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On 11 March 1945 the Iwo Jima operation entered its final phase. Locked in a tightening band of steel, the Japanese defenders were determined to continue their fanatical resistance to the last man. As Marines of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions secured more and more territory, the enemy defenses broke up into individual pockets. Each of these had to be reduced at close quarters by fire, flame and explosives. The Japanese would not go easily.
On D+21 (12 March) the attack ground forward toward Iwo’s north coast. The terrain became progressively worse as the Marines pushed deeper and deeper into the sandstone wilderness of Iwo’s badlands. Making use of every tactical advantage, the Japanese employed expert reverse slope defenses and often launched small counterattacks. They held their fire until American units were too close for artillery support and emplaced mines extensively. During this day’s fighting, LT 1/27 advanced a total of 150 yards. Engineers had to destroy every single cave mouth in sector. Both gun and flame tanks supported the battalion in this work. It was close range, brutal fighting. As always, the infantry Marines paid by the heaviest price. Pfc Salvador Vargas of Cardiff by the Sea, Calif., was a runner in Charlie Company. While delivering a message to a platoon leader in this attack, Vargas spotted a cluster of pillboxes with heavy machine guns that were chewing into the exposed Marines. Alone, Vargas worked his way forward and destroyed one of the pillboxes with grenades. Then he went to the next and did the same thing, destroying the pillbox and killing the occupants. Painfully wounded in the chest and leg, Pfc Vargas crossed open ground under withering fire and destroyed the third pillbox. With the emplacements silenced, Charlie was able to advance forward to Vargas’ position. He refused evacuation until ordered to the rear by his commander. For this heroic action, Vargas would later receive the Navy Cross.
On 13 March, the battalion advanced 300 yards against tough resistance, but the attack was stopped by intense fire from a draw to the front. The line companies dug in at 1700 for the night. Shortly after dark, Charlie Company began receiving point blank fire from an 8-inch gun that had been abandoned and reoccupied by the Japanese. Bazooka man Pfc Donald Schmille of Kansas City, Kans., crept forward of Charlie’s position. The Japanese gunners spotted Schmille, and attempted to stop him with a barrage of hand grenades. Schmille stood up to get a good sight picture and destroyed the gun and crew with his bazooka. His heroic act saved the lives of many Marines and Schmille later received the Navy Cross. (1)
D+23 (14 March) found the battalion again on the attack for the sixth consecutive day. In a day of difficult fighting, the Marines won a total of 350 yards with tank support. Maj Tumbleston was wounded and evacuated. Maj William Kennedy, 3/27 operations officer, took over the battalion During the attack, 1stLt William Van Beest, last of Charlie Company’s original officers, was killed. The LT 1/27 Action report noted in the entry for 14 March: “At this time the fighting strength of each company was approximately 60 men, 80 percent of whom were untrained replacements.” (2)
Now it was a race for time. The 5th Marine Division was well beyond exhaustion and all hands were hanging on by a thin thread. In addition to a draining toll of dead and wounded, many Marines simply could not stand the terrible strain of day after day close combat. Their reserves exhausted and nerves shattered, these young men had to be evacuated like any casualty. The numbers were stacking up and those still standing felt like fugitives from the law of averages.
But the Japanese defenses were beginning to crack under the relentless pressure of bullets, explosives and flame. On 15 March, the Marines of LT 1/27 drove forward 350 yards to the top of a ridge where they could see Iwo Jima’s northern shore. They dug in for the night overlooking the sea. The next day, the 3rd Marine Division secured Kitano Point. The Marines of LT 1/27 packed their gear and loaded on trucks for a ride back to the beach. The assembly area was located near White beach on Iwo’s eastern western coast. LT 1/27 was ordered to reorganize with a headquarters and two understrength rifle companies: Able and Baker. For Baker and HQ, the battle for Iwo Jima was effectively over, but Able had more dying to do. The supply section distributed ammo and rations and Marines cleaned their weapons. Then, like always, they waited. Able, Dog, George, and Item Companies were assigned to a composite battalion built around the remnants of LT 3/27. LtCol Donn Robertson was assigned to command this unit, which only had about 470 Marines. The composite battalion was attached to the 26th Marines for the 5th Marine Division’s final battle on Iwo Jima.
The Gorge was a 700-yard long box canyon on Iwo’s northwest coast. About 500 diehard Japanese troops held out there. The Gorge was broken by numerous draws and rock outcrops, each of which hid a reinforced position with plentiful ammunition. Well situated for suicidal defense, the Gorge had to be secured before the 5th Marine Division could report, “mission complete”.
On D+28 (19 March) Able and George Companies moved up to the Gorge. At 1515 they launched an attack against the northeastern shoulder with tanks and support by the 5th Pioneer Battalion. Meanwhile, elements of the 26th and 28th Marines pushed against the west and south sides. In a tough process under heavy fire, tankdozers built roads into the Gorge to direct point blank 75mm fire and flame onto the Japanese. The line companies moved into a night defensive position. All night long, the Japanese fired mortar rounds into the Marine lines and their snipers remained active.
On D+29 Able Company attacked on schedule at 0730. They ran into intense heavy machine gun and rifle fire, preventing further movement for the rest of the day. Pfc Daniel Albaugh of Glendale, Calif., was one of Able’s BAR men. A concealed pillbox pinned down his platoon during the initial assault. Albaugh exposed himself to withering fire to spot the emplacement. Then he found a bazooka and advanced under incredible fire. Unable to find a covered position, Albaugh moved directly in front of the pillbox. Then he fired three bazooka rounds at the emplacement, destroying it. Mortally wounded in the action, this gallant Marine fell on the battlefield. For his heroism, Pfc Albaugh was later awarded a posthumous Navy Cross.(3) Over the next several days, the composite battalion pushed deeper into the Gorge. Supporting flame tanks used up to 10,000 gallons of napalm each day burning out Japanese positions. Pioneers worked ceaselessly to destroy each cave with demolition charges. The advancing Marines encountered Japanese troops in spider holes, heavy sniper fire, and knee mortar barrages, but advanced over 300 yards. By dusk on D+31 (22 March) enemy resistance in the battalion sector of the Gorge was broken. The next morning, at the end of a long, long journey, Able Company was released from the composite battalion and returned back to LT 1/27.
Notes on cited material: (1) Pfc Schmille’s fight against the 8-inch gun on 13 March is documented in his Navy Cross citation.
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