OFF!CEIIS COURSE 19411 - 1949... · TABLE OF CCfI'mlTS (Cont. d.) Map A - Advanoe to Leyte, P. I. 1944 Map B - Landing Plans, 6th Azmy, 24th Corps and 7th Division Map C - Cannon

Generlll SUbjeot. section ACAlB!£tC DllP All!IIIEN'l' THE INFANTRl SOI«XlL

Fort llonn1ng, Goorgi ..

ADVANCED INFANTRl OFF!CEIIS COURSE 19411 - 1949

(lPERATIctlS 01' CANNctI OOI.PANY, 321m INFANTRl ~T (7TH INFANm mVISIQl), ON LEn'E, p. I" 20-25 COTOe

1944 (LEY'l'E OAllPAIGN)

(Personal Expor ion •• of a oannon Oompany Command ... )

'l'Jpe of Operation described. INFAIlTRl CANNON CrnpANY SUPPORTING THE A'l"l'AOK 01' J11I INFJ11ITRl IlI!GIlml'l' III

FLAT, SWAllPY, HEAVILY mODEl) mmAllI . .

captain Charlo. C. Johnson, Infant",. . ADVANCED lNF AIlTlll" OFFICERS CLASS 110 2

/57";;7

Index, 4' ...

B1bliograpl\)"

Int..-otillll

Pla:rw ......

•

TABLE OF OQI mIITB

.. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. . .. . . . . . . II • • .. .. .. " .. .. .. .. .. .. .. • .. • • .. .. .. .. .. • ..

. . . . .. .. .. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. . .. , .. " . .. . , .. " .. . .. .. .. .. . .. • 4' .. • « • • .. .. .. .. .. • •

Sixth Army Plan .. . .. .. . .. . . . .. .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. .. Tw'enty Fourth Corp. Ple ........ ,. ............ 4' ..... .

Seventn Infantry Division Plan .. .. .. .. • • .. .. • .. .. .. .. ..

U!:l!t 1

BOT 32 Plan t-, ................. .. .. . . .. .. .. .. .. . ~ • ' 6

Cannon Comp~ Plan ................................ .

"A" Day. 20 October 1944 ............................ .

The EnI!m\Y Situation ................................. ..

The Landing ........................................ .

7

7

8

9

OperetiGns oJ: the Third platoon • .. .. " .. .. .. .. • .. .. .. .... 9

.opera.tions -at the Second Platoon ....... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 10

Operationl_ of the First Platoon .t.......... .. ....... 12

Operations ot Cannon Cempany lIea<!q1lAr_. • • • • • • • •• 13

En~ Operations on ttA" . Da1' • .. • .. • ... .. ...... ., .... 14

ITA" Plus One l),ay, 21 October 1944 .......................... 14

~erat1one at the Second Platoon .. .. .. • • • • • • • .... 14

Operaticms of the: Third Platoon ••••••••••••• l'

OperatloM of the First Platocm • • • • , • • • , • • • .15

"A" Plus Two naYs, 22 Oatcber 191;4 ~ t , , • , ••••••• 16

The Enemy Situation. • • •• •• , , •• , • , •••• 17

"Att P1Ui Thre. bays, 23 October 1944 ••••••••• , ••• 17

"A" Plus Four ])a)"S, 24 October 1944 .............. 18

nAn Plue Five ~. 25 October 1944 .............. 19

Analysis ~ Cr!tic~ • • • • • • • • •• .,........ .20

. , . , . . . . . . . . . . . ••••••••••••• 22

1

TABLE OF CCfI'mlTS (Cont. d.)

Map A - Advanoe to Leyte, P. I. 1944

Map B - Landing Plans, 6th Azmy, 24th Corps and 7th Division

Map C - Cannon Company Operations, 20-25 October 1944

2

A-l Oporat.ions aepol't, 7th Intant.ry IlLusion (20 Ootober to 25 Deoanb.r 1944) King II (TIS 1.1b1'""1)

k-2 Sixth /trm:J' Report of the L.yt.e Oampaign (TIll L1hl'""1)

A-3 l'1eld Art:lJ.lery- Journal, Apr11 1945 (TIS L1br8l'1)

A-4 Not .. on Asaault:, Lendl.ng8 at Lsyt.. PUbli.lIod by Advanced He.~ter. Allied Lsndill! Fo~C.8 I!1IIPAO (TIS L1h-7)

,

.1.-' General lIer.hall'. 1leport (l943-l945) (TISLibrar7)

A-6 Wa~ lfith Japan b:r U.S. lIilitery Aca4emy (TIS Librar7)

1.-7 Gran4 st .... tegy Unfolds-Impact (TIS Libr8l'1)

A-8 Japan ••• Det_e of Leyt.e nth .... p T & T TreM (TIS Library)

A-9 Tw$nt.r FoUl'th Oorps Operation Rep>rt, Leyt. .. , (20 October 25 December 1944) (TIS Librery)

A-lO seventh Division l'1.ld Or<ler 111 King II (ns Librar7)

A-ll Operationa Rep>rt, 7th Infantry Ill.v181on, (26 December 194J. to January 1945) (ns 1.1brary)

A-12 USA FPCA Intelligenoe llUlle~ {/i! (TIS Library)

A-l,3 AL a.ographical Section Terrain stwtr ntb map. (TIS Library)

;\-11, U S Fleet Headquarter. co "AmphibiOUS Op ..... tions - Invaeion of the Ph1ll1pinea October 194J. ( TIS Library)

OPER/trI{tlS OF . CANNON CCIJp AllY, :J:IND IIIFAIl'l'llI REGIllEMT, (7th IIIFRI'l'lII l!Iv.tSIOlI), ON LEl!'l'E, 1'.1. 2O-'!5 ()<)tober 1944

(LEl!'l'E CAIIP AIW) (Personal EXpOl'i""" at • ClIMon compal\Y C ...... nd ... ) .

Can""n C ... pal\Y, 32nd Iniant,2'1 Reg1nunt (7t,h Infantry D1vision) ... 11ed

from Pe •• l Huber, T.H. on 15 Septlllllber 1944, combat loaded on lou. Navy

ships bondd for the Japanese held Iolal1l1 ar ;Yap, in tho Central Paolfic.

(1) Th. IMn an<\ their eq,uil'1llont, including th. 1L-8 self-propelled

lIIDoote, we ... loaded as follows, 1st I'll toon, 1 o1'1'io ... and 28 mon with

BLT 32-J. on IiPA #6 (Hoymod), 2nd Platoon, 1 artioe" and 28 men with

BLT 32...2 on IiPA 1192 (Alpine), 3d Platoon, and balf at """'J'IlDT baadqUOl'ters,

2. oi.fieol'S and 42 .. cn ()Il liP! fI4? (l'"amar), and tba ro .. abdOll.' of c_&lIY

headquarters, 1 offi .... &Cd 15 men on liP! {lJ.75 (Star11ght). It should be

noted that tho co_ o_nder and lit men from oanpsl\Y headq1.lartera _

om tba s .... sh.!p aa tho 3d Platoon and tbat tho oompa1\Y .""cctive ar tic ...

and tho net ar eompsl\Y headquarters poroennel wo.e aboard IiPA {lJ.75. (2)

" Als. plu •• note that .... this dete Admiral Nimitz r.o ..... and.<\ to highor-,

upa thot the Yap Operation b •• ancelled and tho 24th oorps b. placed. at

General lICIoArtbur'a disposal, for til\! toyt. attock. (3) . .

The oo""D'1' o1;"""",d int. tho anchorage at l!nI. .... tok 011 25 Septtnb ... and -""-. get und ... way for the Admir.J.ty Iolande on 28 Sept ... bOl', arriving the .... on

3 OotObfll'. (4)

'l'ho dl.v1aion and. HOT field. order. for tho toyte Operation were pub­

l1ohod .1111 diocributed to aubordioete unit. ""1la in the Aduliral1;y IB-

(5) TIter. were no onang .. in plans that mater1ally

affected OllMon Comps1\Y evon though the company heel boon losdlld for a lanc:\-

1ng on :yap ""1ch hed • "'aiderabla 1 ••• land ma.. than did. toyte. (6)

(s •• ),lap A. )

,(1) Por.onal knaw'ladgel (2) A-10, Annal< 4, pp. l-'!; (3) k-6, pp 90-'11;

(4, 5) H, p. 2j (6) Personal knaw'J.edge).

Plans bad beon under way for tile invasion of Lerte aince Jlme 1944

when Gl!l. SliPA set 20 DecEmber 1944 ao tile target date for landinga by

6th A1'II\I'. Because the tllrget date bad been stepped up to 20 ootober.

6tll Arnw oould not use tile 14th Corps as aClllO of ita 6l. .... nt. were atill

engaged in til. southwest pacific and wool<! not b. able to get reedy in

time. Tile aubstitution of tile 24tll Corps f .... m tile Contral Pacific. mada

up of tile 7tll and 96tll Divisiona. for tile 14th Corps. psrmitted 6th AIfDJ'

t. go ahead with ita plana for 20 October 1944 .s "An Day witll",t pull1ng

out troopa already engaged. (7)

~\~r~ Pr.@!

Tile 6th A1'II\I' planned to seoure tile entrance to Leyte Gulf prior to

"A" Day bY' seizure and occupancy of Dinagat, Homonhon, and SUluan Islands

and tllen on "A" Day land on Leyte in the vicinity of Palo witll the loth

Corps and near I)llag wi til the 24tll Cor ps. This 8am. day alementa of the

loth OorJ'8 would land in tile vicinity of Panaon strait at the soutllern tip

of Layte to secure til. entrance to Sogod Bay. (Se.llap B) (8)

1it~ CORPS PLAN

Tile 24tll Corps planned to land in tile Dulag-Libirnan area with the

7th Division on tile loft and tile 96th Divieion on the right. Th. 7th

Division was to molal tile mein effort west on the road to BUr.uen, oapture

the airfields, and tllen turn north and ~apture Dagami. (Se. lisP B) (9)

7TH DIDSIC!I PLAN

Tile 7th Divioion planned to land in tile vicinilV of Dulag witll t""

regmonts abree.t, ROT 32 on tile right. ROT 184, on tile left, between the

Calba.ag and Daguitan (llarabal1l!) Rivera, advance rapidly inland along tile

axis of the Dulag-Burauen road, seize hostile airdromes in its zone, 8e-

cure tile BUrauen-Dagami road. and proteot tile Corps l.tt flank. ROT 17

was to b. in reaerv. afloat, prepsred to begin debarkation on- s1xty-<n1n­

utes notio. and land on any of th. tour beaohes that "ere used IV th.

-(7) A-2 PP. 17-l9; (8) A-2, pp. 20-21; (9) A-9 p. 6.

"".ault BLT's. After landing, OOT 17 waG to •• i ... and ••• ur. the bri4so

and c.",.ing of the Talis.,. River "'playing not ...... than """ llLT 3/0-

ini'orced, protect the <:Ii vie10n lett flank. and reinforce OOT lSI, with

.... platoon of Compan:r D, 767th Tank Bo.theUon. (10)

The plan of 001' S2 ...... he land on "A" !!aT at JIG hour on Viol.t

Beaches wtth llLT S2-2 on the right (Beach Violat 2), BLT 32-3 on the l.ft

(Beoch Vio18t 1), and advance r .. p:ld~ inland in ito zone with the main

of!ort on the left. (S •• lfap 0)

landing or&£t held at the lin. of departure at JIG hour pluo fortr-fiv.

minutes to land on ROT order on Beaches Violat 1 or 2, BLT 32...2 ..... ts

_nhein contaot on the right with the 18ft ol_he of the 96th '. D1vis1on

mila llL'l' 32-2 .... ts maintain oonta •• I'Iith ROT lS4 on its lett. ROT 32

also planned to be prepared t. support ROT 184 in the .aizure of the air­

fi.ld .... t or DUlag. (11)

Oa""on cc:mpal\Y WA' to have one platoon attaohed to e.ch IlLT t.o"fUrnish

aloe. s"pport. The._ plat_. attaohed he the ass.ult BlT" ,""uld

land in the eleventh (11th) " ..... and the o_n:r headquarters would land

in a latar w ...... with the ,,,.,.,., ROT· ......... d po.t groUp. (12) '. .

The lot Platooo., COJIPany D, 767th Tank Bett.olion, ...,aJ,d r.nd.z....,..

at the lin. of departure with ROT 32 and land on ordar of t.he ROT a_der

on Beach .. 1I1.le t 1 or 2. (13)

. OlllllpalV 4, 767th Tank Bettolillll WO\tld lond two platoon. in the tifth

....". on Violet Beach •• 1 and 2, each platoon init1aUy to support the ad- ;

V!ll¥)$ of an a •• ault BIIl'. The remaining alemon .. of the 767th Tank Battalion

l'I)uld land on ROT order. (14)

Th. lBt Pl. toon, 910 t ChBndool Company WOUld land fro", initial .. as .. ol t

.... tra .. and ""PlBce "'''pone apprCllCimat~ .wo-hundrod ;vardB inland ne.r the

. centor of the ROT z.ne and support the ReT tl'<ll!1 that point.

(10) k-lO. pp. 2-S1 (l1)!-lO, p. 2, (12) Pereonol knowledge, (13) A-lO P. 2, (14) k-lO, p. 2), (:15) A-lO, pp. 2-3.

6

CANNClI COIIPANY PLAN

The initial plan of Cannon Company was to have one oannon platoon

attaohed to each BLT, to iIlrnish .los. support by direct fir. where po.­

sible otherwise ~y indire.t fir.. The 2d and 3d Platoons Y«>uld land in

wave elaven on Boa.hes Violet 2 and 1 in aupport of BLT 32...2 and BLT 32-3

resp •• tively. Tho 1st Platoon WCKlld r.ndezvous with BLT 32-1 afloat noar

ths line of departure and land with BLT 32-1. C_an,y headquarter. per­

sonnal w.re to land on oell someMm. after the 11th wave with the RCT lIoar

COIIIIIOnd post group. The two one quarter ton vehiclas and the tw,two and

one halt ton aJIIIIUnition trucks and the one and on. half ton maintenanoe

tru.k would be landed by "A" plus one day. (16) (See lIap C)

On 13 Ootober tha Cannon Ccmpany Co_nder held a conterenoe, the

final one prier to ,the landing, \'lith the oompan,y offioors and the follow;l.ng

points "e .. brought ou~: (17)

1. That h. planned to land on the beach betor. the platoons ._

8shor.,to make a reconnaissance.

2. That the .ompany e""cutiv. officer, who muld land later, was to

m.et the company cOlllllllnder at the RCT co ...... d post as SOon as he had arrived

ashore.

3. That all platoons would .stablish listening watch on the SCR 300

radio at JIG hour plus 0 ... minute.

On 14 October the attack force got under. way for Layte, Philippine

Islands. (18) (S.e I18ps A and B).

"A" DAY. 20 OCTOBER 1944

At 0300, ZlOotober 1944, the task group carrying Cannon CallpalV',

32nd Infantry Regimant was steaning Northward through the Layt. Gulf. At

about 0430, .venin one's al.ep h. could h.ar the ship's bolla sounding

reveille. By 0600 the intercom syat .. was ocreaming "Attention all troops­

- - "Attention all. troops" - - IILay' up to the deck", the reason being for

satoty, in ca .. a Japan ••• torped~ should suddenly explode through tha hull

of the ship. The voyage from the Admiralties had b .... without inoident or

(16) Persona:j. knowledgel (17) Personal knowledgel (18) A-J., p. 3.

7

0x01t_nt until then. (1'1)

It .0 a bright freon llIOmillg "'-tit .cattered clUllUl.us ,clOll/lol CI'IOl'head , .

whiclt barborad something more than just raindrops. Up .... 1 .... scrutiny of

tileae clouds, .... my plane. could b. seon dertillg .In and cut, cha.ed by

•• k ..... k or the Amerinan Navy_ It ...... d tblLt every ship op.ned up with all

it bad and several of tile •• ohde freon tbe Land of tbe Riaing S1m plllnged

8llIOking into the briny doop. Off to tbe left front was 11>,..0, green and

beaut1fcl but sickening,; to the right .0 samar, and to tit. r.ar loy the

blonde of __ , Dinagat. end lJUl\jan wIt:lDh were already in American

(20) (See IISP' B)

In •• ar of, and on baa.bee V1elet 1 and 2, awaitt", oU1' ar.1val in

op1der-ilele., pill boxes. t .... "'be •• butlIai .. , and .oconut t ..... """" the

little yellow .,.,. of tbe 3d Settalion, 20th llli'entr,r Seg1Jloent, 16th Jap-

an ••• Divis!. ... on the left, near D.1leg, supported by the 4th 1111!1 5th Set­

teri •• Of tho 22nd Field ArMllerY I\Oginont. The Mti-'rank am Rogj.m""tal

G1m Companies waro in position to furnioh support fo. the 3d Battalion, 20th

Infantry Rag!.nrsnt, and also the 24 Battalion, 20th Infantry I\Ogiment on it.

right, ne.r lIi.al j ... t South of D.1leg. The 3d Battalion, 33d Infentry Re­

giment llaC! lIlI)ved 1ntopoa1ticn al.on!! tbe beach on the left ot tbe 3d Battal-

, '

, , I\Ogimental hesdqll6rtara of tbe :roth Infantry aogimont I1ld be ..... tabllihed

in DlJ,ag. jllOt prior to "A" Day, and all units in the zone or action llad

orders to "armihilat. tho enemy.t tbe b .... h •• ". The 7th Iildopend ... t 'l'ank

Compan,y, lo.ated at 1llr1, ..... equipped with .. _elate tanka ""'" of wh:lDh were

operational. The ll4th Airfiald Construotion Unit was leoated bot .......

_auen and llagami. (21) (see !!ape B end oj

Please nota, thet tho Japene"" l6th In£&IItry Divioion (35th Army) had

taken part in the enemy .... paign on Luzon in 1942 and had conducted the in-

tamous death m .... h after tbe _.:!.cane ourrendered on Bataon). (22)

(19) Pereonal knowledg., (20) Per....,.l !tnawledgyo; (21) A-3., p. 3, (22) A-6, P. "S).

B WI_ "JIG" 11_ had. b_ .et fO!' 1000 and at ,1003, .hor~ after the

terrif1c ""vel berrago ageirult the ell8l!lY positions en the beach bad ll1'ted,

the first ..... ve (776th Amphibi_ 'l'anIt Battalion) bit the beachoEr. AO.lII1l.t

Wantl1Y laruI.d 1n ""_ t:if ~ ... o tl1rougll four frOln _reoe, and two platOOllll

t:if OelliP"l\\' A, 71i7th Tanl< BattallOl> landed tram LOlls 1n the fittb wave_

waVH 81" through rune oamisted of iotontl1Y, ....... nd pereonnel or 'Bur

al¥1 ROO' b4!edquarters, and C ... pan,y B, 13th Engi;>eer Battalion. (23)

The C-wing or.t'1e.,. of connon Compeny, 324 Infant",. Repent laruIed with

the ROT forward oo .... 1¥1 post group 1n till"" nine 011 _II Violet 1, 1n the

(24) (Se. lIap 0)

(Fer the purpose t:if eler:U>y the cperat100e of eaob platoOl1 will be

d1eous.ed •• par ately.) (Se. lIe.p 0)

OPl!RATICtlS gF Tlj!!l TIIIRp PLA'I'OCt!

Wl\m til. cempel\\' oommander landed at approx.lnataly 10)) h. found that

Be.oII Violat 1 "". suitable t .... landing the 1.!-8'. of tho 3d Platoon, and

00 noti.t'1ed the platoon leader who wa. in an to!.! with on. or th. ~n oe.tiOll8.

The oompel\Y co_nder then proceeded to the North to inopeot B •• ch Vio1at:<

a. ragarded lSDding possibilities. He had foond. no min ...... other cbstacles

on Beach Vielet 1. (25)

At appr_t<>l7 1045 the 3d Pletom landed from LOllS on the right por­

tine or _ V1olot 1, oxpeHen~:at\ no d1Ulculti .. am moved intaot into '

an a .. ambly area 1n the coconut palJno sane fifty to .evonty-tiVEI 3'lrde 1n

tr .. the .... tor'. edge. (26)

'B3' the t1100 the 3d Platoon had 1anded,th. as.ault troops or IlLT .32-3

hod .. dVanood .ane teo hundred' bards inlAnd fr(llll tho bsach and .... r. baing

hold up by ....u camoutlaged and conoealed _. firiog machine ~. and

ritl •• from po.ition. aoro •• the open gronnd to thair front. A t .... rouQils

of lIOl'tar fir. tell behind the camon platoon and exploded hsrIIii.eso1y on

on th. bellOn. At about this ..... t1100 the platoon r .... ived ...... poorly sined

lIIl1per fire from ~t. right 1n the dir ... tion of BL'l' .32-2. ,The platoon killed

'(23) A-10, AppendlS 0: to Annex 10, pp. 1-9; (24) personal knowledge; (25, 26) Per .. ""l know1odga.

9

two Japan..,e in spid.." holu "ear tho 11-11' s. The 1I-8' s ....... th ... moved fo ....

WlIl'd into firing pooitione near tho front lin •• to tI',!' to knook out .ome

of tho •• OIIOII\Y ~.hine guns which wor. 11> pill box •• excellently con ... led,

about five _.01 yardoto the direct trout. By abct1t 1:300 the pla won

had < destroyad ._raJ. ellOll\Y maohiru> guns and BLT 32-3 had advanced .bOIIt

1:1".. hundred yarde by 1400. (2'l)

Upcn examination of ..... of the enOll\Y fortifioations it was found

thot they hod been oonstruoted long bo!or. our arrival and thot the gras.

bad grom up around and over them thus giving excellent .cneealment. '!It.

OIIOII\Y' 0 use of _leos powder made hi. _poes ."..n more difficult to

looat.. (28)

At approodmatoly 16:30 tho aaaau1t unit. had started digging in for

tho night after a gain of appr~ma te1y nina hundred ;yards pl"" tor tho

da;y. By about 17:30 this connon platoon, fl'OiII positi"", ,bOlt six _ed

;yards in roor of ths front lin .. , had registered its nil!J>.t barrage ill front

of tho right oonpany cf BIll! 32-3. Its Un was .oordinated with tho fir ••

of oho 7?6th AmphibiOUS Tank Battalion which was under tho control of

Artillery forward observer.. (Th. 49th Field Art1].lory Battalion which

"as the one that worked with lJC 32 was not aabo"" and registel'ed in b1'

tll1. ti .... ) (29)

At apprQlC1matel1' 20:30 ... ",,11 looal ""ell\?' attacl< was 11> progre.s in

front ct tho right oaupa'W of IlLT 32-3 and the lett .... p.'W of RLT 32-2.

At this time the pl.a to 011 of 11-11'. !ired nomtal barrage in oo"june tion

with other "'pporting fire. and tho attack we. stopped, This Japanese

attack: .... not preceded by an artillery or mortsr preparation. All r .....

mained ~i.t untU around 05:30.the noxt -nins whon another attsck by

about throe hundred .'''"IIY lOa. under <way, Tho 34 Pletoon again fired a

normal barrage and th1l>gs were quieted down b1' 0615. (30)

0PERtg,tct!§ OF l'I!E §F&!I!lI PLA'lPS!!

The 2d Pletson landed on Beach Violet 2 bohind RLT 32-2 at appro:dlo­

ataty the ...... time tho 3d Pletoon lended behind BIll' 32-3. The .... pany

(27) A-1, p. 4 and P ••• onel knowledge; (28, 2'), :30) per8..,.1 knowledge.

10

o_l1<1er had IIl'rived at the 2<1 Plate ... landing beach :In time to .... t

the platoon _ing :In .. 11<1 gu1de it:lnto the coconut pe.lme :Inlal1<1 trca

the beach about Me hundred ym-ds. There wa. more III>rter fire coming

do..." on this b .... ch tha" on Viol.t 1. Tho .... ault eomponie. of BIll' 32-2

....... inland oreul1<1 tNio hundred yards having the ..... diffieulU •• III

BLT 32-3 on the left, when tho connono of tho 2d Plato", lal1<1ed. There

waon't •• mch opeh groul>i in this aree, the enell!T ...... being engag.d 1nO ....

0100. at hand. By llOO the platoon 11-8' ...... r. up with tha tront line. on

the right engeged in helPing knock out pill bo,"", at rang ... of fifty te

oeventr-five yeHs. No anti-tank fir.' ..... rood ... ", but there "". muob .....

ohin. gun fire from the enemy pill boxe., aleo quite. lot of .niper snit

mortar fir.. Tlte en"lllT here wa. no more eaoy t. loooto than ho "as oV ....

front of BLT 32 .. 3, _er, the observer eould., by cra"ling on hie st_

ach, get al .. o. to the en"lllT poeition. tbus more readily determirul fr ...

where thO tire ..... coming, It muot be ...-bered thet the •• enemy torti­

ficaUono were mtually supporting, were among coconut palma, end that

the alito of the pill boxea ""'" very small and just ab"". ground laval.

En8ll!T sniper lb. ",as scti .... and quito o.curat.. The OOOlPan;r c"""",nder,

at about ll30 wae a<1juoting fire on ona of th"". pill box •• from position

:In front of tho front lin .. at .. range of aboUt fifty yom. wllon I1a ",aa

tit by • sniper'. bullet. As h ...... attanpting to cravd. b •• k to cov""

behln<1 a tree root ho r •• eived a second and fatal bullet from tha maoh:lne

gun in the pill box, The cra" in the Ji-6 spotted the gun 0",1 au ... adsd

in "' •• troying it and three Jape, Tho connon plotoen end the tanks d •• -

troyed quite a fo" more enemy pooition. <turing the mornilf; al1<1 afternoon,

8nd by 1630 BIlP 32-2 had puched :Inland bot"".., eight hundred al1<1 a thous..,d

yerds from tho beoch and were cI.1gging in for tho night. (3J.)

There were no good g,ln poo1Uone for night firing :In the right

sector of the BLT area. 'rhere was some open ground in rear of the lett

(3J.) A-l, p. 5 end Personol kIIowl.d.ge.

II

to the rear of the front Un..... :!:.t was neceulll'1 to sel. ot· a position

m1cb did not c .... se the fir. to b. masked. The 2<1 Pla toon " •• moved tr""

the pul box area abellt 1630 to the area jUllt ment.ioned whioh wao alnr>st

in the middlo of the roT iIOne and was separated from the 3<l Platoon 1&­

torol~ bf abellt ene hun<lrecl ;va.do. AotmillT, in bet ... en the two plat_

oons there was a .... ll grove of benana end coc ... "t tr_ "hich narr",e<l

as it mend.<l toward the front Un... There "ere in the area al80, a

n1lIl!ber of the aAlphib1""s tank battaUon tanka (mount.ing 75_ pank H ......

itz ..... ) of the 776th AlIIphit.ious Tank Bat taliOll which "er. doing ...... fir­

ing •.. At abellt 1700 when tb. c_ plato ........ ,..,g!.et .... ing in front of

the lett ocmp8l:!1 of BLT .32-2 •. rCAllld hit th. top of a lone coconut. tree

near the right flank c_..,- 01' BLT 32-3. It was nev .... <letem1ne1l whether

the cannon plato on "". guilty or whether the smphibic ... t .... 1aJ "ere. Thie

unhappy l.noi_ .osultecl in the wCAlllding of fo"" men of BLT 32-3.

(32)

At the time of the small Jap attack againat our Un .. about 20~

the 2d Plato ttl alao fired normal barrage. Again about 05 ~ the next

morning tit. Jape ... <le the oupremo t .. t of the fl'Ollt Un •• of roT 32 juot

ablaut where til.., had tried .... rlier, almost who.e to. flank. of 11LT 32-3

and BLT 32-2 joined. l'Ie ".r ..... ned in a<lvaneo that this ..... coming for

the Jape .... 1'. pr.c.ded tr.,.rabao, pigs and other an:lmala running holter

ekelt .. througb the daJ'kn.... T1ti8 attack wa. repulsed with a_t fifty

percent 10 •• to tha .nemy by our artillery. mortar, c_. and other

ReT "08_ whicb bla.ted them to s"""<le. All throe cannon platoo,," fired

normal berrage on this oo""don. (.33)

9!'llI!IIUMS 9l m "maT Wlm As you ....... bar from earlier discussion, BLT 32-1, which inoludod

the 1&t Plato ... , aamon Oomp • ..,-, was held in RCT re.erve at. the lina of

<lepartura afloat at "JIG" hour plua forty tive m!.nut... All el_nt. of

tlli. BLT wore ashora bf appra<l.mat.~ 1600. heving landed on Baach '/101et 2,

.nd b7 abaut 1700 were going into a n:l&ht detOll.1vo poBit1on in rear of

BLT 32-2. This plotoon wa. ploced in night faring position alonga1de

of tl1<> 2<1 Platoon thus torm1ng " tour gun batte., for tl1<> support ot

BLT 32-2 for tM night. Tb.<lre 1IOuld heve 11<> ... 1\0 peint in putt1ng th.

pljItoOll in support of BLT 32-a. to!' tllo night as thore· wore no good fir­

ing poeit1one in tho ."... Tho 1st Platoon tired the ..... ndasion. as

tho 2d Plotoon. (34)

OPERA'rIOOS OF CM!lf!?I1 ca.a:i« HEADilUAIlP

Tb.<l oanpllllT .""cutive office" end fifteen man of ccmpall1 boadqUarters

land.d from LC'IPo on tho loft edgo of Beach Violet 2 at approx1matol,y

1130. Th. Jape .... re .till lobt1ng a to" mortar sballa·,,,, tho beach. N>

this group oama ashore the ROT $--3 and tM munit1_ warrant officer wore

l1<>ing carried to the beach en litto".; The ._any hoadlp.larto"s group

moved to the ROT ."wlld poet which wa. looated a bout _ bUlll\red yards

inland in tho •• nter of tho RCT zona. Tho men of rompaIl1 h.adlp.lartare 1);_,·

spent IIIOst of tho _ in tho area end at about 1600 wont into\n1ght da-

tensi"" pOSition on tho Northwest parimotor of tho ROT COltlDlllnd poet whioh

woo almost botween our oannon pletoono and a l1ttle forward. (35)

The COIBpallT ""_ti .... officer was _blo to find tho COIBparw ......

.... nder. Wh ... he loarnod tMt he md bean kille~ ho 80 infO .... d the ROT

o"""",,d01' who ilmMdiatoly appointed him in oo .... nd ot Cannon comP"'IY.

No chanso was ettootad ... regarded tho platoon le.do". for tho O_"ll1

.was than one offioer short. Tho platoon loa~or of the 3d Platoon wao

notified by the now Canplln;y oommendo. that h. ,""uld be "" .. utivo officer

but tltat he would oontinuo to load tho 3d Platoon. (36)

Tho two __ any /;--ton truoks end trailer. arrived .shore aometime

prior to darknoaa end wore used to bring _itim i.em the boach to

tho 11-11' ••• the 2i-tOl'l _1 t10n truOD with dr.\.vere hod nut. yat be ..

landed. Tb.<l coupan;y li-ton maintenance truoic and one .... !>.ani. hod not

arrived oith<li'. Tb.<l oompan;y switchboard which hod bean on one of the

13

~ton truck. had .... ehow been plaid"" _any beadqua"t_ waa tied

in with tbe platoons by SCR m radio end sound power phon... (37)

I!lIEI!I OPERATIONS Ill! "A" !lAX

The 3d Battalion, 33d Intentl"Y Regimant which had boon faoing BIll' 32-2

and mtr 32-3 withdrew inland gradually, fighting a vflry doterm1nod doJ.a:r-

1ng action by tEllaoiousJ,y fighting .rr ... pill bo"". and treoobe.. Thio

"""'" on tho part of tho 3d Battalion, 3:lcl Infant",. Regiment wao .oincident

with tho withdrawal of tho :lcl Battalion, 20th Intantr;v Regi ... nt along tho

(38) (Soo IIep 0)

"A" PLUS 0!!lI PH:. 2l OQJ'Q!m l2M

Tho attaok jumped off at 0000 with BLT 32-3 on the utt, BLT 32-2

on tho right and BL'!' 32-l in "og:lmontel reserve. . . (:39) Tho 3d Plat.en,

Cannon COJI)pIIIIlJI' wa. in support of BI.T 32-3, the. 2d Platoon supported BLT 32-2

and the lot Platoon supported BLT 32-l. (40)

QI'ER/IlIl!l!§ Qf T!IE ?:Nil &m!II The 2d Plato"" romained in tho night tiring poSition until well a£ter

tho attaok had oOllmonood. IlL'!' 324 made good progres. /!;Iain.t moderato

reo1atan.o but ron into some ...... py land end ..... of high thick oogon

grass and brush which ,,"" abOll. t", handred yarde to tho tront of its

night p.<litioo, This aroo wa. by-pa ••• d to tho right by Etll' 32-2 end

to the lott by BLT 32-3 thus .. ""ting" ..... ll gop between them. The 2d

Platoon Cannon Company, when it <II..pl~ed, """,ed 1i'Oll to the right to

tr;v to foll"" !!(IlIewhat in roar of the a ..... lt ccmpan1e. but w"e ' unalle :,-/~ •. <- ,

to move through tho swanp.. (1+1) By l800 this BI.T hod advanced

some 2900 yards where it dog in :1:"" the night, (l,2) (Further opera-

tio"" of the 2dPlatoon on this date l'II.ll b. de.cribed along with thooe

of the lot Platoon,)

(37) Per.cnal knOlflodge; (38) W, p, 41· (:39) A-1, p. 5; (40, 1+1) r.ersonal knowledge. (42) 1...:1., p, "

OJ'ERAT,tON S 2F T!;!E l'JIIRD PLA!IOON

The .3t1 Platoon followed the ..... ult &lemont. of !!LT :32-3 engag1ng

but f"" bU'get. during tho mornjn,g. The 14-8'. kept to the left of the

a:rea wII1cI1 .... e by-passed bT the ... ,,,,It tl'OOpa. Th. platoon l.ader

thruSht there was 80l1le aotivity in that ,area but was unable to iOo'tuiilt:r

locat. anything. (43) I\Y 1800 BLT 32-3 hed .d .... "".d appro:dJllatoly

2<}00 1"l'dII where it dug in tor the night.. (44) Tho platoon regis­

tered no .... al. wrage in front or the left -_!IT from its night firing

position in the vicinity of the BLT ....... nd POSt. There we. no activity

d\ll'ing tho night. (4')

OPERATIQ.Il§ QE am lS'Il PLA'm

About two'pleto_ of Jape along with a 75 ..... field piece and. a 47 .....

anti..-tanl< gun hed been lett in the gap b.t ..... n tlo6 t ....... oult BLT'. dur­

ing tho mov"""llt forward in the e.rlier part of the d!\Y. The e......., had

not t:b:'ed on tho BLT'. which b7'-P ••• ed them. BL'l' 32-1 "". given the

mission of cleaning oul> th1e m ••• and called on tlo6 let Pletoon, cannon

Oaupa!IT to follow the rifle troops olosely, prepa:red to giv. them support

by direct f1 .... , Thore "". a Jil..tocn of tanks ot O<IInpa!IT A, 767th Tank

Battalion available alec, wh!.oh lbll_d to the rear of the 'M-S'.. AS

tho two oamon c""Pa!IT II-S'. moved torwara past the right side of the

pocket containing the ",,11 ..... eal.d and dug in .rape, an ellOll\1 75_

£iol<l piece tired trom a cov ... d emplacement 1n tbe grass at a range or

.brut one hundred fest, hitting the left .1d. ot the turrot of tho roar

1I-8. Thin roun,d did no damage other then shock tit •• "'"w. The men in

the vehicle ""re unable to determine from ww. the round nad """"'. Bator. they hod l"" .. ted the gun it fired anothor l'OUnd whioh panatroted

the go. tonk setting the 11-8 on tire. A tank to the right rear of tho

14-8 lo •• ted tho gun when it fired the .. eoond t111lO and immediately opened

fire on it d •• tro,ving the gun and orew. lly the tim. the .rap gun was de.­

tro1"d, tho name. ""1'6 eating Il;P tlo6 cannon plato"" weapon and the tire

(43) Personal knowledge, (44) A-l, p. 5; (M} Personal. knowledge.

15

exb1nguiehor Cailod t. put out tho Uro. Tho seR 300 radio .... the onl,y

piece or squ:l.I"'W saved anQ cannon Comp!lt\Y WIle to go thrcugh pro otioal.ly

tho reet or the _ lIith only five Jl-8'.. (46)

Neither the 2<1 nor tho lot Pla too"" could follovr tho IlLT'. they were

$Upportlng as thor. were too maDjr WOI'deble otre_ and ewamps 11'1 the

"reo. Th. map """ 'J!lite ina.CtU'<lte .s it showed tho ar"" to bo tr .....

... ll1la. To cope with tho situation a til" •• gun battery wee fomed with

tho t'Wl) 2d Platoon gun. and the remaining en. or the 1.t Plato"", and ......

put io support of BL'!' 32 .... which ..... the right •••• ult .l .... nt or tho liO\l',

aCtsr IlL'!' 32-1 c10",,0<1 out the pocket and c~1nued forward in rear of tho

leod:Log IlLT'., Th. advanoe or IlLT 32-2 we. rapid, the provisional Cannon

Oompan,y Platoon r ••• i .... d no fire mie.ione, and by 1800 th1e IlLT we. about

on 8 lin. with IlL'!' 32-) on tho lotto At .bout 16)0 tho oannon. "",r. moved

to tho laft flonk of tho ReT anQ down the IlUlag - surauen rood into ..

wight firing posi tien near the new liOT ."""",nd poet 'Which hod boen die­

pla.ed forward ruring the lote afternoon. Cs.mon 1'1):'08 tbot night ""):'0

aUott,d to BLT ;>1-3, the 3d Platoon f1r1~ from the vicinity of tho oon>­

"",ad post or IlL'!: 32-3. and the remaining plotoon trom the Vicinity or the

OOT ."""""nd peat. The 3d Platoon i'orwerd obeerv .. regiotered tho guns

fCfl' the provieioml platoon. No firing was dene by tho oompot\Y during

the night. (47)

Tho two oan.non _t\Y 2~on OIlIIII>.1n1tion t,,,,,.laIt, .... d the

li-t..n maintononee trucl< hod ""lII!ht '!P with tho combined first anQ 2d

Pl. toono in the vicinity of .nere the 11-8 had been destroyed during tho

aftel'noon. Th<\y COIll. torward to the "ffII' gun position along with the

M-S'.. Comp4'lY h •• dquart ..... gain furnished part ot the all around de­

ten •• for the liOT c_nd post. Ther. were no unuoual incident. ruring

the night. (FCfl' A plus one Day operations se.!Iap 0)

"An pws T\'IQ PAX. 22 ggTOW 12h!t

liOT 32 continued the attack at 0800 with IlLT 32-2 on tho right and

IlL'!' 32-3 on tho laft. (1.9) .,

16

I

Cannon O~ ""pported t!le attack of. BLT ~J from t!le night --

firing poaitiMB initially but. in the 0",,1111 "rau a!leed t!le SOR -,tailed

t.o funetion properly at long rang •• and it w ... ne ........ ;y t.o make several

diepleoement.. The terrain dintatad tbat the 11-8'e traval on the flUlag­

Burauen road most of. the tSme due to tha BWIImpS and b .. vy brush in tho

(50) Tho eanpooy 1'ecsivsd no m1saions other than for

registration and by 1000 tho BLT had "dvan •• d approxSmetaly 2000 yarda.

(51) Oannon fir •• tha t nlcht were registsred in by the field ar-

tUlery liaison officer with BLT :l2-J in order to tie them in with the

Field ArtUlery barrage. Thi. we. dene by' telephone from BL~ to ROT t.o \

Cannon fire direotion .enter. (SZ) (See lIap C)

!)Iring this period, the 2d Battalion, 20th Japan .... Infantry Regiment,

wIl10h hall hald be.on defens •• on "An doy near Hi.al, wi thdr ... to La Paz

end then moved to Burauon to join up vdth the remaining alement. of the 20th

"A" PLllS IflME llAY,23 OO'l'OBEI\ 1944

The attack was continued at 0830 with Cannon Company in support ot

IBL'l' 32.a (~) There \'faa little or no oppoo1tiOni the BLT ad ... naell

, ,on tbe E.st end of san Pablo 111 airfield. Again Cannon Company displeced

'dam the Dulag-'Burausn road 'and eot up in night firing posltion n...r the

RO'I' " ..... nd pOet just off the road and about. two thousand yards in rear ot

! the BLT. ~ 1830 Cannon C~ night tires """e regist"".d in front of

BLT 32-1. 110 tiring was don. during the night.

I Pleau not" that Re'l'17 epeern...ded the attack on a four hnndred yard

front, preoeded by tanks, down the !)U1ag-BUrauen road and. by 1700 the tanks \ [had .sa"hed tho Weet 3ida of BUrenen. (56) ,

150) Personal knowledge; (51) 1.-1, p. 6; (52) Personsl knowledge; 53) A-1, p. 6); (54) 1.-1, {>. 6 and. Pe1'S_l kn(WIledg.; 55) Parsonal kIl""'ledge; (56] A.a, p. 6.

17

"A!' !'!.!IS FO!lJ! ma. 24 OOTOgm1944 •

Tho attaok j\lmj)6d off at OO;J) w1th Cannon OOlllpOny in IJUpport or

BLT 32..:.1. on the lett from po.iti .... occupied the night hefore. (57)

By l.2OO tne BL'I' .32-1 hed advanced beyond the Wo.t end of San pablo IfJ.

air.fiold. At eppr""lmatoly 11;0 tho 2d Platoon, Cannon Coup"ny, <Ii.placed

forward to a n,", pOliition on the South edge of the airfield about two

hundred yarde Ea.t from the W .. t end. By l:lOC sll five gune were in

battery and registerad in front of tho mil'. (58)

'l'he plstoon 1""d8r of tho lat Platoon ..., appointad in _nd or the

3d Platoon, the forme. 3d Platoon leader operated as company e_t1ve

orficer, and the 2e! Platoon leader kept comane! of the let and 2d Platoone

whioh had been combined and d •• ignetad the 2d Plstoonl . (59)

Reg1etration hod been coupleted prier to 3.300 in front of: 1\ Coup.ny

... hiob was on. the .ight. or BL'I' .32-J.. (60)

The area between tho We.t end or tho airfield and BLT .32-1 was very

bl'uahy and was cut by .. _11 st •• "",. Th. airfield was on gl.'ounol lIlightlY

higher then th •• urrounding terrain and tho ground that BLT 32-1 .............

~ onto was about the same elevation as the airfield. A small trail con­

nected the airfield w!.th tha BL'I' 32..:.1. area and the crell< ..... s spann.<I ~ a

poorlY constructed moden bridge. Th. oreek actuallY ran through. steep

sido<l gully. Beyond the cr .. k the treil "as so .a .. ow that aV&n a jeep

could not travollll.thout SO"" OP8<10 work. (61)

BLT 32-1 oontinued tha advence lIlOll'ly duo to dUfll>ult ilal'rein and by

1400 began hitting light ro.i.tano8 in front of both A and 0 Coupanie.. BY

about 1500 thie l'eaietaneo he<l devoloped into a sood hot fire fight. The

Japa "'are dug in in tr_hee and pill box •• with ovarh.ad oover. Th ....... r.

new pOliitiona dug in the lest tIM houl'll. The are. w .. very bl'uslV and dark,

(la)

The •• Jap positions were ... nnod. bl" two coup""io. oE the 2<1 Battalion,

20th Wantry, .l .... nta at the 3d Battalion, 33<1 Infantry. 114th Airfilll<l

canstrocticn Unit, 54th Airfillld Construction UnU, and the lbth Jap DivWon

(57) A-l, p. 6 anll Personal knowledg.; (58, 59, .60, 61) Personal knowledge, (62) A-l, p. 7 and Personal kn""ladg.,

l8

Engineers, in all, sane one thousand in strength. This was a last ditch

fight as far as the Jape ... re conoerned. (63)

The fighting was so close 1.rh/~nd observation so poor that effective 'j

cannon tUe could not be brought down on the Japs. The company did fire

ares targets in the trees about one hundred and fifty yards in front or

A Comp&l\Y. The .rap. actually counter.ttacked both •••• ult companies and by

.bout 1600 these two "companies were for oed to withdraw back to with:ln f<>ll'

hundred yards of the creek for good night posi tiona. Each of the two com­

panies lost approx1m!ltely 25 to 26 men killed and were unable to get _

of them out. By approximately 1830 the BLT w.s digging in for the night

on the high ground on the far side of the creek from tlUil airfield. Cannon

Comp.ny registered :In front of BLT 32-1 with fir at priority .nd :In front of

BLT 32-3 with second priority. The Jap. g.ve the BLT'. no trouble during

the night, and C.nnon Company did no clo.e in fir:lng, largely because ot

the tact th.t there were still pos.ibly sane live Americans yet beyond the

tront lines. (64)

On this same dey RCT 17 hed pushed through aurauen .nd hed established

a night parimeter between there and Gu:lnarona. (65) .-----"A" PLUS FIVE DAYS, 25 OCTOBER 1944

At 0800 the att.ck jumped off with BLT 32-2 on the left and BLT 3;;"3

on the right. (66) Cannon Company supported BLT 32-2 by indirect

fire from positions on the edge of the air.field. As the attack started, the

Japs wer e doing some heavy sniping from coconut trees. cannon Company covered

the BLT front with time fire at tree top level well ahead of the assault troops.

Some two hundrod rounds were expend"d in the operation by the tine the BLT

had advanoed five hundred yards. There was no more sniper trouble but this

BLT ran into the same hornets nest thot BLT 32-1 hl.t the day before. Had

we beon able to put the 11-81. or the tanks in the fortified .rea :Immediately,

our troop. Could po •• ibly hew taken Buri air.trip that dsy. A. it wa.,

the bridge to the right of S.n P.hlo Ifl airfield could not be u.ed by trahk

(63) A-l, p. 7; (66) A'-'l.. p. 7

(64) Personal knowledge;

19

(65) A-l, p. 6);

laying vehicle. and th~ ..... ingl,;r cOUld not go t/u''''gh the creek. To

the Weat of the airfield ware maX\V rice paddies and these were impassable.

Wring the .tt ... noon at about 1500, after IlLT 32-.2 had g&!.ned only about

five handred Tards from their jump (iff point, the tanke .. found a spot of

.emi-firlll g"",nd over .mitih tanks could pa... By l700, with tank .uppert

our troops had adva"".d some eight hundred Tard. for tha clay. c_ Oompany supported this attack from orig\.nal indire.t tire position. of the

d81 b.fore~ expending "'""" 1200 rounds during the afternoon. (67)

At approome.t.l;y lllOO, Oannon Company registered ita night barrage in

front of IlLT :lZ-2 . .mieh was lopatad just short at the East _,of BUri air­

field. Ths main detense of the laat ditch stand of the Japan ••• in the _i

.... had be"" broken. Cannon Oompany, . 32nd Intantry l!egimant (7th InfantrT

Oivi&!.on) fired haras.ing fhe. on the end of the Buri airfield that night.

That was the last tiring or fighting <!one bT that unit on the Eailt Co •• t of

Lej'te, P. I. (68)

The combat loading of the oompany and its equipoent on fOUl' different

shipe wsa sound in prineipla, aa tbat method kspt all the agga :rn>m he:!.ng

put in one baaket, It alBO permitted flexibility in tne ovent a BLT[should

, hev. lI9.ppsned t~ he4e been given a separate mieoion, Tbis loading plan elao J-) I ' .," ' __ ~~:"'I J gave the cannon platoon members- a ch4a to better know the people\,that,\they (Vi ,', ',~

;. worked!with and vios var.a. The company oO!lll!1lmdar of oourea, /;;Id lost _hal

of bis "omPanT as a unit.

I ./ Tha tanks _ing landed in 'wavo' fin p ... mitted t/;;l landing of the -' .;';' - .

. : \f.:,.l.j oannons in a later wave. There 'WOUld have been too mat'lY vehicles in a small \"," .;.,- !. " . .-------/

,,) . , l\ '

\', -

,,; ar •• had the calUlOn platoons landsd muoh earlier tl1an theT did.'" Ala 0 ~ " ~

"",ds for ne:xihilitT as thay could h.". baon landed wharever the.RCT oommandsl'

dasirod after h. knew whare they were neadad lIIOa t. They did not land autana ....

ioallT aa did the unita in leading ,",ve. but ware on oall.

(67, 68) Penona). knowledge.

20

The b.aoh roconnaiseanoe by the compatV eo_nder gained little "a

the tanks had alreadlf landad before h. bed coma a.hor ••

The lIeeeipt ot orders for the operation was timely enough as there

wa. plenty of ti,., for .tud.y of the orde" and coordination between .maller

unit. wi thin the BLT' a from the hi.., of leaving the ateging a"a .. until the

arrival at the target area.

The Japane •• detended te""cioueJ,y in depth from well cblg in, camouflaged,

\ concealed land mutually supporting positiona. The beach it.elf was defended , more lightly than the ar eaa several hundred yar ds inland.

( Assault troops landed at 1003 juab atter the naval bal'rege,agalnat the

"

,beaChe.)hed lifted. 'rbe Japan ••• did not have time to get out of theirAhol ...

and reorganize on: the beaches before the assault elemEnts were ashore.

• <,\,-,>

Tho )I~(! was tound to be • vllfry erfeotive weapon fur knocking out machine

guns by direct Ure "e wa. shOWtl during the first tv<> deys on the island •

-:_'-;1' Its effectiveness as an indireot. tire weapon was llinited.-i It could do most

of the things that tank. did and a l\\U1\ber of things artillery did, .0 that

its use was quite flexible.

Th. liCT used" coordiMt.d fire plan for organizing night detenaive fir •••

All available weapons were: used. The advance of the ReT units was stopped

before dark dalJ,y eo that. mo .... ffoet1ve fire plan could b. mapped out.

Th. Japan ••• , in their counte""ttacks tailed to \lBe preparatory tir •••

They did however, us. deception by l'U",,1ng 81111001. through the lin ... so that

the weapons of the Amar1 •• ns would fire thus revealing their position.

The a •• ault BLT'e by.-p •••• d • emsiderabls l\\U1\ber of Japan •• e in .. g"'soy

area and didn't leat'n unt11later that there wezte .laps in the area.. The

Japane •• , trying to deceive, did not fir. on the l.ading IlLT' ••

The u •• of thin-skinned l!-8'. to lead the modi"", tank. on "A" plus

one Day shoWS • def1nite m1.U!!e of • good c ... bat weapon.

The Japan ••• that were overrun and lett in the rear .. re •• continued to

snipe at rear area troops untll killed.

The edslaying of the Cannon COlllpal'\Y switchbolll'd was o.rtalnly something

to be avoided in the future.

2l

The firil'll into friendly troop" was a dalinits morale hazard to all

'lhs snomy was most difficult to locata bacau ... of """allant .c.,..",flage

and concealment aftorded from poe itio,," dug: in long bator. the landing.

The Japanes. apparently- 1m"" that the Americans .. are COlllill/! for th .....

had order. to annihilate the en<lll\\T. at tha beach •• , and had moved a battalion

on to the beach dofensa araa near Ilula!I just bator. tho targat dat.,

Tha u •• of the C .... non Oanpal\Y headquarters personnal to form part of

tile perimeter dere,..e. for the ROT c<lml>1&nd post wa. sound. The ReT !rClllr pN­

v.1Dus experience ~ •• rned that all rear ara. installations had to have all

around protection especiallY- at night. ,

The connone .hmld have b.ah moved into the front :une. of BLT 3<..2

on 24 October, to do direct firs and tha medium tanks .hculd have baen right ~

aloIlil with thom. Improper r.oo"",,1.o_e on the Pll1't of cannon and tank

company personnel was evident 00 that day. The oannon were ga1nt'u.lly' Elm-

plo;rad in indirect five but would have been more effective porforedng direot

tire at the fo~tificaticne of the enemy.

Th. maps wer. very peor. How could the U. S. haw been in the philippine.

BO long and still have mapa so inaccurate?

.-.----"-'~-...--,- -,

2. '!'hat tho 1£-8 _ a very- flexible ""open a. it cou.ld ba used .s a

tank or a. an artUlery piecs firing either direct or indireot fir.. It WIle ...... -"'_._ .. ""~-'7' __ ' __ ""~

also a very mobile weapon.

3. That troops in are.e behind the :J I, ,.:;

front ~ine companies ~ not , -.,-, """"'--~~-'-'"" -r-"

their areas to be -free from fIlipe.r firedby the fanatical enemy. A __ '-_. "_

4. That very clo •• attention muat b. paid to .... 11 details such .s ____ M"",,, •• _.""' __ ..... ..",..~_."'.""'-'''' 'I---.,.~.~, ~~,

ezpect

tha •• rety factor ,in artillery tiriIlil and in proper care of equipment. I " " _ - • ._~-.... ~, C''' "d" ," - ',-.,~,_.".,,,,,_ "'~"4,-A~-." _ n' __ , ,_ '" _.' -- '. -,,;. ~...' , -

5. That msp,a muot not b. depended upon too aloe 011 • ... ;. .. ,' ......... """'''''.,~.--''"- ,.-.- .-, ,,-,-,&><-~~ ..... -- -'-',"'~ -'-,

6. That all 'are"" should be inv ... tigatad before thayaro by-paa •• d.

22

i 5 7. That a coordinated fire plan_ very .important in properly argan-

izing tbe night detense. , ",~. ,,'4"" __ ~ ,'''-

8. 'rha t t.o pl'ope .. :~~~, __ ~,., ~~!l}~'?!t ~.~P~N~ ~~h,,,~~~_~ __ ~f'~e~~!,~ - '

reconnaissance must be accurate' and cont1nuoUEf,t-, _,," •• ,,_w_,..,~ ... ,·:--_~,~~ '"}'."" "",,",. »'- - - ;~'" '.

-.. ~.-~., .. -~,-,,',,~~- { (7 V\

9. That fair results """'* b. oxp'eeted from tho sea :;00 radie. _.,_., __ ,, __ ~w,·.--- .'" "',.,.~_-. ,. '-,',,, _., '_'d_ ,_

10. Th. "';~-;;t-t;";" ;1re ..oJ .""ellent far ridding an areS of snip"".

operating in coconut palma.