9th Marines

Attacks were made on 3, 4 and 6 March against enemy positions in this area.  On each day the 1st and 2d Bns attacked abreast after the usual heavy artillery, air, and NGF preparation.  In spite of all of the preparatory fires (artillery alone fired upwards from 1500 rounds per preparation), no large gains were made.  Supporting fires were not confined to preparations, but continued almost constantly and still the enemy persisted apparently unaffected.  Advances up to a total of 150 yards were made during these three days, after which no noticeable decrease of enemy resistance prevailed.  The Regtl frontage during this period was about 500-600 yards running north and south, and the center of the front lines was about 600 yards due east of MOTOYAMA.

21st Marines

M. 4 Mar.  At 0310 an unknown number of Japs infiltrated through the right flank, these were hunted down and killed during the early hours of daylight.  3d Bn released to this Regt at 0645.  King hour scheduled at 0930 was postponed to 1140 due to the movement of 3d Bn from 9th Mar sector to line of departure in the 21st Mar ZofA.  3d Bn 9th Mar (less 1 Co) released to 9th Mar at 1045.  At 1140 the Regt jumped off to O-3 with the 2d and 3d Bns abreast.  3d Bn passing through 1st Bn which occupied the right Regtl ZofA.  Remaining Co 3d Bn 9th Mar reverted to parent organization.  2d Bn made little or no progress while the 3d Bn managed to advance about 100 yards against deadly enemy MG and direct AT fire.  Div Rcn Co Atchd at 1445.  Given mission reporting sources enemy fire and searching rear areas for enemy documents and material.  Positions were consolidated generally along the same line held the previous night.

23rd Marines

DOG PLUS THIRTEEN, 4 MARCH, 1945

Little enemy activity was noted during the night in the RCT zone except for the usual sporadic concentrations of mortar fire along the front lines and in the rear areas.  There were some close-range hand grenade exchanges and light infiltration along the front of BLT 1/23.  Prior to 2100, verbal instructions were issued for continuation of the attack on 4 march.  Boundaries, zones of action and the objective remained the same, with no change in the scheme of maneuver or employment of troops.  Corps and Division artillery were to fire preparation from King minus fifteen to king plus fifteen minutes, King-Hour being 0730.  The LD for the attack was the front lines at King-Hour.  At 0730, BLT 1/23 continued the attack on the left, regulating its advance in conformity with the movements of RCT 24.  BLTs 2/25 and 3/25 in the center and right of the RCT zone respectively, held the line at the previous position, prepared to continue the attack in conformance with the advance of 1/23 on the left.  After small gains of approximately 50 to 75 yards, the leading elements of 1/23 were pinned down by heavy automatic weapons fire from the zone of RCT 24 on the left. Further advance in this zone was dependent upon the forward movement of 1/24, and elimination of the resistance impeding the progress of the attack.  At 1500, following a 15 minute artillery preparation, a coordinated attack was launched in conjunction with RCT 24.  By 1600, very little progress had been made.  Strong, determined enemy resistance continued with machine-gun and accurate rifle fire from the left front particularity heavy.  Sporadic light and heavy mortar fire on our lines continued all during the day.  At 1700, patrols from Co B, BLT 1/23, were sent forward across the unoccupied area to establish contact with the left of 2/25.  The right of the RCT zone remained static with during the entire period, 2/25 and 3/25 throughout the day (still attached to RCT 23) continuing to wait for he units on the left to come abreast.  2/23 continued in VAC Reserve at TA 165 BC, and 3/23, in RCT Reserve, continued mopping-up operations in the same cliff-line (At TA 183 INO).  Considerable progress was reported by 3/23 as a result of extensive work in this area, but complete mopping-up had not yet been effected.  Engineers were employed during the day for the execution of heavy demolition work on caves and dugout positions.  Tank employment was still restricted by rough terrain.  An average gain of 150 yards had been made in the RCT zone during the day.  In preparation for consolidation for the night, Co L (3/23) moved into positions along the right boundary of BLT 1/23, tying in between Co K (Still containing the pocket in 183 INO from the south), and the left element of BLT 2/25.  At 1700, consolidation was completed.

24th Marines

 4 March, 1945

Small groups of enemy attempted unsuccessfully to infiltrate through the lines of BLT 3/24 and sporadic enemy mortar and small arms fire were received along the front from 0001 until dawn.  The Division order was received and RCT 24 was ordered to continue the attack in its zone of action at 0730.  RCT 24 was to attack with BLT 3/24 on the left, BLT 2/24 in the center and BLT 1/24 (Less Company A) on the right.  Company A remained in rear of BLT 2/24 as RCT Reserve.  All attachments remained the same.  Division Artillery reinforced by NGF and Corps Artillery fired a preparation for the attack from 0715 until 0745.  The attack jumped off on time but very little progress was made.  The attack continued throughout the day against heavy enemy resistance.  AT 1500 a coordinated attack was made with RCT 23 but very little advance was made.  When the lines were consolidated at 1750 the largest gain made in the RCT sector was only 100 yards.  Heavy mortar, machine gun and small arms fire had been received throughout the day and RCT 24 had received heavy casualties.  No air support was received during the day due to weather conditions.  Artillery and NGF fired as much as possible with their limited ammunition.  Flame thrower tanks were used to good advantage against caves and other enemy positions.  Little enemy activity occurred during the remainder of the period.

25th Marines

D plus 13, 4 March 1945.

RCT-25 (less BLT-2/25 and BLT-3/25) remained in Div Res.  Co B was relieved from the line at 0730 by RCT-23 and reported to the assembly area of BLT-1/25 at 0930.  Co A, 4th Engr Bn continued to build and improve roads and blow caves in the rear of BLT-2/25 and BLT-3/25.  BLT-1/25 continued reorganization, rehabilitation and rest.

26th Marines

D+13, 4 Mar 45  Weather: Intermittent rainfall, visibility poor.

CT 26 attacked at 0730 with 3 LTs abreast to seize a very limited objective, with LT 127 passing through the right company of LT 226.  Plans called for LT 126 to be relieved and to revert to CT 26 reserve, however, this was not accomplished until 1730.  About 1030 an uncoordinated counter-attack against LT 126 was broken up by effective close-in artillery fires.  Tanks and half-tracks were employed effectively against enemy cave positions in the center.  CT 26 CP displaced forward.  At 2100 a counter-attack of undetermined size appeared to be developing on the front of LT 226.  This activity was reported broken up at about 2120, after artillery and rocket barrages were brought down.
Casualties                       6 off,     205 Enl.
Returned to duty            - Off,      &aamp;   7 Enl.
Effective strength:     104 Off,    2049 Enl.

27th Marines

D plus 13 4 March, 1945.

This combat team continued to be in division reserve and there is no enemy activity to report.
The enemy dead reported to date was 1047.

28th Marines

D+13

1800, 3 March to 1800, 4 March.

Night Activity:  Continued sporadic mortar fire during the night.  A few enemy attempting to get though our lines were killed.

Daylight Operations:  Ordered by Division to continue attack at 0730 with LT-327 attached to seize O-3.  Boundary between CT-26 and CT-28:  234 V southwest to 234 A northwest. Direction of attack, north.

 LT-327 relieved LT-128 prior to 0730.  LT-128 moved to SURIBACHI area in Corps Reserve.

G Co, LT-328, was attached to LT-228.

All landing teams jumped off on time and advanced against heavy small arms and mortar fire.  Advances of up to 225 yards were made along the front, but soon after noon the enemy began to counter-attack and the center of the line was forced to withdraw slightly to better defensive ground for the night.

Lines at close of Period:  233 V northwest, 233 X south, 234 V west.

CP's:  LT-128 at SURIBACHI, LT-328 in 215 W, LT-327 in 216 W.
 

Casualties for period:   Supporting units for period

                      OFF        ENL

KIA & DOW                 10   1 destroyer, 1 LC(S)
WIA                      1      33   2d Bn, 13th Marines
SK (evac)                       9   C Co's, 5th Tank Bn.
TOTAL                 1     52

Combat efficiency:  40%