Viewing page 21 of 140

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

pg.20

buried in the archives of war. 

About dusk, when we were below decks eating supper, our ship approached closer to shore. When we came out on deck it was dark - that is, it was night, but it was by no means dark. Star shells, artillery,flame throwers and tracers lit up the island in an eerie pulsating light. A cruiser nearby blinked "If you move five hundred yards west you will be out of our line of fire" and we hastened to comply. Immediately the cruiser opened up, firing over our bow. We could see the bursts landing about the center of the island. At this time we were so close to shore we could hear individual rifle shots. (The next morning we learned that it was enemy - held shore)  All that night the gunfire from ships off shore and the gunfire on land continued. It was a spectacle, gigantic, awe-inspiring. Sleep was impossible. I was anxious to get off the ship and onto the island - not because I had any overpowering desire to join in battle, I must confess, but I just wanted to get off that God-damned ship for a change.

The next morning the battle rose to a higher pitch but normal ship routing continued. The chow lines were just as long - evidently no one's appetite had been affected. After breakfast, we adjourned to the rail to watch. Planes would queue up and go down in dive bombing and rocket attacks and the island held by the enemy would receive a terrible pounding. That evening, the novelty having worn off, we went below and played pinochle under a naval barrage.