Heard Saturday at 1 p.m. on KMJ 580
August 14, 2010: Peter Rondero, F Company, 2nd Battalion, 27th Regiment,
5th Marine Division. Landed on Iwo Jima with first wave of Marines at Red
Beach 1 on February 19, 1945. Wounded by sniper fire on March 7, 1945.
5th Marine Division. Landed on Iwo Jima with first wave of Marines at Red
Beach 1 on February 19, 1945. Wounded by sniper fire on March 7, 1945.
Click play to listen
The bullet hit Rondero's helmet, but did not penetrate the
liner, instead exiting the helmet near his ear, which was badly
wounded. He was back in combat after being patched up, was
recuperating at Camp Tarawa in Hawaii when World War II
ended, and later served in the occupation forces in Japan.
liner, instead exiting the helmet near his ear, which was badly
wounded. He was back in combat after being patched up, was
recuperating at Camp Tarawa in Hawaii when World War II
ended, and later served in the occupation forces in Japan.
While working for Western
Union in Fresno in 1948,
he met a telephone clerk
named Cora Pasillas.
They were married a
month later, and are still
married today. Four
children, 8 grandchildren,
and one great-grandchild
would have never been
born if that bullet had hit
his helmet an inch to the
left or right.
Union in Fresno in 1948,
he met a telephone clerk
named Cora Pasillas.
They were married a
month later, and are still
married today. Four
children, 8 grandchildren,
and one great-grandchild
would have never been
born if that bullet had hit
his helmet an inch to the
left or right.
Peter Rondero as a teenage Marine
(above), with his wife Cora (right),
and on Hometown Heroes (below)
(above), with his wife Cora (right),
and on Hometown Heroes (below)
For years, Rondero maintained a
newsletter for his fellow veterans
of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion,
27th Regiment. He epitomizes the
oft-repeated phrase "once a
Marine, always a Marine."
newsletter for his fellow veterans
of Fox Company, 2nd Battalion,
27th Regiment. He epitomizes the
oft-repeated phrase "once a
Marine, always a Marine."