.
Company O, behind
Company P, had almost reached the fork in the road when they began
to take Japanese rifle and machine gun fire. Sergeant Carl M.
Holloway remembered, "we had been so accustomed to . . . heavy
artillery fire and bombs for so many months, that the bullets
kicking up dust around our feet seemed at times almost like rain
drops hitting the dust." Flares then lit up the night sky followed
by a thunderous Japanese barrage. The lead platoon was able to take
cover in nearby bomb craters but still lost eight men in the first
few minutes of the shelling. The rest of the company was caught in
the open and cut to pieces. The 3d Platoon was left with only six
Marines unhurt while 2d Platoon had only five.
As soon as the barrage lifted,
Quartermaster Clerk Frank W. Ferguson advanced his 1st platoon as
ordered but came under heavy machine gun fire from Battery Denver
hill. Ferguson deployed his platoon to the left of the road and
tried to tie in with Company P. He believed that the two platoons
behind him would soon be up to anchor his right to the beach and to
support his advance. A few isolated Marines did reach him, but only
a handful. Ferguson then led his men up the hill into the face of
concentrated machine gun fire. The commitment of the regimental
reserve was now whittled down to two isolated platoons, each
advancing unsupported.
At 0300
Ferguson's platoon came to a halt on the hillside. The steep slopes
were covered by interlocking machine gun fire and despite three
attempts, only a few yards were gained. The 1st Platoon halted only
30 yards from the Japanese positions and dug in. The battle now
raged around the two concrete water tanks on top of the ridge, just
ahead of the Denver Battery position. Ferguson's immediate concern
was for his flanks and he moved a Lewis gun and an automatic rifle
to cover the road to his right. His left still had no connection
with Company P, but Quartermaster Sergeant John E. Haskin brought up
his five men of 3d Platoon and Ferguson sent them to the left to
extend that flank. Captain Chambers ordered the five survivors of
the 2d Platoon to Ferguson who also sent them to his left. Soon word
reached Chambers that Company P had been joined.
Department of Defense Photo (USMC) OOR-11004 |