Third Marine Division

Special Footage

Iwo Jima

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Private First Class (Pfc)
Donald Frank Giles
[Pending]

Note: right click video and select Loop to repeat.

There are several indicators that the soldier standing at the side of the road in this video is, in all likelihood, Private First Class Donald Frank Giles directing traffic on March 2, 1945 (D+11) in Iwo Jima.

1) The video title, “Capture of prisoners on Iwo Jima”, description, ” MS Equipment moving on road on Iwo Jima-SV” and markers (see screenshots below) indicate that this is footage of the 3rd Marine Division in Iwo Jima AND, according to the January 1945 Muster Roll 0916, Private First Class (Pfc) Donald Frank Giles was in the Headquarters Battalion of the 3rd Marine Division.

2) The soldier in the video is a Military Policeman as indicated by the MP arm band AND, according to the January 1945 Muster Roll 0916, Private First Class (Pfc) Donald Frank Giles was a Military Policeman (MP).

3) Although the quality of the video makes it difficult to see, the visible writing on the soldier’s helmet is “D. F.” followed by a short last name starting with a “G” (see screenshot below) AND, according to the January 1945 Muster Roll 0916, there was only one soldier in the 3rd Marine Division on Iwo Jima with a first name starting with “D”, a middle name starting with “F” and a short last name starting with “G” – Donald Frank Giles.

Note: Any other search combinations against the January 1945 Muster Roll 0916, considering, for instance, that the middle initial may be “P” or that the first letter of the last name is unknown, produce results that either do not fit the length criteria of the visible writing and/or the required soldier’s Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) of Military Policeman (MP).

Video sources:
1) https://youtu.be/nsvtQD0KDjI?t=8s
Note: I am not, in any way, affiliated with CriticalPast.com.

2) https://catalog.archives.gov/id/78582

Research sources:
1) FindAGrave Memorial 697227
2) Legacy Obituary 124915884
3) National Archives January 1945 Muster Roll 0916.
4) Ancestry.com

donald-frank-giles-marker-1 Note indication of the 3rd Marine Division, Iwo Jima and March 1, 1945. The date is updated in the next screenshot to March 2, 1945.

This is a screenshot from a portion of the previous footage.

donald-frank-giles-marker-2 This is a screenshot from a portion of the previous footage.

After very close, frame by frame, examination using an imaging application to vary contrast, gamma, saturation and sharpness, the writing on the soldier’s helmet does seem to start with a “D. F. G” with the last name being fairly short.