D + 5

February 24, 1945

The sad fact about the battle for Iwo Jima was that it was going to remain every bit as difficult a slugfest as it had been on the first four days.... There would be no magic bullets, no smooth ploys, no sudden collapse.If victory was to be attained on Iwo, it would be cumulative (which is to say attritional) and extremely expensive - more expensive by far than any other real-estrate transfer in the Pacific War.

- Eric Hammel, Iwo Jima

Motoyama Airfield No. 2 exploded at 0800, as concentrated naval and land-based gunfire, followed by bomb- and rocket-toting planes plastered the areas that had given the Marines so much grief the day before. Expected tank support was stymied by mines and hidden anti-tank guns, and the 21st Marines were forced to move out without their armor. They forced their way across the airfield, and assaulted the neighboring heights at bayonet point. Three times they attacked, and three times they were driven back by accurate and deadly artillery. Weapons became clogged with mud and ash, and much of the fighting was done with grenades, knives, entrenching tools, stones, whatever came to hand that could be used to maim or kill. Marines took emplacements only to be hit by enfilading fire and pushed back - and then they would attack again. By the end of the day, though, the Marines had overrun the center of the airfield, and were tied in more than halfway across the open expanse.

The 24th Marines were to attack in a pivoting motion, in order to bring the left flank in line with the advancing Fifth Division and their own right flank. Able and Baker started forward at 1030 and immediately ran into point-blank fire from small arms and grenades. Mortars and artillery had no noticeable effect, and as the regimental AAR stated, "Our casualties continued to increase while our advances were nil."

A single stroke of good fortune befell the beleagured battalion on Febraury 24; the night was the quietest yet experienced. Some hand grenades were thrown at supporting LVTAs, some Japanese were discovered wandering the lines and were killed, but nothing compared to the previous nights. Able Company relaxed, slightly, and took stock of the wide-eyed replacements who appeared, nervous and blinking, on the front lines.

Able Company Casualties, February 24, 1945

Killed
PFC Johnny Brown Haynes. Age 20. Rifleman.
Private Harold Gene Brunson. Age 18. Decatur, IL. Automatic Rifleman.
Private Charles F. Powell, Jr. Jeffersonville, VT. Automatic Rifleman.

Wounded
Platoon Sergeant Sink Sizemore, Jr. (not evacuated)
Sergeant Edward L. Stewart. Rifle Squad Leader.
Corporal Charles M. Fischer. Rifle Squad Leader.
Corporal Robert A. Gamboa. Rifle Squad Leader.
Corporal Ronald R. Palmer. Mortar Squad Leader.
Corporal William A. Peck. Machine Gun Squad Leader.
Corporal Leonard Yush. Rifleman.
PFC Robert L. Brown, Sr. Machine gunner.
Private Fred T. Rasberry. Rifleman.

Total: 12

Returned From Hospital
PFC John Cabale. Mortarman
PFC Henry D. Schoenfelder. Mortarman