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Page 4 of 5 26th Marines D+23, 14 Mar 45 Weather Clear and warm. At daybreak LT 326 relieved left two companies of LT 226. At about 0810 a coordinated attack, supported by tanks, was commenced. At 1200 LT 126 occupied forward assembly area. Elements of 5thPioneerBn in the line on the left of LT 326 were attached to CT 26 and in turn to LT 326, subject to restriction that they were not to be used for a general advance. Terrain being entirely unsuitable to tank movement, tank, dozers and armored bulldozers wee used to doze tank routes to firing positions close in front of lines. This procedure was repeatedly used in the latter stages of this operation with considerable success against positions too close in for any other supporting arms. Casualties: 5 Off, 89 Enl. Returned to duty: - Off, &nnbsp; 8 Enl. Effective strength: 89 Off, 1780 Enl. 27th Marines - D plus 23 14 March, 1945. Enemy resistance continued to be fanatical to the end. The enemy remains in his positions to the least. Flame throwing tanks is the only weapon that has ever caused the enemy to break and run. Some enemy have been observed running out in front of our lines and committing suicide by holding grenades to their heads. Several instances have been observed of enemy in spider-trap fox holes having large satchel charges of demolitions which they threw at whatever might pass their holes. If they were observed before this could be accomplished, they blew themselves up. Hand placed charges are being used against our tanks causing them to work in pairs. Tanks flushed about 75 enemy from a cave in T.S. 235O. A number of these were reported to have jumped off the high cliff in that sector. The enemy dead reported to date was 1833.
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