How a Blind Machinegunner Hit on Target

We'd like to thank Adam Makos for his help with this script. You can find out more about this story and others in his excellent book, Voices of the Pacific: Untold Stories from the Marine Heroes of World War II. Any errors are our own.

It's August 21st 1942 on the Island of Guadacanal in the Solomon Islands. Hidden just within the tree line lie the men of the 1st Marine Division in their camouflaged positions along the banks of Alligator Creek. Inside one of several foxholes Gunner Johnny “The Indian” Rivers, Loader Al Schmid, and ammo-bearer Corporal Leroy Diamond fend off exhaustion. When 900 men from the Japanese Imperial Army start to cross the river an epic struggle ensues. It's a tale of bravery, commitment and perseverance despite severe injuries and overwhelming odds.
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[Rob.DB.]

Another nearly forgotten hero, now remembered forever. R.I.P. Johnny "The Indian" Rivers. W.W.II Navy Cross recipient.

[lanfrancoadreani]

We have a similar story here in Italy: Rosario Rondazzo (Gold Medal to valor) was fighting in Russia when he got hit by a mortar round and had his arm amputated. To cover the retreat of his unit he reached a fixed machine gun manuvering it with his lef arm and squeazing the trigger with his mouth. Eventually he got overun and killed. Later an officer found his body, next to him his teeth that were crushed by the recoil of the weapon while firing.

[CamoTheGuy]

My Great Grandpa who was a Native American from the Cherokee Tribe fought there on that same exact battle. Joined the Marine Corps at such a young age before the war even started to support his poor family in the depression, and soon found himself across the pacific fighting across island after island. I truly wish I could've gotten the chance to meet him before he died as I was at such a young age, his stories never cease to amaze me.

[dong]

The whole time I kept thinking “I wonder if he’ll mention Leckie” when you did I got goosebumps. His book helmet for my pillow is amazing, his description of the Indian’s gallantry is beautiful. if you like the actor for Bob Leckie in the pacific, he voices the audiobook on audible. It is a really good listen, and with Leckie’s background in writing, is extremely poetic.

[berenger]

The animations just get better and better. It amazes me all the progress Yarnhub has made over the last couple years.

[rayhatton]

A story that is by far inspiration for any American. As this story unfolds we the watcher of this channel are nothing but in awe how this keeps getting better everytime. Well done yarnhub. Someone get these storytellers a medal. Carry on yarnhub.

[scettybagle]

As a Native American of Ogallala Lakota/souix decent, a sincere thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing the spirit of such a brave warrior to live on through your retelling of this battle.

[SnakeInAShoe]

Just look at this animation! Simply amazing, compared to the content 4 years ago this improvement is huge!

[equarg]

RIP Johnny Rivers
🫡
You fought and died like a Warrior.
Your ancestors would of been proud.
May your story never be forgotten.

[BlacksmithingandBodybuilding]

It is scary to think about a blind machine gunner

[jhypyro]

Yarnhub is so underrated that it saddens me. (I can't have enough of that narrator's voice)

[jeremyroberts]

May Johnny the Indian Rivers always and forevermore be remembered. May they all be remembered.

[johndavies]

A truly great story - the animation is superb, espescially the opening showing the men waiting for the attack. I'm a pacifist by temperament and Christian conviction, but admire brave men such as these who had the guts to do what I know I couldn't. The Hacksaw Ridge story was superb, by the way. I was quoting it at church today.

[icun]

I am not from the U. S. But i can feel heroism runs all over my body. RIP Johny "The Indian" Rivers. And thank you, Yarnhub, for keeping him lives on the history from now.

[kimmerrou]

The progress of the videos is phenomenal! LOVE LOVE LOVE the progress. The stories, some known some unknown, NEED to be shared. People need to be reminded of everyday people's extraordinary feats in the face of danger. We hear too often of the ridiculous things of today's spoiled people and not enough of people like Witold Pilecki and his brave actions. His story needs to be told, too.

[captain_commenter]

Schmid and Diamond are men of focus, commitment and *sheer fucking will*

[carronade]

In the version I heard of this story, after Rivers was killed, his finger got caught on the trigger and causing the machine gun to fire two hundred rounds before the other men realized he was dead and removed his body. Great video by the way!

[virus]

First heard of Rivers, but I really wish he also get remembered like how both Schmid and Leroy is remembered. He's done lot for them too.

[dalemartin]

Thank you, those 3, Diamond, Rivers, and Schmidt, especially Rivers, are now forgotten and when I tell people they might not believe me and their story is one that should be told, you did them well, and also I felt the 3 deserved the Congressional Medal of Honor.

[rockstarJDP]

Damn Yarnhub, there was me thinking this absolutely would be about John Basilone and you pulled the rug out from under me yet again with a story I'd never heard before! Great work guys, you genuinely never disappoint! 👏