_The American flag is raised on Roi on 2 February 1944 to signify the
end of the fighting. In the background is the shattered hulk of a
three-story concrete blockhouse._]
As the two Army regiments began their third day of combat, it was dirty
and dangerous work. One Marine historical summary of the Marshalls
operation told their story:
Resistance during the day was continually stiffer as the enemy
took advantage of every possible uncertainty of the terrain, and
concentrated the fire of such mortars and artillery as were left
to them. Despite the havoc wrought by the bombardments, there was
still much cover available and positions were concealed with great
adroitness. Many of the concrete installations still stood in
partial ruin even though they had received direct hits from heavy
naval guns, and the fire from 75mm [cannon] had little effect on
them.
It was necessary to employ heavy demolition charges to breach
emplacements sufficiently for the employment of flamethrowers
and grenades. In the utter turmoil, it was nearly impossible
to maintain contact. Nothing was any longer recognizable. The
situation was made doubly uncertain from the fact that fire might
come from almost any direction at the flanks, frontally, or from
the rear. The going was tough.
Weird things can and do happen in such fighting. A Japanese officer
charged a U.S. tank with just his bare saber. In the dusk one evening
Japanese riflemen tried to walk into the American lines carrying palm
branches in front of their bodies so they would not be seen. A U.S.
infantryman carrying a flamethrower approached a pillbox, and out
through its door bolted a Japanese officer in counterattack. He was
squirting a fire extinguisher towards the flame gun. The liquid doused
the American soldier as he let the flame go. The Japanese officer
dropped dead at his feet, burned to a crisp.
[Illustration: