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D Plus 20 (D+20) 11 March, 1945 - The Assault of Iwo Jima Print E-mail
 

25th Marines - D plus 20, 11 March, 1945.

During the night of 10?11 March the greatest activity was within the pocket of resistance in TA 184-I?N where groups of the encircled enemy tried to break out through the night. At K minus 75 (0745) RCT-25 (BLT-2/24 and Div Recon Co attached) continued the attack towards the sea with the units in line from left to right as follows: BLT-3/25, BLT-2/25, BLT?2/24 with BLT-3/25 on the left making the main effort. The RCT was 15 minutes late in jumping off due to the reorganization necessitated by enemy activities during the night. BLT-3/25 met extremely heavy opposition on its left and was unable to move its left any appreciable distance. On the right of BLT-3/25 some progress was made and the left of BLT-2/25 was able to move out in conjunction with the right of BLT-3/25 for an advance of approximately 200 yards. heavy mortar and rocket fire was placed on the front lines of BLT-3/25 and BLT-2/25 throughout the day causing heavy casualties.

At 0800, BLT-2/25 supported by BLT-1/25 commenced operations to eliminate the pocket in TA 184-I-N and this was completed by 1100. BLT-1/25 was then assigned the mission of mopping up the areas taken on the preceding day. At 1200, BLT-2/25 was ordered to move its two unemployed companies (E and F Co) to the left of the RCTs zone, prepared to employ them in that area. At 1300, Co F was placed in the line between BLT-3/25 and RCT-23 to fill a gap which had been created by the excessive casualties in BLT-3/25 and because the right unit of RCT-23 on BLT-3/25s left did not move abreast. AT 1530, BLT-1/25 reported its area of the previous day completely mopped up and it was ordered to take up a secondary position astride the beach road behind BLT-2/24. At 1730, units were ordered to consolidate on ground then held, establish firm contact along the line, and to dig in for the night. BLT-1/25 was ordered to provide security for the beach area and Co B, 2d Arm Amph Bn was attached to BLT-1/25 for that purpose.



 
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(c) Copyright 2007 Ray Backstrom