POST #22-32 

 Day Twenty-Two...Iwo Jima Battle Narrative, 13 March, 1945.. 

Mikey's Dads 100th Birthday Was on 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...

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Day Thirteen...Dispositions...

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On 2-22-2022) 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.

******

On this day, 13 March 1945...Once again, the 1-24 enjoyed a quiet night without disturbance from artillery or infiltrators. The First Battalion was ordered out of Corps Reserve as of 0800 and returned to regimental control, but this had little impact on the daily activities of the men in the foxholes. Combat patrols resumed their sweeps and the policing details continued cleaning up the area.

Without live enemy to fight, attention turned to dead ones. Burial details picked through old fighting positions, hauling out decomposed remains. Japanese bodies were searched for intelligence materials, and in the 1-24 sector many enemy documents were found, which were immediately sent to Regimental Intelligence. Once relieved of anything of military value, or of personal interest to the souvenir hunters, the Japanese bodies were buried as quickly as possible. Many were left in the ruins of their bunkers, filled with rock and black sand. Others were sealed in caves by demolition squads. None received a cemetery burial, or were identified by name.

Whenever a Marine body was found, the remains were gathered in a poncho and carried to a cemetery.  They would gather up dog tags from Marines that were killed.  Some of the fallen were a long time dead, and a handful of them could not be identified, but they were laid down in long rows just the same.   

A bulldozer scooped out a long trench, followed by men who regularly spaced out the bodies. When a row was complete, the bulldozer made another pass and filled in the trench. They had a form the size of a coffin turned upside down to make a raised mound and then a cross was placed by it. The plan was to bring the bodies home… it was going to be a real job identifying all of them.

During the time First Battalion, 24th Marines spent in reserve, the Fourth Marine Division Cemetery passed 1,700 burials. And still the bodies kept coming.

Read the full narrative below...     

  

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TODAYS FULL NARRATIVE

Todays narrative is DAY TWENTY-TWO on Iwo Jima, 13 March, 1945...It will be called Dispositions...

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

https://1-24thmarines.com/the-battles/iwo-jima/reserve/#dispositions

Over the next posts and next days we will continue posting daily updates that will follow 1-24-B in 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...

 Visit our YouTube Channel --- MtMikey for all of our videos! - Please Like and Subscribe! -

Until Next Time!!

    

 

 POST #22-31 

 Day Twenty-One...Iwo Jima Battle Narrative, 12 March, 1945.. 

Mikey's Dads 100th Birthday Was on 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 Twenty-One...Patrols...

If you're have trouble seeing the entire post, CLICK HERE

Subscribe to get E-Mail notifications of new posts!

Fill the CONTACT US TO SUBSCRIBE fields!

********

Tap any photo or video to enlarge/play.

Tap the underlined links to visit an explanatory webpage. 

********

On 2-22-2022) 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.

******

On this day, 12 March 1945...Three weeks after the landing on Iwo Jima, the First Battalion enjoyed what might have passed as a restful day. From midnight until dawn on Day 21, the entire RCT-24 area was quiet and free from enemy activity. No significant operations were recorded in the unit journal, save for the local combat patrols. This was preferable to spending time on the front lines, even as the front lines were shrinking. By the end of 12 March, Japanese resistance in the Fourth Marine Division sector was a small perimeter about 200 yards square in TA 185K.

Read the full narrative below...     

  

******

TODAYS FULL NARRATIVE

Todays narrative is DAY TWENTY-ONE on Iwo Jima, 12 March, 1945...It will be called Patrols...

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

https://1-24thmarines.com/the-battles/iwo-jima/reserve/#patrols

Over the next posts and next days we will continue posting daily updates that will follow 1-24-B in 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...

 Visit our YouTube Channel --- MtMikey for all of our videos! - Please Like and Subscribe! -

Until Next Time!!

    

 

 POST #22-30 

 Day Twenty...Iwo Jima Battle Narrative, 11 March, 1945.. 

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

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

******

Day Twenty...Bypassed

If you're have trouble seeing the entire post, CLICK HERE

Subscribe to get E-Mail notifications of new posts!

Fill the CONTACT US TO SUBSCRIBE fields!

********

Tap any photo or video to enlarge/play.

Tap the underlined links to visit an explanatory webpage. 

********

On 2-22-2022) 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.

******

On this day, 11 March 1945...For the second time during the battle of Iwo Jima, the First Battalion 24th Marines found themselves in reserve positions. They were exhausted, disorganized, and demoralized. 

They had been on Iwo for twenty days, fighting for every inch. They were all battle weary and had seen too much death and disregard for human life. Along with being tired, dirty, and hungry, they had been sleep deprived and wanted this to end.    

After heavy casualties in the Meat Grinder and the reorganization of companies, today the First Battalion was placed in Corps reserve. For several days, their routine was to be largely the same: combat patrols, area sweeps, collecting and cleaning equipment, and regaining their strength. The danger, while still present, was much less. This time in reserve was as badly needed. The Marines realized that the battle was near the end – but also knew they might be called back to the fight at any time.

The battalion was stationed in an assembly area a few thousand yards behind the front, and they had a good view of the airfield. The big silver B-29s were a familiar sight by now, especially the damaged ones coming in for a rough landing.

Except for the ever-present tension felt by those on combat patrols, the Battalion passed the day resting, cleaning weapons, and salvaging equipment.

The end of the battle was finally in sight. On this date, elements of the Fourth Marine Division reached the eastern coast, encountering only sporadic resistance as they went. By the end of the day, Japanese resistance was limited to a single pocket of determined holdouts.  It was only a matter of time until this last bastion fell, but any number of Marines might fall in the final push.

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

******

TODAYS FULL NARRATIVE

Todays narrative is DAY TWENTY on Iwo Jima, 11 March, 1945...It will be called Bypassed...

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

https://1-24thmarines.com/the-battles/iwo-jima/reserve/#bypassed

Over the next posts and next days we will continue posting daily updates that will follow 1-24-B in 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...

 Visit our YouTube Channel --- MtMikey for all of our videos! - Please Like and Subscribe! -

Until Next Time!!

    

 POST #22-29 

 Day Nineteen...Iwo Jima Battle Narrative, 10 March, 1945.. 

Mikey's Dads 100th Birthday Was on 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 Nineteen...Breather

If you're have trouble seeing the entire post, CLICK HERE

Subscribe to get E-Mail notifications of new posts!

Fill the CONTACT US TO SUBSCRIBE fields!

********

Tap any photo or video to enlarge/play.

Tap the underlined links to visit an explanatory webpage. 

********

On 2-22-2022) 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 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.

******

On this day, 10 March 1945, for the first time since the mass of replacements arrived on D-8, the battalion’s net strength actually increased. A few of those same replacements were among those returning from aid stations, field hospitals, and transport ships. Instead of cold shoulders, they received welcoming smiles. Many more were old timers who came back because they couldn’t bear to stay away.

After coming off the lines at 0630, First Battalion spent the rest of 10 March resting and recuperating. There were few, if any combat patrols during the day...the area was comparatively secure, because the Marines knew where the enemy was. They were right in front! They were near all the time. They can lob a shell or get behind them through tunnels. They never did know where the hell they were.  Caution paid off...only one man was wounded during the day and even he was not evacuated. 

The 1^st Battalion-24th Marines didn’t know it at the time, but their nineteenth day on Iwo marked the start of a relatively quiet period that would last almost until the end of the battle. A faint glimmer of hope began to shine for the survivors.

The 1-24 consisting of Dads Baker Composite Company and Able Composite Company had no Marines killed this day and none wounded, with a Battalion strength of 476.

Read the full narrative for today...it's very detailed, and again graphic...        

******

TODAYS FULL NARRATIVE

Todays narrative is DAY NINETEEN on Iwo Jima, 10 March, 1945...It will be called Breather...

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

https://1-24thmarines.com/the-battles/iwo-jima/d19/

Over the next posts and next days we will continue posting daily updates that will follow 1-24-B in 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...

 Visit our YouTube Channel --- MtMikey for all of our videos! - Please Like and Subscribe! -

Until Next Time!!

   

 POST #22-28 

 Day Eighteen...Iwo Jima Battle Narrative, 9 March, 1945.. 

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

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

******

Day Eighteen...Disbanded...

If you're have trouble seeing the entire post, CLICK HERE

Subscribe to get E-Mail notifications of new posts!

Fill the CONTACT US TO SUBSCRIBE fields!

********

Tap any photo or video to enlarge/play.

Tap the underlined links to visit an explanatory webpage. 

********

On 2-22-2022) 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.

******

On this day, 9 March 1945, heavy attacks were made over the previous night all along the front. An estimated 1,200 Japanese troops, many armed with demolition charges, tried to break through American lines in various sectors before dawn on Day18. All attacks were repulsed, and as many as 900 corpses were counted in the morning. Many of the dead Japanese bore the telltale wounds of suicide...after striking a grenade against their helmets, they held the bombs to their stomachs, chests, or heads.

We could tell they were near the end of their rope when we saw them in the morning. They were in their best uniforms, with their best sabers, all dressed up for their funerals. One Jap officer made a lone banzai charge, swinging his dress saber and running straight towards the Marines

Dad told of an experience like this where a Japanese officer was charging at him waving his sword...Maybe it was this one...Dad obliged him with a burst from his BAR.  He said he collected that mans sword and pistol and stashed it in a crack in the rocks, intending to pick it up later.  Unfortunately they never made it back there and the weapons could still be there today... 

Orders called for a renewed assault at 0700, but it was plain to all that the First Battalion of the 24th Marines would be ready to go at that time. The previous day’s fighting and the exhausting night of combat had sapped their strength and disorganized the companies.

Headquarters was aware of the problem and made a drastic decision. The First Battalion 24^th Marines would get new leadership and a new structure.  They couldn’t possibly take the casualties the battalion was suffering without consolidating the troops.   

The battalion was being re-formed into two companies. But even these new companies were woefully under strength.

It took the rest of the morning to reorganize the battalion...the Companies were now Able Composite and Baker Composite. Charlie and Easy had been disbanded and consolidated into A and B. When they moved out at 1300 hours, the change in organization was noticeable.

The renewed attack started slowly but gathered momentum throughout the afternoon. Both companies advanced cave by cave advancing between 150 and 250 yards. Japanese resistance was starting to crumble in places as they were gradually compressed into a smaller and smaller area.

Marines noted more instances of Japanese troops moving between positions or out in the open, which they to mean an insufficient number of prepared positions to maintain a defense. It was clear that the overnight attacks had taken a huge toll on the Japanese, but those who survived fought on fiercely.

At one point, an American tank rolled into the line and the tanker stated “Didn’t you fellows hear? General Hart said the island is secure!”

The Marines felt a rush of excitement...Maybe the tanker was right! Maybe the island was secure!  They could go back to the rear, go back to Maui, and get a one step closer to home! 

But Iwo Jima was FAR from secure. Two more weeks would pass before the final organized Japanese resistance ended. More men would be wounded, more men would die. And, it seemed, the day ended much as it began.  It was to be another restless night followed by a bad day...    

The 1-24 consisting of Dads Baker Composite Company and Able Composite Company had 8 Marines killed this day and 20 wounded, leaving a Battalion strength of 457.

Read the full narrative for today...it's very detailed, and again graphic...        

******

TODAYS FULL NARRATIVE

Todays narrative is DAY EIGHTEEN on Iwo Jima, 9 March, 1945...It will be called Disbanded...

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

https://1-24thmarines.com/the-battles/iwo-jima/d18/

Over the next posts and next days we will continue posting daily updates that will follow 1-24-B in 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...

 Visit our YouTube Channel --- MtMikey for all of our videos! - Please Like and Subscribe! -

Until Next Time!!