Viewing page 20 of 140

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

pg.19

Finally the signal:Come in! The convoy turned around all the ships tore full speed ahead. No longer were we in formation, each ship's captain wanted to get there first and for [[strikethrough]] [[?]][[/strikethrough]]hawhile there were several exciting races. Our ship won, arriving first. Going in, we passed a large cone-shaped rock rising about 200 feet out of the water, "Minami Two", announced a cheerful over the ships loudspeaker, "only thirty miles from your new home". Three navy planes planes flew at us at mast height to look us over. Satisfied, they turned and flew away. At last at 1 p.m. Feb. 27, Mt. Suribachi loomed in the distance. We were there.

We passed a battleship lying offshore throwing tons of shells onto the island and then a heavy cruiser with all guns firing. As we hove to we could plainly see artillery fire from both sides ashore. Distroyers were pinging away at the island and scores of carrier planes wheeled overhead and went down on theisland in screaming dive bonbing and rocket attacks. A dull haze combined with the dust and smoke of the battle hung over the pork chop-shaped island. Flame throwers lashed out scarlet even in daylight, machine gun and small arms fire were incessant - rockets whooshed continually. It was a sight I shall never forget. We could see tanks spouting flame...but accounts of this bloody battle are now