DOB/DOD: March 22, 1926 (Connecticut) – February 19, 1945; 18 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Unmarried
LOCAL ADDRESS: RFD #1, Jewett City, Connecticut
ENLISTMENT: September 1943
SERVICE NUMBER: 6432765
UNIT: Company B, Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 133, Seabees
FAMILY: Herbert Andrew Salisbury (1898-1975) and Winifred Briggs Salisbury (1903-1981) were S1C Geer’s guardians. The 1930 census shows George A. Geer (1924-1986) and Robert Geer, 4 years old, as “boarders” with Herbert and Winifred Salisbury. It is likely the Geer brothers were orphans. 1, 2 Robert worked at Electric Boat Co. in Groton before the service.
OTHER: One of 37 members of NMCB 133 to be killed in action.
Photo below was contributed by Pete Pattavina, whose mother, Shirley Webster Pattavina, remembers the Geer brothers, adopted by her Aunt or Great Aunt Winifred. The source for the photo on the right is unknown.
From an unknown cruise book
From The Naval History and Heritage Command book on NMCB 133
The invasion of Iwo Jima began on February 19, 1945. NCB 133 accompanied the invasion force with two taskings: to secure the beaches after the first assault troops went ashore and to serve as the shore party maintaining supply lines to the Marines on the forward battle lines. After the invasion began, NMCB 133 was tasked with repairing the island’s three bombed-out Japanese airstrips, which were needed as soon as possible for use by Allied bombers. The Kangaroos (unit mascot) were ashore by 4 p.m. on D-Day. Although the initial landing was relatively easy, the Japanese held their first line of defense and delivered murderous fire from their guns high on Mount Suribachi, and the entire beach was covered by mortar, artillery, and machine gun fire from the surrounding hills. The Seabees were in a position even more precarious than the Marines on the front lines, but they took what the enemy threw at them and carried on the job of establishing and operating supply lines to the fighting men. When the Marines captured the first airstrip, the runway was sufficiently repaired to be used by light observation planes. On the same day, the order came to begin rehabilitating the second airstrip, which was to become the longest in the Western Theater. After the first weeks, work went on day and night on the two airstrips. Until then, Japanese resistance had prevented the men from working after dark. The battalion encountered sniper fire and mortar attacks until, and even after, the island was declared secure on March 15. During the 26-day battle for Iwo Jima, the 133rd NMCB suffered 245 casualties, with 3 officers and 39 enlisted killed in action and 12 officers and 191 enlisted wounded in action. This was the highest number of casualties of any Seabee unit in history. 3
From the testimony of Sidney Gelman, Seabee coxswain
“On February 14, 1945, we landed on Iwo Jima. Upon arrival, we were met with heavy mortar and artillery shells. It wasn’t long before I was hit in the back of the thigh and said to my buddy, Bob Geer, “I’m hit.” Bob lifted up to look at my injury. Just then, we heard more mortar fire. As I looked at Bob, he was choking, and I thought he had passed out. Unfortunately, he died then, right next to me.” 4
His remains were repatriated in 1948 and buried in Pachaug Cemetery, 999 Voluntown Road, Griswold, Connecticut. Drive in the entrance at Campbell Road, go to the left, and it’s on your left as you start to go down the hill. Photo by Jeff DeWitt.
1 – 1930 census https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6224/
2 – 1940 census https://www.ancestry.com/cs/1940-census
3 – https://www.necc.usff.navy.mil/Organization/Operational-Forces/SEABEES/NMCB-133/History/
4 – https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Saved+by+my+canteen+on+Iwo-a0436332418