marley could be awarded the Navy Commendation Medal.
Congressman John Shimkus (Illinois 20th District) lent his office to the search. Shimkus was advised that if Marley could find a former commissioned officer to verify the action an award would be granted.
Marley recalled meeting former Lt. (jg) Harland Warren at a Solomons Islands Veterans reunion, and he might remember it. Warren had witnessed the action. He made the recommendation (below), which produced the award shortly afterwards.
Award Recommendation for Clement F. Marley
On February 15, 1944, I was the Code and Publications Officer of Amphibious Radio communications Unit 39. The CO was Cdr Homer Penhollow USNR.
As Publications Officer, I was a passenger on LCI-436 with New Zealand officers and infantry.
We were the first wave to land at Pokonian Plantation, Green Island, Northern Solomons. At about the same time an LST unloaded our radio equipment including an NZ radio jeep on the lagoon side. In about one hour, we were in contact with the Task Force Commander.
On the edge of our perimeter about twenty-five yards distant was the New Zealand artillery emplacement and was to be telephone wired to the NZ infantry advancing south to the Mission occupied by the Japanese. In about the middle of the afternoon, Cdr Penhollow and staff crossed the lagoon to the east to locate a future radio transmitter tower adjacent to an eventual fighter and bomber strip. I was left in charge of the perimeter and camp.
About 1700 a New Zealand officer contacted me that a Landing Craft had dropped a spool of telephone wire en route to the infantry advancing to the Mission. He indicated that it was an emergency condition if the wire spool could not be retrieved and could I furnish walkie-talkie radio packs, one to the artillery emplacement and one to the infantry? About an hour later the artillery personnel told me the telephone spool wire had been retrieved by the enlisted engineering MoMM (Motor Machinist Mate) by a system of block and tackle. I recalled the radio advancing packs when the wire reached the advancing infantry and the artillery began firing their Pounders at the Japanese Mission.
From the artillery emplacement, I saw the unknown engineering MoMM rigging a block and tackle. I have subsequently learned that the engineering MoMM was C.F. Marley of Nokomis, IL. The undersigned is familiar with block and tackle as he was born and raised on an Illinois farm.
Harland D Warren
Ottawa, IL
needed artillery directed at the Japanese stronghold indicted by BB, thus the need for telephone communication.
Edited Transcription:
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY
Office of the Chief of Naval Operations
2000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350-2000
SER NO9B33/OU517190
8 June 2000
The Honorable John M. Shimkus
Member, US House of Representatives
1605 Vandalia Street
Collinsville, IL 62234
Dear Mr. Shimkus:
This is in further reply to your inquiry on behalf of Mr. Clement F. Marley…for his successful retrieval of a communications cable lost in the ocean at Green Island during World War II on 15 February 1944.
The Chief of Naval Operations has reviewed the recommendation submitted by former LT (JG) Harland D. Warren and on 6 June 2000 approved the Navy Commendation Medal for his actions of 15 February 1944. The awards package has been forwarded to the Board of Decorations and Medals for preparation of the awards certificate. The medal set and certificate will be forwarded by separate cover.
Sincerely,
BA Wilson
Head, Awards and Special Projects Office
By direction
Chief of Naval Operations
Published U.S. Legacies February 2005
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