_5th Division Marines land on Red and Green Beaches at the foot
of Mount Suribachi under heavy fire coming from enemy positions
overlooking the black sand terraces. The 28th Marines had not yet
wheeled to the left towards Suribachi._]
[Illustration: _With bullets and artillery shells screaming overhead,
Marines crawl along the beaches and dig into the soft volcanic ash for
cover from the deadly fire. Note the geyser of water as a shell lands
close to a landing craft headed into the beach._
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 109618
]
Two Marine combat veterans observing this expressed a grudging
admiration for the Japanese gunners. “It was one of the worst
blood-lettings of the war,” said Major Karch of the 14th Marines.
“They rolled those artillery barrages up and down the beach--I just
didn’t see how anybody could live through such heavy fire barrages.”
Said Lieutenant Colonel Joseph L. Stewart, “The Japanese were superb
artillerymen.... Somebody was getting hit every time they fired.” At
sea, Lieutenant Colonel Weller tried desperately to deliver naval
gunfire against the Japanese gun positions shooting down at 3d
Battalion, 25th Marines, from the Rock Quarry. It would take longer to
coordinate this fire: the first Japanese barrages had wiped out the 3d
Battalion, 25th Marines’ entire Shore Fire Control Party.
[Illustration: