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Page 1 of 3 9th Marines On March 17 began the mopping up phase of the operation. This Regiment operated in the original zone of action on this date. 24th Marines - 17 March, 1945 Between 0001 and dawn a small group of enemy attempted to cross the front of BLT 3/24. 11 were killed and it is thought those remaining returned to the zone of RCT 25. RCT 24 (less BLT 2/24) received orders to relieve RCT 25 in its zone at 0800. BLT 2/24 was to revert to parent control at that time. BLT 1/24 was ordered to comb again the area swept by both BLT 1/24 and BLT 3/24 the preceding day. The zone of RCT 25 was divided into two sectors, one of which along the coast was given to BLT 2/24 and the other inland to BLT 2/24. The BLTs were to begin from a position in the northeastern end of their sectors and systematically swept the area going toward the southwest. The areas were to be thoroughly mopped up, policed, gear salvaged, dead enemy buried and own dead collected. The mopping up began at 0800 and continued throughout the day. By 1600 approximately 132 enemy dead had been buried, 58 caves sealed, 13 Marine bodies collected, and 4 enemy killed throughout the RCT sector. BLT 1/24 took up positions for the night in the general vicinity of TA 200 N, s, X, 183 E and BLT 3/24 went into position in TA 182 T. There was no enemy activity during the remainder of the period. 25th Marines - D plus 25, 17 March, 1945. There was no enemy activity reported during the night of 15-16 March. At 0800, BLT-2/24 was detached and reverted to control of RCT-24. At 1530, loading of personnel started when BLT-1/25 and BLT-2/25 embarked on a LST on Beach BLUE 1 for transfer to APA-178, the USS LANDER. RCT Hq and BLT-3/25 embarked on an LST on Beach BLUE 1 at 1530 and were transferred to APA-172, the USS GRIMES. At 1900, all troops of RCT-25 were on board their designated APSs.
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