Staying with his Battalion: An Identified 27th Division Medical Officer Uniform

 Capt Lawrence R. A-S-K-L-I-N-G was born on June 23, 1917 in Arlington, New Jersey. He enlisted in the Army on February 3, 1941. Assigned to Company B, 102nd Medical Regiment (later Battalion), he rose through the ranks and with 3 years of college under his belt, he was commissioned in 1942. Rarely seen in today's military, Lt A-S-K-L-I-N-G stayed in the 102nd Medical Battalion as a Medical Administrative Officer.

Deploying to the Pacific, The 27th Infantry Division first saw action in the attack and capture of Makin Atoll in the Gilbert Islands, 21 to 24 November 1943. One battalion of the 106th Regiment participated in the attack on Eniwetok Atoll, 19-26 February 1944, returning to Oahu in March.

During this mission, one battalion landed unopposed on Majuro Island, 1 February, and completed its seizure, 3 February. The Division began preparations for the Marianas operations, 15 March. On D-day plus 1, 16 June 1944, elements landed at night on Saipan to support the Second and Fourth Marines. A bridgehead was established and Aslito Airfield captured, 18 June.

Fighting continued throughout June. During a pitched battle, 7 July, Japanese overran elements of the Division in a banzai attack, but organized resistance was crushed the next day. During the months of July and August, the 27th cleaned out isolated pockets in the mountains and cliffs of Saipan. Beginning in the middle of August, the Division moved to the New Hebrides for rest and rehabilitation. On 25 March 1945, the 27th sailed from Espiritu Santo, arriving at Okinawa, 9 April 1945. The Division participated in the XXIV Corps general attack, 19 April 1945, securing a dominating ridge line south of Machinato and Kakazu. Machinato Airfield was captured, 28 April, after a severe struggle. On 1 May, the Division was relieved by the 1st Marine Division and attached to the Island Command for garrison duty. Tori Shima was seized, 12 May, without opposition. The 27th attacked from the south end of Ishikawa Isthmus to sweep the northern sector of Okinawa. The enemy fought bitterly on Onnatake Hill from 23 May until 2 June, before losing the strong point. After a mopping-up period, the Division left Okinawa, 7 September 1945, moved to Japan and occupied Niigata and Fukushima Prefectures.

The 102nd Medical Battalion received campaign stars for the  Ryukyus and Western Pacific (Ground) Campaigns reflected on his Wolf Brown Ribbons. While the 102nd received assault credit, it is not displayed as an arrowhead on his uniform.

While on occupation duties in Japan, he met a beautiful Native American US nurse named Grace. Her story is also unique as she and her nursing classmates enlisted in 1943 and she served as a 1st Lieutenant (Army Nursing Corps) in North Africa, Italy, France and finally in Okinawa with the 106th Station Hospital. While serving her country, she fell in love with Captain A-S-K-L-I-N-G The day they were discharged in 1945 in Iowa, the two married.

Lawrence worked at the telephone company after the war and passed away in 2003 in Pompton Plains, NJ.