D + 2

February 21, 1945

The Marines passed another sleepless night. They were still expecting a banzai, and any movement in the darkness brought a salvo of flares, frantic calls for artillery, and quick bursts of machine gun fire. The air was cold, but because of the volcanic nature of the ground, some of the foxholes were too hot to occupy. Vents in the ground let loose jets of sulfuric steam, and the stench of gas combined with decomposing bodies permeated the atmosphere. A cold drizzle fell, adding to the torment of constant enemy artillery and mortar fire that fell on the front lines and on the rear echelons alike. A 100-man counterattack on the 4th Division was repulsed, and groups of infiltrators flung hand grenades at Able and Baker companies.

At 0740, the Navy and the 14th Marines started blasting targets - or suspected targets - close in front of the foxholes. 33 howitzers, 68 carrier planes, two cruisers and a full dozen destroyers opened up in hellish chorus. Able, having finished clearing out their sector the day before, had been moved to the front line, and would be continuing the advance along the shore near Iwo's East Boat Basin. After 30 minutes of preparation, the artillery let up and the Marines jumped off - only to run immediately into the same cleverly hidden emplacements spitting machine gun and rifle fire. The heavy casualties they had taken in the two previous days had been over relatively smooth ground. Ahead, the ground was a broken, tangled mess of rock outcroppings and torn trees.

Able Company was augmented by a platoon of engineers, and pushed forward as far as they could. They located and helped the engineers disarm and remove 35 large mines from the beach along East Boat Basin; the bunker busting teams eliminated pillboxes and cave positions.

Alva Perry's squad was very active on the beach. Perry's commendation for February 21 gives a good example of the daily activities of front line Marine infantry.

By the end of the day, First Battalion had pushed the Japanese in front of them to the high ground overlooking the Quarry, a gain of about 100 yards.

ABLE COMPANY CASUALTIES, February 21, 1945

WOUNDED:
PFC Joe Preston Locke (Automatic Rifleman)