CaptainBrian -> (11/22/2001 9:20:00 AM)
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quote:
Originally posted by Warhorse: I had the honor, while I was in the Marines, serving in the 3rd FMFPAC, to land there, for the 40th anniversary!! I was carrying my gear, plus the spare barrel bag for the .30 cal MG, I jumped off the trac, and promptly sunk up almost to my knees in that black sand!! It really dawned on me, how it must have been for our boys, you could not even move fast to get under cover, which, even now is almost non-existent. We were only allowed to venture into the 2nd berm line, and did some training, and a lot of Japanese and US reporters were there to document it, quite impressive to have walked on a legend, albeit a very bloody, costly one.... There are still a lower hull assembly of an amtrak in the sand, and lots of 20mm rounds laying around in the sand, they shot these at our guys, once they hit the shore.
I was able to go there 6 years ago and standing on top of Suribachi looking at the landing beaches I can only imagine the flanking, enfilade fire the Japanese were able to pour into the waves as they came ashore. I'll also verify Warhorse's statements about how deep the sand is and how it inhibits movement. I could hardly walk much less run in it. It's a wonder anyone made it ashore.
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