POST #22-24 

 Day Fourteen...Iwo Jima Battle Narrative, 5 March, 1945.. 

Mikey's Dads 100th Birthday Was 2-22-2022...

 We continue the day-by-day story of the First Battalion, 24th Marines, Baker company in the bloody battle of IWO JIMA...

Day Fourteen...Regroup

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On February 22, 2022, (2-22-22) Mikey's Dad, Willard W. Wemple would have been 100 years old.  We are following Dad's time in the First Battalion, 24th Marines, Baker company, from February 19th to March 17th, 1945, in....Operation Detachment.

What we post here on the Blog Post about the B-1-24 will be minimal. But we will add links leading to a very good, detailed website...1st Battallion-24th Marines that will give way more information than we can deliver ourselves. We must warn you that some of the information will be graphic and upsetting, but will give you some idea about what Dad and the other Marines experienced.  If you see a mention of Baker Company, that is the unit dad was assigned to.

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On this day, 5 March, 1945, orders were received from Battalion Commander Colonel Walter I. Jordan to the effect that the present lines would be held. 

Colonel Jordan knew when to fight, and he knew when men were reaching their breaking point. His three battalion landing teams were in bad shape. All units were to reorganize, strengthen defenses, and scout the ground ahead.

The colonel passed this news to the battalion commanders at 0730. This would not be a day off, and the situation was not expected to last. More orders for a renewed attack would be coming later in the day. The more work they put in on Day 14, the easier Day15 would be. After recent days in the Meat Grinder, the Marines must have felt a wave of relief wash over their tired bodies.

Following Division orders, Baker Company put out patrols to explore their immediate area. The area behind them was finally quiet. They well knew that any “destroyed” position might hold a Japanese holdout or conceal a tunnel leading to other fortifications. Everything was done cautiously.

Fortunately, few if any Japanese were left to cause trouble. With every deserted position, Baker Company felt some relief. Perhaps the Japanese could be worn down after all.

Colonel Jordan reconvened his battalion commanders at 2200. The day of reorganization was over; attacks would begin the next day. First Battalion would attack along the front, with Willard (Dad) and B-1-24 led by Captain William A. Eddy, Jr. taking the lead. The assault would begin at 0900 hours tomorrow,  6 March.  After todays relative quiet, the torment was to continue, complete with friendly fire...  

Five Baker Company men were wounded in action on 5 March, and none were killed this day.

Read the full narrative for today...it's very detailed...          

  

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TODAYS NARRATIVE

Todays narrative is Day FOURTEEN on Iwo Jima, 5 March, 1945...It will be called Regroup...

Click or tap HERE to go to the narrative...It's very interesting 

https://1-24thmarines.com/the-battles/iwo-jima/d14/

Over the next posts and next days we will continue posting daily updates that will follow the battle through logs and stories of the battle as told by a Military Historian and battle participants on the 1st Battallion-24th Marines Website...

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Until Next Time!!