J+4

July 28, 1944

It was the 4th Division's turn to advance in force, and they did not disappoint. After an overwhelming artillery barrage (lacking specific targets, the gunners fired at locations that looked suspicious instead), the Marines moved through neatly divided canefields that formed a patchwork on the hills and valleys, taking their objectives for the day before 1300.

General Cates, commanding the 4th Division, noted that his men now held a line along the very widest point of the island. The gap between his two assault regiments was filled by the 24th, finally called from reserve. After a brief pause, during which there was a flurry of communication, Cates ordered his division to continue their advance. Later, the 23rd Marines would refer to this advance as a "blitz." Men hopped on tanks and halftracks, enjoying a chance to rest their feet. Again, only light resistance was encountered, and by 1730 the division had advanced another two miles from their original objective.

The 23rd was pinched out along the coastline, and retired to division reserve. One hundred and eighty five civilians and two Imperial soldiers surrendered to the Americans; the soldiers reported that the rest of their army had retreated to the very southern tip of the island.

Even the outer edges of a hurricane hitting the island could not dampen enthusiasm at this news. The weather, which had not been pleasant, finally broke, causing havoc among the supply troops at the White Beaches. Ashore, the Marines settled in under ponchos. This was nothing they hadn't experienced before, and there were no Japanese in front of them.

The 4th Division was so far understrength by this point that several replacements earmarked for the 2nd Division were reassigned. Able Company was joined by:

2nd Lt. Louis Pantaleo (Platoon Leader)
Sergeant William Wittwer (Section Leader)
PFC Philip Enaco (521 -Basic)
PFC Werner Piede (Intelligence Observer)
Private Alva Gordan (Mortar Gunner)
Private Joseph Griffaw (Mortar Gunner)
Private Ted Hale (Mortar Gunner)
Private LeRoy J. Heath (Mortar Gunner)
Private Jim Jenkins (MOS 531)
Private Roland Jennings (MOS 531)
Private Raymond Johnson (MOS 531)
Private Lawrence Karr (MOS 531)
Private Galen Mueller (Rifleman)
Private Wilfred Neasolney (Rifleman)
Private Paul Nicholson (Automatic Rifleman)
Private Lawrence A. Nolen (Rifleman)
Private George J .E. Nowack (Rifleman)
Private Timothy O'Connell (Rifleman)
Private Lawrence Osburn (Rifleman)
Private Ernest Pania (Rifleman)
Private Harvey L. Payne (Rifleman)
Private William H. Pearson (Rifleman)
Private Francis Peters (Rifleman)
Private James Peterson (Rifleman)
Private LeRoy Pickett (Rifleman)
Private Thomas Platt (Rifleman)
Private Frank Edward Pratt (Rifleman)
Private Olva Pratt (Rifleman)
Private Henry Prevot (Rifleman)
Private Peter Printz (Rifleman)
Private Steve Procko (Rifleman)
Private Richard Radish (Rifleman)
Private Richard Reams (Rifleman)
Private Kay Reese (Rifleman)
Private Robert Rodgers (Rifleman)
Private Geradi Rolling (Rifleman)
Private Durward Sherwood (Rifleman)
Private James Slavik (Machine Gunner)
Private Thomas J. Slockbower (Heavy Machine Gunner)
Private Robert Smith (Machine Gunner)
Private Richard Taber (Machine Gunner)
Private Earl D. Tanker (Machine Gunner)
Private Wilford Weaver (Rifleman)

Able Company Casualties, July 28, 1944Wounded:
PFC Bartholomew R. J. Wanagaitis

Total: 1