Lunga Point (CVE 94) - Naval Cruise Book

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PA RT I V 1wo ,UMA Then earne the hardest fought battle QF them att, Iwo jima just ah'a'n t want to fall, But our jfghting Nlarines haa' a awferent idea, They knew the HLunga P0int's ,blanes were near, S0 thgf forged aheaa' with grim a'eterrninatz'0n To win another znetogr 0'er the japanese Nation. Saturday, IO February 1945: I2-I6 Anchored as before. 1239 Underway on various courses and speeds from Ulithi Atoll, Western Caroline Islands. Captain at the conn. Executive Ofhcer and Navigator on the bridge? In one of his customary Hfiresidew chats that night, the skipper told us over the general announcing system that we were underway for the invasion of Iwo Jima. We already knew that Iwo Jima was way up in the Volcano Islands, and right in the Jap's front yard. The Captain didnat mince any words in telling us that it was destined to be a tough scrap, because the Japs would undoubtedly fight to the last man in attempting to hold this air base so near their front door. He told us, however, that he knew we had what it took to carry out our part of the invasion successfully. The importance of Iwo Jima as an air base in our Pacific strategy could easily be seen by the mighty force of warships of all classes that were sent to insure the success of the operation, and it was really an inspiration to be a part of the powerful Task Force that set its course for Iwo Jima. First wave approaching southwest beach at Iwo Jima just before HU hour Co83ol on DU day C19 Fcbruaryj, Sinokc from naval gunfire and aerial bombardment almost obscures the island. Mt. Suribachi is sccn at upper left.

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1 K En route, we stopped for a day .it Saipan and passed by Guam. arriving ofl lwo .lima several days prior to D Day. whieh was to be to February. Wlhile it was in the eards that we 'rib' 9 J' --1-if would have a hot time militarily speaking, it was quite a relief' to find ourselves far enough north to enjoy the first really eool weather we had had since leaving the States. As a matter of fact, most of us broke out our blankets and they really felt good. Immediately on arrival, our planes took to the air and began their bombing and strafing of Iwo Jima's military installations co-incident with the withering gunfire of' the many battle- ships, cruisers and destroyers lying close in- shore. This was to be a loo per cent Marine invasion by the 3rd, 4th and 5th lNfIarine Divi- sions. Many of us had close friends and rel- atives among those Nfarines, just as we did among the Army Divisions at Luzon, which made us want to try even harder to do our job while those brave Marines went through that 'cliving Hell on earth ,just a few miles from where we cruised up and down, waiting for our planes to come back from their mission of paving the wayw for the Marines. Those men, of whom we are so proud, hit the Iwo Jima beaches right on schedule at o8jgo on DU Day and brought glory to their Corps and most terrifie of' the War in the Pacific. Not only was the taking of lwo-lima the most costly of the Marine invasions -ea combination of Saipan and 'l'arawa but it also provided us with our toughest fight and most narrow es- cape. The Ijaps, even though foreseeing de- feat, literally dug into the rugged cliffs and the voleanie lava and held on with the tenacity of fanaties, preferring annihilation to surrender. 'l'he whole island was virtually honey-combed with pill boxes and caves, from which could be seen only the muzzles of their guns. The only way we ever got them out was by constant Marine artillery and mortar fire, flame throw- ing, Naval bombardment from the sea, and bombs, rockets and strafing from our planes in the air. Some, of course, would finally venture out in search of water, but they never went baek. From our station off shore, we could see the Naval bombardment ofthe island and it went 'round the clock, the night sky being brilliantly illuminated by star shells, so that aeeuraey could be assured in night firing. W'hen those fighting Marines and Sons of Heaven slept, we just don't know. The Ma- rines came through as usual, though, and not long after MDN Day, the Star Spangled Banner was flying serenely above volcanic Mount Suribachi, meaning that we had one more U.S l to our Nation, but not without days of' bitter fighting and heavy casualties. It is our guess 5 that, as a result of this battle, there will be 5 another verse added to The Halls of' Monte- 5 zuma,', and somewhere in that verse will be f the words, To the Shores of' lwo nlimaf' While not as gigantic an operation as laizon, Iwo Jima did prove to be the more speetaeular, and by far the most terrific operation in which we have participated, if not, for its size, the ,1.o.o.n.fmahcimsimnonttamhinpiiofhousc . I I li ia - 1 , r c I 1 -