One of their first attempts at prevention was the destruction of the mosquito itself by draining swamps and any other breeding ground they could find. Another method was the use of a new insecticide called the “bomb.” One of the biggest problems was the tropical heat that caused the men to discard their clothing, thus increasing the area available for a mosquito to bite. Eventually, they came to realize that profuse sweating in their clothes was infinitely better than suffering from the bone rattling shakes of malaria. But the most effective weapon, where combat troops were concerned, was the drug called Mepacrine or Atabrine. It was a little yellow pill, which when taken regularly, would ward off malaria 100% of the time. Due to David's efforts malaria, which had devastated the 1st Marine Division on Guadalcanal, became only a nuisance in later campaigns.
One reason for the improvement was that for the first time ever the assault force included malarial control units. The Marines received lengthy training while on the value of protective clothing, bug spray, and netting. All troops carried medicine and equipment to prevent initial infection for themselves plus techniques to keep the mosquitoes from reproducing in their area. One technique they used was to take a small can of motor oil and punch a tiny hole in the bottom and hang it over any body of standing water. The oil would slowly drip out the small hole and deposit a protective film over the surface of the water thus killing the mosquito larvae before they could mature. Replenishment of mosquito prevention supplies received the highest priority from the quartermasters. Also, despite the importance of road and airfield construction, large-scale swamp drainage began as soon as the ninth day after an invasion. Within two months, the Seabees would drain millions of square yards.
As a result, the Marines suffered fewer casualties from malaria than from combat during any of the latter campaigns. But David’s tour of duty was cut short by a severe case of arthritis, which was aggravated by the harsh tropical conditions. Not wanting to lose his expertise they transferred him to Washington, DC to the planning and development department where he was used as a malarial consultant to the high command. After the war, David returned to Pensacola where he would eventually pass away on November 28, 1968 and was buried in Bayview Cemetery. Born on April 25, 1918 Billie would pass away in Duval Co., Florida on December 5, 2013 and was buried in the Jacksonville National Cemetery. Ironically, there is a character named Major William A. Rawls, same as Billie's father, played by John Doman on the HBO special “The Wire.”
Major David B. Lee
Pensacola News Journal 8-27-1944
Reminding the Marines to protect themselves