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OFF DUTY ON TOPSIDE - Just because HQ had announced that the Operation was completed didn't mean that it wasn't possible to get killed. At least three men were
injured souvenir hunting, and orders were made preventing it - mostly ignored. In general the situation was easing, except for a few holdouts in bad physical shape.
During the day of 3 March, all units continued to patrol during the day, and perimeters were still
tightened at sundown. The Mortars remained active after dark. 1st Bn Co B
reported 29 Japanese killed in the vicinity of Morrison Point. 2nd Bn was still having trouble at Wheeler Point. 3rd Bn had killed 9 Japanese on the east end of the island. The 151st Inf Bn. killed an unknown number of enemy at Engineer Point. Air strikes continued on Caballo, providing an interesting show
air show for all those able to follow the action. The strain on the men was being lifted and
the release of it had become very noticeable. After seeing General MacArthur's party and its media crews souveniring the parachute canopies, it was difficult to cite men involved in scarf and hula skirt making
when officers too were involved in the pastime. Suspension lines were woven into a broad belt four to five inches broad. The nylon strings were then removed from their covering sheath forming a suspension line. These strings were woven into the bottom of the belt so that they hung down thirty inches or the desired length. By using lots of suspension lines a heavy skirt could be made.
It kept us busy, took our minds off our losses of friends and
brothers,
and allowed us to imagine our wives and sweethearts in our
handicrafts.
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