_The 37mm gun was a workhorse for the Marines in a wide variety of
firing missions. Those are Japanese bullet holes in its “shield.”_]
On the front lines in the center of the island, General Jarman, now in
temporary command of the 27th Infantry Division, took direct action
that same day (D+11). An inspection by two of his senior officers of
the near edge of Death Valley revealed that battalions of the 105th
Infantry “were standing still when there was no reason why they should
not move forward.” That did it. Jarman relieved the colonel commanding
the 106th and replaced him with his division chief of staff. (Nineteen
other officers of the 27th Infantry Division were also relieved after
the Saipan battle was over, although only one of them had commanded a
unit in battle.)
While these developments were taking place in the upper echelons, the
junior officers in the front lines had their own, more immediate, daily
concerns. As the author recalled:
I had worked out a pre-sleep routine which I followed every night
without fail. Before I lay down, I would make careful mental notes
of where the company Command Post [CP] was and where my squad
leaders’ foxholes were. Then I would work out the rotation of the
watches with my CP group. Next came a check of my carbine to make
sure it was in perfect operating condition. When all this had been
done, I’d lie down, adjusting my helmet to serve as a pillow. Last,
and most important, was the placing of my weapons: my carbine lay
across my body so my hand would fall naturally on the trigger; my
combat knife was stuck in the ground where my right hand lay; and
my grenades were carefully arrayed at my left hand. Then I’d drift
off to sleep.
[Illustration: SAIPAN