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pg.18

Iwo Jima with its Japanese strongpoints and, in the event that we become separated, the assembly area. We were informed of the location of the GCA unit and for the first time became aware of the conditions under which we would have to work - specifically Mt. Suribachi. "Darkie" would be the GCA code name located at the no. 1 airfield on Iwo Jima, code name of the airfield being "Maple". We were told the pass words and the counter-challenges.

Over the ships radio we listened to Radio Tokyo which spoke hysterically of us and reported our position or [[strikethrough]]guessed at it[[/strikethrough]] guessed at it. As we neared Iwo precautions were doubled. The ships guns were manned day and night and we checked and rechecked our own weapons. About fifty miles from Iwo the convoy made a 180 degree turn and started back.For the next few days we sailed up and down the Pacific ocean, going north toward Iwo until 1a.m. then turning south until 1 p.m. Thus we went up and back, up and back. The news of the Marine landings was not good. Our own radio admitted high casualities; Radio Tokyo crowed and lied. Our own convoy couldn't go in because of congestion of ships in the landing area and crowded conditions on the limited beachhead.

In the meantime the more we shuttled back and forth the more was increased the possibility of enemy attack, either by air or subs. We had many alerts and lots of action but fortunately all the ships came through unharmed.