The 27th Division was to commit another major gaffe on D+12. In the early morning, some 500 Japanese troops - who had been holed up at Nafutan Point at the very southern tip of Saipan since the island had been bisected by the Marines, having been held at bay (or vice versa) a battalion of the 105th that had been left behind to deal with them - broke out of their bastion and raced north towards Aslito Airfield, intending to cause as much damage as possible. Instead of simply rear echelon troops and engineers, the Japanese ran into the 25th Marines. It would be hard to say which side was more surprised. A fierce fight erupted and lasted through the night, with Seabees and mechanics grabbing what weapons they could find near the airfield and joining in with gusto. By dawn, the Japanese advance had been stopped, and the survivors were methodically hunted down. Again, to the surprise of the Americans, some Japanese were wearing captured uniforms and toting M1 Garand rifles. This event did little to sway the rapidly forming opinion that the 27th Division was hopelessly outmatched by both Japanese and Marine troops.
Understandably, this caused a great deal of confusion in the rear areas of the 4th Marine Division, and the unit postponed its attack until 0730. They also found themselves saddled with the 165th Infantry (less 2/165) as well as 1/105th Infantry, a total of nine battalions at their disposal. With this force, the division made rapid gains and encountered only sporadic small-arms fire. The 23rd Marines encountered large Japanese naval mines incorporated into roadblocks, but these were easily bypassed. Several Marines took interest in the Japanese supply dump at Hashigoru, where they found brand new uniforms, supplies of ammunition, and stores of weapons. American troops have long been known as consummate souvenir collectors, and doubtless the temptation to browse was strong, despite the ever-present danger of booby traps.
The 165th Infantry, attached to the 4th Division, kept pace with the Marines, but once again, the 27th Division lagged, causing the 165th to stretch like an uncoiled spring. 3/24 was dispatched to fill the gap between the divisions, and by the end of the day's movement, the 4th Marine Division was covering an angled front of nearly 5,000 yards. Two Japanese tanks caused a brief flurry of activity when they appeared in front of 3/24 and fired several shots before retiring undamaged.
Late in the afternoon we reached the zone assigned to us. The regiment on the eastern shoreline was moving rapidly against very light opposition, and a gap was growing on the 4th Division left uphill flank--a part of which we were plugging. Our foxholes were pre-dug by units which had passed on to the north, but this exposed flank faced higher wooded hills toward Tapochau and the west, and this higher ground was as yet untouched. Patrols dispatched before twilight discovered no enemy in the immediate vicinity. But several accurate bursts from hidden machine guns confirmed our fears that once again we were seated under an enemy position which possessed superior height and observation; except the machine guns rather than artillery constituted the major danger, and most of us preferred the machine guns.
All of "D plus 12" we sat and sat and watched these woods, unable to deliver any effective fire, for every time we requested permission to open up, it was denied on the grounds that the Army was advancing and would soon be occupying that hill. So we sat and watched the Nips flit safely back and forth amongst the trees while our distaste for the terrain grew hourly. Hence it was without relish for the task that we prepared to carry out an attack on this objective at 1600.
Just prior to the zero hour came our real introduction to a rocket barrage. We has seen those devastating rockets fired before, but never in such quantity. And the barrage which preceded our attack so completely covered the target area that all the men started grinning and joking, some were even urging on the "automatic artillery" with cheers. The rockets safeguarded what otherwise would have been a costly advance, for the ground was studded with fortifications and diggings. We did receive some casualties, especially just at twilight when a concealed machine gun suddenly cut loose, but the assigned objective was successfully occupied in rapid order.
- Captain Frederic Stott, 1/24, "Saipan Under Fire."
Despite the unwelcome bend in the line, the 4th Division had reached their objectives. The infantry passed a quiet night. Above and to the rear, Japanese bombers droned through the sky and American antiaircraft shot back at them; the only damage done to either side, said Carl Hoffman, was the destruction of peace and quiet. Only the 23rd encountered any Japanese infantry - a truck carrying about a dozen troops drove straight into Marine lines. The driver and passengers realized their mistake only when a 37mm antitank gun blazed away - and by then, it was far too late.
PFC Edward L. Stewart
PFC Howard S. Voeltz
Private Hubert Mauney
Total: 3
No comments:
Post a Comment