_Marines pull their ammunition cart onto the beach from their broached
landing craft on D-day, all the while under heavy enemy fire. Some
troops did not make it._]
As the Japanese firing reached a general crescendo, the four assault
regiments issued dire reports to the flagship. Within a 10-minute
period, these messages crackled over the command net:
1036: (From 25th Marines) “Catching all hell from the quarry. Heavy
mortar and machine gun fire.”
1039: (From 23d Marines) “Taking heavy casualties and can’t move
for the moment. Mortars killing us.”
1042: (From 27th Marines) “All units pinned down by artillery and
mortars. Casualties heavy. Need tank support fast to move anywhere.”
1046: (From 28th Marines) “Taking heavy fire and forward movement
stopped. Machine gun and artillery fire heaviest ever seen.”
The landing force suffered and bled but did not panic. The profusion
of combat veterans throughout the rank and file of each regiment
helped the rookies focus on the objective. Communications remained
effective. Keen-eyed aerial observers spotted some of the now-exposed
gun positions and directed naval gunfire effectively. Carrier planes
screeched in low to drop napalm canisters. The heavy Japanese fire
would continue to take an awful toll throughout the first day and
night, but it would never again be so murderous as that first unholy
hour.
Marine Sherman tanks played hell getting into action on D-day. Later
in the battle these combat vehicles would be the most valuable weapons
on the battlefield for the Marines; this day was a nightmare. The
assault divisions embarked many of their tanks on board medium landing
ships (LSMs), sturdy little craft that could deliver five Shermans at
a time. But it was tough disembarking them on Iwo’s steep beaches. The
stern anchors could not hold in the loose sand; bow cables run forward
to “deadmen” LVTs parted under the strain. On one occasion the lead
tank stalled at the top of the ramp, blocking the other vehicles and
leaving the LSM at the mercy of the rising surf. Other tanks bogged
down or threw tracks in the loose sand. Many of those that made it
over the terraces were destroyed by huge horned mines or disabled by
deadly accurate 47mm anti-tank fire from Suribachi. Other tankers kept
coming. Their relative mobility, armored protection, and 75mm gunfire
were most welcome to the infantry scattered among Iwo’s lunar-looking,
shell-pocked landscape.
[Illustration: _Shore party Marines man steadying lines while others
unload combat cargo from boats broached in the surf. Note the jeep, one
of the first to come ashore, bogged down axle-deep in the soft black
volcanic ash, not to be moved till later._
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) 110593
]
Both division commanders committed their reserves early. General Rockey
called in the 26th Marines shortly after noon. General Cates ordered
two battalions of the 24th Marines to land at 1400; the 3d Battalion,
24th Marines, followed several hours later. Many of the reserve
battalions suffered heavier casualties crossing the beach than the
assault units, a result of Kuribayashi’s punishing bombardment from all
points on the island.
Mindful of the likely Japanese counterattack in the night to come--and
despite the fire and confusion along the beaches--both divisions also
ordered their artillery regiments ashore. This process, frustrating
and costly, took much of the afternoon. The wind and surf began to
pick up as the day wore on, causing more than one low-riding DUKW to
swamp with its precious 105mm howitzer cargo. Getting the guns ashore
was one thing; getting them up off the sand was quite another. The
75mm pack howitzers fared better than the heavier 105s. Enough Marines
could readily hustle them up over the terraces, albeit at great risk.
The 105s seemed to have a mind of their own in the black sand. The
effort to get each single weapon off the beach was a saga in its own
right. Somehow, despite the fire and unforgiving terrain, both Colonel
Louis G. DeHaven, commanding the 14th Marines, and Colonel James D.
Waller, commanding the 13th Marines, managed to get batteries in place,
registered, and rendering close fire support well before dark, a
singular accomplishment.
Japanese fire and the plunging surf continued to make a shambles out of
the beachhead. Late in the afternoon, Lieutenant Michael F. Keleher,
USNR, the battalion surgeon, was ordered ashore to take over the 3d
Battalion, 25th Marines aid station from its gravely wounded surgeon.
Keleher, a veteran of three previous assault landings, was appalled
by the carnage on Blue Beach as he approached: “Such a sight on that
beach! Wrecked boats, bogged-down jeeps, tractors and tanks; burning
vehicles; casualties scattered all over.”
[Illustration: