The next day brought welcome orders to remain in position, and all foxhole tenants soon devised sun-repellant roofs from ponchos. (Nightly we fought a losing battle with the passing showers, but in daytime it was the sun we combatted.) Mail came up in quantity and was joyfully received, although man, having philosophically adjusted themselves to the fighting, felt that this tie with the past destroyed the combat mental state which had been gradually acquired.
Also we were presented with the first opportunity to send out mail, although the identification of our location was still prohibited. Few wrote, for the general feeling prevailed that wisdom dictated waiting until the passage of danger.
- Captain Frederic Stott, 1/24, "Saipan Under Fire"
Portions of 1/24 were detached from the regiment, and sent to patrol the Kagman Peninsula. 2/24 and 3/24 watched as their flank steadily decreased; the 27th Division (down to only five battalions) finally caught up and closed the gap. As the Army units advanced, command of their detached regiments was returned to General Griner. The battalions of the 165th that had recently served under the auspices of the 4th Division reverted to Army control - even before the appointed hour, the rest of the 27th had drawn abreast of the front lines.
The 2nd Marine Division had seen the lion's share of the fighting over the past days: Garapan, Flametree Hill, Sugarloaf Hill, Mount Tipo Pale, and The Four Pimples were under their control, and the cost had been very heavy. The 2nd was drawing close to its objective - Tanapag Harbor.
Lt. Bill Carbeau, our transport quartermaster, finally joined the battalion after more than two weeks spent in unloading all our cargo from the transport. It was a tribute to Bill's versatility that he was immediately assigned to "B" Company as a rifle platoon leader. In the past twelve months his work had not involved the handling of troops in the field, but his capabilities were highly regarded, and Captain Cokin was glad to welcome him into the company.
- Captain Frederic Stott, 1/24, "Saipan Under Fire"
The pause was over for the 4th Marine Division. They would advance again the following day.
Private Claude Lorton Godwin, Jr.
Sick:
PFC James H. Adams
PFC Roy G. Alford
TOTAL: 1
[NOTE: The fact that Godwin reappears with the company on July 13 may indicate that he was wounded and found his own way back to an evacuation point without informing those keeping records for the company.]
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