| Original caption: “Lieutenant Colonel John Weber, commanding officer of a Marine battalion on Cape Gloucester, sitting on his helmet, receives a report from one of his company commanders. Private First Class Vincent Miley, looking on, blows cigarette smoke out of his nose.” United States Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel John E. Weber (August 20, 1910 – Sep 28, 1985), of Seattle, Washington, Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division at Cape Gloucester in December 1943 – January 1944, receives a report by Weber enlisted on May 31, 1934. While serving with M Company, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marines, on Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on October 22, 1942, he was wounded in action. While commanding the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, at Cape Gloucester, Weber was awarded the Silver Star: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity as Commanding Officer of the First Battalion, Seventh Marines, First Marine Division, Reinforced, during action against enemy Japanese forces at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, from December 26, 1943, to January 16, 1944. In the initial phase of the landing, the battalion under Lieutenant Colonel Weber’s capable command quickly overran Hill 450, thereby facilitating the successful landing of the remaining troops. When his men captured Hill 150 to outflank a Japanese position and secure the beachhead line, and later, during a midnight engagement, while his battalion held a position tenaciously against repeated attacks by the enemy, Lieutenant Colonel Weber moved from point to point along his front lines, coolly directing operations despite enemy small arms, machine gun, and mortar fire from concealed positions. His inspiring leadership and gallant fighting spirit were significant contributing factors to the heavy losses inflicted on the enemy and to our success in that area. His courageous devotion to duty throughout this period was in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” Weber received an honorable discharge from the Marine Corps on September 30, 1956. He went on to a career in the oil business. Marine Corps Private 1st Class Vincent W. Miley (May 9, 1922 – November 26, 1997) served in World War II and Korea and was honorably discharged on July 1, 1951. United States Marine Corps Sergeant Robert R. Brenner (July 30, 1923 – February 2, 1953) enlisted in May 1940, after completing a vocational course in photography after high school. He covered the Guadalcanal and New Britain campaigns with the 1st Marine Division. He was a correspondent for the Auburn, Indiana, Evening Star and briefly the Washington Times-Herald after the war. While covering President Dwight D. Eisenhower’s inauguration eve on January 19, 1953, he became ill and died 3 days later. | |
| Image Filename | wwii1554.jpg |
| Image Size | 1.11 MB |
| Image Dimensions | 2916 x 2308 |
| Photographer | Robert R. Brenner |
| Photographer Title | United States Marine Corps |
| Caption Author | Written or Adapted by Jason McDonald |
| Date Photographed | January 1, 1944 |
| Location | |
| City | Cape Gloucester |
| State or Province | New Britain |
| Country | Solomons |
| Archive | National Archives and Records Administration |
| Record Number | NWDNS-127-N-72050 |
| Status | Caption ©2026 MFA Productions LLC Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission; Image in the Public Domain |
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