Lt. Max A. Jeter Biography-3
History of the WW2 Naval Combat Demolition Units​
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Naval Combat Demolition Units (NCDUs) specialized in clearing beach obstacles before amphibious assaults. They were tasked with removing obstacles like steel posts topped with explosives and other defenses constructed by the enemy. NCDUs, including NCDU-26, played a critical role in Operation Overlord (D-Day) by clearing the beaches for the landing of Allied forces.
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​Thirty-four NCDUs were formed exactly one year before D-Day, mainly volunteer ‘‘Seabees’’ who trained at Fort Pierce, FL. They were organized by Lt. Cdr. Draper Kaufman, an explosives expert, with the specific goal of clearing beach obstacles.
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Jeter's Skeeters
Each of the six-member NCDU teams was given a special name; Max's was tagged "Jeter's Skeeters". Their formal photo is archived at the Navy UDT-Seal Museum in Fort Pierce, FL. ​​​​​​​​​​​​
After D-Day: NCDU --> Navy Frogman --> Navy Seals
The more common image of frogmen was seen in the Pacific theater, where warmer temperatures and deeper water were common. Using face masks and swim fins, UDT men scouted Japanese-held islands, but contrary to the popular image, they did not have self-contained underwater breathing apparatuses. ​​​
Pvt. Paul R. Thomer Biography-1
Paul Thomer's Watch Returned to His Family - Sept 2023
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On Sept 9, 2023, Pvt. Thomer’s watch was returned to his daughter Deborah and her four siblings, exactly 80 years after Paul purchased it. They will treasure it as a tangible memory of their courageous Dad. Semper Fi.
Pvt. Paul Thomer -- 1942 Guadalcanal Marine & His Watch
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Private Paul R. Thomer (1923–1992) fought at Guadalcanal as a member of the famed 1st Marine Division. Paul was from Pittsburgh PA, and enlisted in the Marines in January 1942.
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The 1st Marine Division sailed from San Francisco in June, and landed on the island of Guadalcanal on Aug 7, 1942. This was the first major US amphibious landing of World War II. The invasion ignited a ferocious struggle with Japanese forces, marked by seven major naval battles, numerous clashes ashore, and almost continuous air combat through December 1942.
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The fighting at Guadalcanal took a terrible toll; the 1st Division suffered 650 killed in action and 1,278 wounded, with a further 8,580 contracting malaria and other diseases. As one Marine recalled, ”the Division suffered 100% casualties, with the dead, wounded, and those sick from malaria, dengue fever, jungle rot, malnutrition and combat fatigue… “.
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Battle-weary and in poor health following the Guadalcanal campaign, the men of the First Marine Division were shipped to Melbourne Australia for nine months recuperation in January 1943. “They were greeted with warm hospitality; these 15,000 young American men found a home away from home”.
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On Feb 10, 1943, Paul Thome purchased a steel-cased wristwatch from a local Melbourne jewelry store, and had it engraved “Paul R. Thomer ~ U.S.M.C. ~ 343824 ~ Australia ~ 2-10-43”.
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The 1st Division returned to combat in the South Pacific in October 1943, leading the December offensive at Cape Gloucester, New Britain. “The action they found there has been described as the toughest man has ever endured.” In July 1944, the 1st Division returned to the US for stateside duty. Paul was honorably discharged in 1945.
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In 1954, Paul married Frances Mary LaRoche in Pittsburgh; in 1962, they moved to California. Paul and Frances had five children – two sons and three daughters. Paul died on February 16, 1992, and is buried with Frances in the San Fernando Mission Cemetery in Mission Hills, CA.
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