This Military Service Page was created/owned by
CWO2 Philip E. Montroy
to remember
Marine MGen Ralph Spanjer ("Smoke").
If you knew or served with this Marine and have additional information or photos to support this Page, please leave a message for the Page Administrator(s) HERE.
Contact Info
Home Town Hillside
Last Address Delafield, WI
Date of Passing Feb 08, 1999
Official Badges
Unofficial Badges
Additional Information
Last Known Activity:
MajGen Spanjer retired from the USMC on Jan. 1, 1978 after 36-years of a very active career.
Other Comments:
In 1978, MajGen Spanjer became the Superintendent of the Marine Military Academy. He stayed in that position until 1984. After moving to North Carolina, and then Alaska, he accepted the position of President of St. John's Northwestern Military Academy in WI in 1994. In this position he oversaw the merger of the Academy with Northwestern Military and Naval Academy in Lake Geneva, WI.
Description Operation Flintlock was the campaign against the Japanese in the Marshall Islands in the Pacific theatre of World War II, from 31 January to 4 February 1944. The operation involved the invasions of Kwajalein, Eniwetok, and Majuro atolls. Admiral Nimitz, Commander of the U. S. Pacific Fleet, chose two islands in Kwajalein Atoll, Roi-Namur Island and Kwajalein Island, as primary targets in the U. S. invasion of the Marshall Islands. Kwajalein Atoll contained communication and weather observation units and two Japanese airstrips on Roi-Namur and Kwajalein Islands, a seaplane base situated at Ebeye Island, a submarine base at Roi-Namur Island, and other Japanese installations scattered on various islands throughout Kwajalein atoll. Kwajalein atoll, particularly Roi-Namur and Kwajalein Islands, were subjected to heavy bombardment. This attack also sank a large number of Japanese ships in Kwajalein Lagoon. Bitter fighting between Japanese forces and the U. S. 4th Marine Division on Roi-Namur, and the U. S. 7th Infantry Division on Kwajalein, resulted in a U. S. victory on 4 February 1944. The attack of the Japanese in the Marshall Islands was the first US attack, and capture, of Japanese territory, since the land was held by Japan before the start of World War II. The capture of Kwajalein Atoll during Operation Flintlock provided American forces with a base of operations that assured the recapture of the Philippines and eventually the fall of Japan.
