The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-06-16
BY SHERMAN MONTROSE
Acme Newspictures Photographer

N"libLCh AUi MN
Holtz Bay, Attu, June 16-Four
days after American forces landed
on a little unnamed beach on the
northwest side of Attu to drive on
Holtz Bay in f1anking movement,
their goal was within their grasp
and their objective within sight.
Final phases of the bitterly con-
/ tested battle of Bloody Point" be-
gan with Navy guns laying down
terrific barTage on enemy gun posi-
tons on both arms of Holtz Bay,
then a sweep up the mountain by
troops under Col. Frank Culin and
Major Frank Hartl.
After a two-day pounding by
artillery, machine guns and NOR
tars, the enemy fire was sporadic
and inaccurate. A few machine
guns still swept the ridge, and
anti-aircraft bursts hit high. A
three -incher lobbed in shells, but
| the troops moved in.
A warship moved majesticaliy
across the entrance to Holtz Bay,
guns blinking like neon lights in
the fog, fore and aft agloW with
salvos from the big babies.
CHARGE REFUSED
In less than an hour, troops had
gained the crest of the ridge and
machine guns were being placed
in position to sweep the valley
below. In one sector of the wide,
attacking semi-circle, japanese at
tempted bayonet charge but were
thrown back with huge casualties.
The counter attack wasn't long
| in coming, but it consisted only
of a crescendo of anti aircraft fire
through which our troops stood
firm, refusing to fal back an inch.
One machine gunner, high on the
skyline, kept the rat-a-tat going
continuously while at least a dozen
A-A's broke directly over his head.
But the only effect was to cause
him TO shade his head to clear it
from shock. He kept firing.
Once over the top, the advance
to the floor of the valley was swift
and sure. Again fresh positions
were dug. The crest of Bloody
Point" was a misunderstanding
to the ferocity of the fight for its
control.
In the light of the next dawn
ing, dark rings from shell fire dotted
the snow and tundra. Empty shell
cases Uttered the ground. Japanese
who fought until they died in their
dugouts and fox holes were crouched
in weird positions.
This was the beginning Of the
end of the japanese in the Holtz
Bay area. Their rout was complete.
From commanding positions on the
ridge, U. S. troops swept the valley
into the Japanese encampment on
the west arm, and two days of &C
ton consolidate that position.
Swiftly, preparations were made
for the next thrust, across the val
iley to, and up, three ridges con-
trolling fire into the east arm
where the Japanese second en-
campment lay with machine guns
and at least one anti-aircraft bat
terry.
JAPS WERE LICKED
But the heart had been taken
from the enemy. Their defense OF
the second stronghold was feeble
by comparison with the first.
An intricate system of combat
and communication trenches the
Japanese had labored so long and
carefully to build aided our troops
In reaching a stream on the lar
side of the valley, from which the
final push was made.
The Japanese had dismantled
their battery of three 77-millimeter
dual-purpose anti-aircraft guns and
hidden the blocks, but these were
quickly found and the guns turned
in their direction. Captured knee
mortars were moved to the front
where they were put into effective
use.
Our own equipment was better,
and we had it in quantities, but the
novelty of turning their own guns
on the vanquished intrigued the
victors.
Once again the Nav and the Air
Force came in on the final blows.
But in the end, it was the foot SOL
diers who got EN- out And when
the japanese staged final door
die bayonet attack on this series Of
ridges, it was the infantry that
pushed them back
One week after landing, almost
to the hour, Col Frank Culin, COM
handing our section of the action,
announced:
"Holtz Bay area is now secure.
1t is a total victory This force has
accomplished it's mission"
Since early morning, he said,
patrols had been slowly moving
into the east arm without opposl-
ton. Five officers were found hid
ing in an underground shelter and
were killed One battery of anti
aircraft guns was taken near the
airport.
FORCES JOINED
Patrols from Col. Culins forces
working toward Massacre Bay es-
tablished contact with patrols from
the outfit coming from the opposite
direction.
These we're the battles of Bloody
Point" and MASSAGE Ridge" NO
battles, these, involving mased
thousands of troops, but the kind
of action facing American troops
everywhere they are to meet the
Jap on his own ground.
In these the American soldier has
to be a Dead-Eye Dick, an Indian
scout, a Bob Feller with grenaoe
a Paddock running with full pack.
And that's just about what he
is.