Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-12-23

pier was. loaded with high explosives. At dawn,
tine enemy sent It's first bombers There were
only two of them, and five men were killed.
WE AWOKE to one of the strangest sights
w in history. We badly needed repacements
Men were being landed 500 yards from shore
in the surf at low tide and were wading in
past enemy machine gun emplacements Many
fell before they reached shore. In the after
noon marines were still staggering ashore,
carving the limp forms of buddies between
them .---v-.
The heaviest fire came from Japanese
snpers nest in the beached enemy merchant
ship Assault waves were held up while our
dive bombers went TO work on 1t, dropping
high explosives in its hulk And yet, when the
next boats came in machine gun fire continued
from the blazing ship. -
we settled the matter by sending aboard
men to wipe out the snipers in hand-to-hand
combat, and>t hold it as outpost.
Shortly before noon, the Japanese opened
up on us with mortars One landed near
enough TO tear the top off our steam roller.
and to deafcn me f6t-two days. A marine who
occupied the foXholG next to ours was killed
by shrapneI We dug deeper,
By now however, the Japanese were being
forced steadily back. We were able TO move
about Spipcrs continued but we ignored them.
One was Rllled in a cocoanut tree 30 feet away.
sun, our naval and air poundings con-
tnucd. On the third day the heaviest fighting
took place IN cleared space around the air
strip. One Of our tanks numbered in 10 the
clearing. AtJap broke from the bush and tried
TO throw grenade IN IT'S tracks He was shot
down
Suddenly there wars firing at our rear.
Seven Japs had been found in the ruins of a
dugout less than 10 feet from the command
pest from wt11Ch- our officers We're directing
the operations. They We're wiped out
| went with Chef Pharmacists Mate Roy
J BarnhlI 80 Of salt City to the front where
our men were blasting out Jap plllboX Last
night Barnhlll went back To the Jap lines to
pick up SIX wounded marines \ japanese
sentry tossed two hand grcnadcs in their direc-
ton Both were dudS
7 RETURNED to the beach to find snipors
L aeatf sweeping The pier where ammunition
was beng unoadcd. They fired from the
Wrockage OF one Of our boats % yards away.
-dHcllcd 4te- t45ttr-t tHC opposite side.
and found five husky military policemen herd
nigga convoy OF japanese prisoners toward the
beach IN water up to then waists and up to the
Jap'S shoulders
Three dead marines were IN the water
The MPs hcrded the Jap's out 20 a waiting
landing barge As the frightened prisoners
climbed aboard they were subjected 10 MUIR
lefei4a torrr t17uTT own snID0rs Three were
Killed.
| got back IN time TO be. in on the battle
that broke japanese resistance Fatawa.
Several hundred laps had been holed up for
tNo days IN bOmbproof shelter At the end
ct -thn-alt-st = r fftr6tfg UP our advance
Pic Robert Harper. -, Of Houston Tex,
and SGT. John R%bIn, %. Of Laurel Mont
dashed forward Nl'h their fame throwers
while automatic rltlcmen covered them At
the entrance Of the bomb shelter Harper threw
ms hame on "A Jap machInegun nest Charrlng
three enemy marines beyond recognition He
poured on more FIRE There were screams IN
side the shelter and the marines rushed for
ward 10 capture their objective
Harper returned TO our post
fhry We're all huddled in there scared TO
death he said. Il turned onethe heat and that
was alt.
From TINS point on our advance was rapid.
Following our advancing troops came upon
one position We had held less than FIVE minutes
and counted 81 japanese who had committed
hara-klr by strappng their feet to he triggers
OF tnetrltics, placing the muz2e in their chests
and pulling the trigger with a kick
During the night. the Japs made 4 final
desperate bayonet charge They Killed two Of
our flame throWers bat were repused
And this morning the island was secured
knt Ia tfffft 7er VITO dbtG 70 SIT un wi h.
out ducklng. There were a few dcsultory
snlpcr shots, but no one noticed them
staff SGT. George Stutsman. of Natchez.
Miss. brings us tWo-cartous Of Ctgarets and A
carton of matches. We get five gallon key OF
Watet-a real luxury II rains briefly and we
stand IN the open, soap and shower ourselves
off
This is civfiszaton s-'