Good points, I thought it was an M1 garand at first.. but obviously just from playing video games with them and stuff so I just guessed. AND, he did serve with the Ohio 37th National Guard regiment you were talking about (long story about how he joined that while being a PA native lol), but he also was deployed to Peleliu with I think the 81st, as he was not severely injured after Guadalcanal and the 81st needed more men to relieve the marines on that other island. After that he was reunited with his original unit and sent home. They probably dont talk about it, but they did send many men from different regiments and outfits throughout the Pacific.
Yeah, i know they fought there, like at Rabaul during that time, but most major combat was over by '43. Anyhow it was just a guess, and also i didn't read he was in a Army unit, whenever i hear Pacific campagin i assume it's marines 
Yea. Thats what a lot of people think, but the Marines were the first to hit Peleliu and most highlighted, the marines had to be relieved after suffering too many losses and the army was sent in, suffered thousands of casualties and fought to take the rest of the island and secure the airstrip. My grandfather I am pretty sure got his purple heart after that battle (he still has it). This sort of strategy was seen on almost every island, marines would hit first but not take the whole island as they had to keep moving (with Okinawa a lot of army units were already engaged so the Marines literally fought for the longest time there I believe), and the army divisions would go in and actually clear every island and secure it.
Again, in regards to weapons, I have NO clue what he used in the solomons, and what he used on Peleliu, after he got home he had to return it to the army.
I will scan and post more stuff later, you guys been damn helpful so far, again its Veterans Day so I wanted to really spend time and research this stuff.
