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The Japanese had
suffered dearly for their Bushido. The next day, the 20th, we counted and
estimated about 315 corpses, including about 200 dead along Maggot
Valley. We had to use some estimates, because the Japs had dragged many
bodies into craters, and we were not about to remove them just to count
them. There ere two very large craters on Grubbs Road which were filled to
the top, as well as several small ones. There were 70 bodies in between our
east defenses and the crater, about 30 down in the railroad cut, and 15 in
the crater adjoining the cut. Bill Bailey estimated that his force on Way
Hill had accounted for 135 more.
We destroyed or captured at least 13 machine guns.
We destroyed a HMG (Schilli's the afternoon of the 18th at the wooded
knoll, we brought six 50 cal HMG's from the valley to the top of the hill along
with five 30 cal LMG's ( three Lewis type and two Nambus) and one Nambu was
destroyed under the trolley cars. In addition there was a probable. Jack Mara tells me of a machine gun located up on Way Hill
behind the trolley cars some distance.
This gun opened up on us during the night.
Our LMG's soon silenced this gun.
We did not get up there so we did not know if the gun was still there.
I still have several snapshots of these
guns.
In addition to John Bartlett and Perry Bandt bringing up guns, some of
the mortar platoon brought up guns.
It took two men to carry the HMG's.
The Japs tied wire or cloths around the barrel near the muzzle so the man in
front would have something to carry the gun by.
I have no memory of how we disposed of these guns.
We probably carried the LMG's with us, but I doubt if we carried the
HMG's.
Our platoon had prevailed against a
multitude of attackers in exchange for relatively few casualties on our side.
This was due to several factors. Firstly, we held a formidable position.
Secondly, our men were placed to take the best advantage
of their position. In the face of an
overall laxness, Bill Bailey had exercised great foresight in taking
precautions, seeing that both
strong points were adequately manned and supplied with extra ammunition.
Fourthly, we had to thank
the mindset of the Japanese officers, who simply failed to comprehend that the
principles of Bushido were no substitute for the principles of a good offensive
action. Their staggering incompetence to the task still stupefies me, and the
waste of the duteous servitude of their lower ranks appalls even all these years
later. Fifthly, the �lan of the U.S. paratrooper, as finely attuned to the
necessities of close combat as our years in training had been able to make us �
the best! "
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