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D Plus 19 (D+19) 10 March, 1945 - The Assault of Iwo Jima |
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Page 4 of 5 26th Marines D+19, 10 Mar 45 Weather: Clear and warm. At 0630 LT 226 relieved remaining elements of LT 326 and established contact with CT 28. Lt 326 assembled in reserve position. A coordinated attack was launched at 0800, and later attempts made to resume advance, but gains were negligible. At 1230 LT 326 passed to status of VAC reserve, maintaining position occupied. LT 126 and the sector held passed to CT 27 control at 2000. All carrier troop support aircraft were withdrawn. Casualties: 6 Off, 120 Enl. Replacements: - Off, 115 Enl. Returned to duty: - Off, 29 Enll. Effective Strength: 93 Off, 2028 Enl. 27th Marines - D plus 19 10 March, 1945 During the night, the unit on our left reported the enemy digging in front of our lines. They were fired upon with machine guns and a large explosion resulted. This indicated that the enemy may have been carrying demolition charges. The unit on our right reported small enemy engagements during the night in which 16 enemy dead resulted. The enemy's major defense continued to be made with small arms and mortar fire from caves and crevices. The use of heavy mortars was very limited. Land mines were encountered in the vicinity of T.S. 234N. This was the first day in which no enemy artillery fire was reported. Snipers continued to operate at very short ranges and their fire proved to be deadly. The enemy dead reported to date was 1381 with a total of 8 POW's.
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