Marquette (AKA 95) - Naval Cruise Book

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LT. COMUAIVDKK DuMU) A BO«.YIA 1.1 IAMES A CI KKI N I

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warn LT HUGH P. JOHNSON

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. ombatanl ship is l.oilt around bei a n i around hi-r air group, the I attleship 01 cruiser around her turrets, the submarine around lo-r torpedo tubes rhe rest ol tin- ship it important merel) .. urrj baitrrs around sen th MARQ1 ETTE is h I tut which there would be no need for th ship. Vnd ol itia] thing 1 tbi withoul Mrhich there would be no need for nis is our mi I lit troo] ly, to (jet them ashore under the enemy s k u dr ' ' provide them with what tlic. e his guns and apture hi- territory The next few pages show how th D Da . The months of planning tor this invasion, the preliminary reconnaissance by photographic air ' raft, by submarine and by UDT .in ' behind uv the -dor.- bombardment by our support ship-- ha- silenced the enemy ' s batteries on the surrounding hill-, ami plastered his pill boxc- on the beach. The -dimmers have gone in during the night to mark or blast out of the way an under wa1 ii ds to our landing craft. Our transport division closes the landing area on schedule. Land the Landing Force. Vs we lose tin last f .. hundred yard- to our assigned berth. »he LCVP ' s already rail-loaded hit the water and take t linr positions circling on our quarters; booms -wing inboard and hook on the next boats; up, out and down and these ti I borne; back come the booms and the big LCMs begin to go over the side, while the hatch crews tear off tarps and hatch board- !.. open the holds for the landing. The first scheduled waves are called away, boats are signalh ■ stations. Down the nets go the battle equipped troops; the !a-t n he boat shoves off to join its wave at the Line of i H Hour From the M nd leaving the L.O.D., and now the first b down, and the Marines hav landed Mine n 1 ■ bushed, and the tim. ,g equipment . I •• dlir and clanking of the winches breaks out, and ammunition, water trai ' • Idozers weapons and -upphe of all sorts are brought from our holds and sent ashore Messages come, urgent calls for mortar shells or radio equipment to meet some sudden need, the need is met, the gear goes ashore, the enemy opposition folds, and the landing is complete.