D+21

July 6, 1944

An early morning trip to the battalion C.P. brought the anticipated but unwanted order to continue the attack along the high ground.

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

It was decided in the upper echelons that the 4th Marine Division would alter its line of advance slightly. Instead of moving to the northeast, it would instead proceed north, thus cutting the 27th Division out of line. The 2nd Division had already been pinched out of the front lines, and was content to remain in reserve; the past weeks of fighting up the coast had taken a severe toll on their ranks, and even those who had escaped injury were worn out and exhausted by the constant pushing forward.

The 27th ran into some hot business in their line of advance, notably around the area called Harakiri Gulch, but were replaced on the "front line" by 0920.

The 4th Division moved forward quickly, with the 23rd Marines filling the gap on the left where the 27th Division had broken off. They spent their day attempting to secure the cliffs bordering the northern beaches (codenamed Black Beach), but the scale of the precipice (over 300 feet in height) and the ever-present caves containing hostile soldiers slowed them down considerably. The problem of extricating civilians from the caves began to wear thin on the patience of the Marines, as the process was time consuming and made the halted teams conspicuous targets. Also, many ambushes were set up around caves with civilians, like 1/24 had encountered the previous day. Interpreters would shout to the inhabitants to surrender and wait for a brief period; if nobody moved, the cave was sealed with satchel charges.

With excellent control and moderate casualties (Lt. Bill Carbeau died from a sniper bullet only five days after joining us), we gained some 2500 yards and swung a salient down toward the western shore a mile north of Tanapag. We still occupied dominating terrain, but had dipped down a long way toward the beach, and we were not happy at the prospect of regaining all that lost altitude.

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

[NOTE: Lt. Carbeau is officially listed as KIA July 5, 1944]

The 24th, with 1/24 on their northwest flank, encountered a Japanese counterattack in the early morning. The official RCT24 report for Saipan stated that the attack was repulsed "with little difficulty" - but that was a relative statement. PFC Al Perry, for one, had an extremely busy morning. He got to his feet and walked forward into the Japanese advance, continuously firing his BAR. Perry personally accounted for 27 of the enemy, and won a Silver Star for his feat. The regiment advanced over the recently unpopulated ground. 1/24 encountered an eerie sight: an elaborately constructed dummy position, complete with fake AA guns, fake gunners, and a fake radar installation. 2/24 ran into a real position, but pushed aside about 200 Japanese, who fled north under fire. The Marines chased the Japanese as far as they could, breaking off the pursuit as the daylight waned. Because of the delay clearing the cliffs, the 23rd could not keep pace with the 24th, and as the Marines dug in, a worrisome gap existed between the two, with 1/24's flank hanging in the air. However, the 25th had slammed through strong defenses and kept pace, though some of their battalions were out of alignment and pockets of Japanese resistance kept cropping up, requiring no small amount of effort to dispatch.

The Japanese, despairing of victory, decided to stop retreating.

I am addressing the officers and men of the Imperial Army on Saipan.

For more than twenty days since the American Devils attacked, the officers, men, and civilian employees of the Imperial Army and Navy on this island have fought well and bravely. Everywhere they have demonstrated the honor and glory of the Imperial Forces. I expected that every man would do his duty.

Heaven has not given us an opportunity. We have not been able to utilize fully the terrain. We have fought in unison up to the present time but now we have no materials with which to fight and our artillery for attack has been completely destroyed. Our comrades have fallen one after another. Despite the bitterness of defeat, we pledge "Seven lives to repay our country."

The barbarous attack of the enemy is being continued. Even though the enemy has occupied only a corner of Saipan, we are dying without avail under the violent shelling and bombing. Whether we attack or whether we stay where we are, there is only death. However, in death there is life. We must utilize this opportunity to exhalt true Japanese manhood. I will advance with those who remain to deliver still another blow to the American Devils, and leave my bones on Saipan as a bulwark of the Pacific.

As it says in the "SENJINKUN" [Battle Ethics], "I will never suffer the disgrace of being taken alive," and "I will offer up the courage of my soul and calmly rejoice in living by the eternal principle."

Here I pray with you for the eternal life of the Emperor and the welfare of the country and I advance to seek out the enemy.

Follow me.

- General Saito, Japanese commanding officer.

Saito committed suicide that evening, after a last meal of canned crab meat and sake.

For his men, the moment would come on the morning of July 7.

ABLE COMPANY CASUALTIES, JULY 6, 1944Killed:
PFC William J. Olson. San Diego, CA.

Wounded:
1st Lieutenant Harry D. Reynolds (third wound)
1st Lieutenant Roy I. Wood Jr.
Gunnery Sergeant Walter B. Russell
Corporal Lionel V. Bolduc
PFC James J. Chvatal, Jr. (not evacuated)
PFC Robert P. Wynne
PFC William J. Imm, Jr.
PFC Lionel Perez "Pappy" Salazar (second wound)
PFC Robert L. Williams (second wound)
Private Wallace W. Duncan

Total: 11