My name is Kevin Radzyniak. My father Frank B. Radzyniak was in the 133rd NCB and was on Iwo Jima. He was in the fourth platoon , headquarters company. He was in the Personnel Dept. and was the Transportation Dept. clerk. I have a few photos I could scan and send to you if you think you might be interested in them for your website. I also have his cruise book which is titled "The Rainmakers Log"
Editor's note: I somehow failed to communicate with Kevin in 1999. My apologies to all.
From an email from Ann Lauth January 15, 2010
My dad, Frank Radzyniak was in 133rd during WWII. He trained in part on Cat Island in Mississippi. They were sent to Hawaii and on to Iwo Jima. Would your group be interested in some of his photos?
Ann LauthMy brother (Kevin) who originally signed your guest book has the cruise book; it is in pretty rough shape. As you can see from Kevin's post my dad was in personnel. When things settled down he had a unique "opportunity" to get some photos that I am sure were never released - banzai attack aftermaths, POW camp on Iwo - some of the originals are stamped "censored" on the reverse side.
The reason the photos came out again was a visit to Iwo in 2008 by my youngest son, Nick. He is in the Marines and was given the opportunity to travel to Iwo about 18 months ago from Iwakuni where he was stationed. He and the Marines with him scouted around with copies of my dad's old photos and were able to take 2 from what they thought was close to the same location my dad stood when his photo was taken in 1945.
Recently I gave copies of some of the pictures as well as a jar of Iwo sand to a high school kid from Anchorage, Alaska who is doing a project on the battle.
We all read Flags of Our Fathers - my oldest son is a Navy corpsman who for 8/10 years has been stationed w/Marine units (Camp Lejeune - actually on the USS Gunston Hall right now). As you can see the Navy/Corpsman/Marine connection is a strong one in our family.
I had no idea there was a Seabee museum! Here are two pictures; let us know if you are interested in more.
Ann
Ann sent us the four following photos. When she sends more, I will probably create some sort of photo album page for them.
Frank Radzniak on Iwo Jima April, 1945
