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Page 3 of 5 24th Marines - 10 March, 1945 Little enemy activity occurred from 0001 until dawn. Orders were received from Division for BLT 3/24 to become attached to RCT 23. RCT 25 with BLT 2/24 attached was to relieve BLT 1/24 in its zone of action. RCT 24 (less BLT 2/24** and BLT 3/24) was to become Division Reserve in TA 182 O, 183K,L. BLT 1/24 was relieved and in its assembly area by 0800. At 1130 BLT 1/24 was released by Division to become Corps Reserve. RCT 24 (less BLTs 1/24, 2/24, and 3/24) remained in Division Reserve. The remainder of the day was spent in the assembly area. There was no enemy activity in the RCT area during the remainder of the period. 25th Marines - D plus 19, 10 March, 1945. The night of 9-10 March was relatively quiet. In accordance with Div Op Or No. 19-45, BLT-3/25 relieved BLT-1/24 in its zone commencing at 0500 and completed the relief at 0600. RCT-25 (BLT-2/24 and 4th Recon Co attached) jumped off at K?hour (0800) with BLT-3/25 on the left, BLT-1/25 and BLT-2/25 in the center, and BLT-2/24 on the right. The plan of attack was for BLT-3/25 and BLT-1/25 to attack to the SE toward the ocean. As BLT-3/25 moved abreast of BLT-2/25, BLT-1/25 would be pinched out and BLT-2/25 would then swing its left flank and tie in with the right flank of BLT-3/25 and the attack continue toward the ocean. The Recon Co and F Co, BLT-2/25 were to mop up the area of the pocket and the gap. BLT-1/25 and BLT-3/25 jumped off at K-hour and made fairly rapid advances against moderate to heavy opposition. BLT-3/25 was able to move faster than BLT-1/25 and on its right and in order not to slow the attack BLT-3/25 was ordered to break contact with BLT-1/25 if necessary. By 1100, an advance of 500 yards was reported by BLT-3/25. BLT-1/25 made contact on its right with BLT-2/25 at 0845 thus closing the gap and eliminating the pocket. BLT-3/25 continued its advance an additional 200 yards where its right flank made contact with the center of Co of BLT-2/25 which had swung out to meet it. BLT-2/25 and jumped off in the attack at 0800 on its extreme left and was able to mop up the pocket of resistance by 1300. As BLT-2/25 pushed its center company forward to meet BLT-3/25 an area was by?passed in TA 184-I-N. At 1600, BLT-3/25 and BLT-2/25 occupied the controlling ground I the vicinity and were consequently ordered to dig in for the night in that position. The by-passed area in TA 184-I-N was completely surrounded by units of BLT-1/25 and BLT-2/25. At 1200, as BLT-2/25 moved its center Co, Co A of BLT-1/25 was pinched out. At this time Co A was attached to BLT-3/25 for use as a Res Co since BLT-3/25 had been forced to employ the majority of its Res Co on its left flank to maintain contact with RCT-23 on the left. The Div Recon Co was placed in a position in the vicinity of Turkey Knob for the night in order to prevent any enemy from infiltrating into emplacements in that vicinity. During the day a total gain of 700 yards was made by RCT-25 and the pocket of resistance in TA 183-O and 184-K were completely eliminated.
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