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1.) About 1700 hours on Feb 15, 1945, USN troop transport ships dropped anchor 4 miles off Iwo Jima coast. Beginning at 2100 hrs the same night & up to Feb 19, Navy gunboats crept up to within 150 yards of the Iwo shoreline and fired non-stop and point blank into enemy positions.
2.) The young, confident, hardened ship-board Marines anchored off shore crowded the rails for 3 nites watching the glowing night sky, cheering the Navy gunners. Some took photographs to send home to parents and friends. No one was catching much ZZZZs. Not on these nights.
3.) The morning of Feb 18, 1945, Gunnys gathered their Marines in small groups on deck to “turn to” cleaning weapons, square away 782 gear & sharpen Ka-bars & bayonets for the "close in work". Most of the time was spent playing “grab-ass” to ease the tension, or to think alone.
4.) Most didn't shave in 2 days because they wanted to have their “warface” on when they faced the Japs. Ordinarily, Gunnys would never tolerate an unshaven Marine (I didn't), but this day was different, and the Gunnys smiled and said nothing. They were ready.
5.) About 2200 hours this night, off-shore troop transport ships went dark, weighed anchor, & quietly drifted to within 2 miles of the Iwo shoreline. Shortly after this, Navy Mess began serving its usual "warrior's morning chow" of steak & eggs to excited Marines. Not all ate it.
6.) In the pre-dawn hours of 2/19/45 Marines lined up & drew 5 grenades, 3 bandoleers holding 6, 8-round clips of .30 cal Ball ammo, & 10 clips to stuff into their cartridge belt. BAR men lined up “down the planks” & drew 8 mags each holding 19 rounds of Ball ammo (more later)
