D+15

June 30, 1944

D+15 found the 24th Marines in position as before.

Continued movement by the army ended the need for us locally, and in the afternoon of "D plus 15" we moved back down toward the eastern shore and thence northward again along the coast road to a bivouac area, where or the second time we were fortunate enough to find the digging easy and the sleeping excellent. One hard day of combat softens any foxhole.

- Captain Frederic Stott, 1/24, "Saipan Under Fire."

Elements of the 4th Marine Division went about the business of strengthening their positions and patrolling. Few enemy were encountered, and some patrols advanced nearly a thousand yards without encountering a single Japanese. To advance without flank support would be dangerous, however, so the Marines stayed in their positions and counted themselves lucky that they weren't facing the same blistering fire that could still be heard in the middle distance.

Even in days where there was no forward movement, men were still killed and wounded. The 4th Division report states that "some casualties" were incurred, and pointedly notes that they were caused by "pockets of resistance located in the 27th Infantry Division's zone of action."

The nights were quieter, too. Very little activity was reported: either the Japanese were conserving their strength or the Marines had become so adept and handling infiltrators that they were no longer deemed necessary to report.

ABLE COMPANY CASUALTIES, JUNE 30, 1944
Wounded:
Private Cecil Floyd Hendershot
Private Robert W. Mason

Sick:
Corporal Wilbur Plitt
PFC Odis Taylor

Total: 4