Beachhead

I don't know.

What's the next book called? Beachhead in Latian armies gather.

So they make it to Italy.

Yeah.

the battalion could have gone on to one of the w day goals the local heights of mount alifan if american bombs had not fallen short halting the attack the first battalion moved into the ruins of agathe and at ten twenty was able to say we have agathe although there was still small arms resistance in the rubble by eleven thirty the battalion was also out to harmon road which led the northern shoulder of mount alifan even as framhold's men made their advances japanese shells hit the battalion aid station wounding and killing members of the medical team and destroying supplies not until later that afternoon was the first battalion sent another doctor on the right of the landing waves major bernard w green's first battalion fourth marines ran head on into a particularly critical hill mass hill forty near bangi point which had been thoroughly worked over by the navy hill forty's unexpectedly heated defense indicated that the japanese recognized its importance commanding the beaches where troops and supplies were coming ashore it took tanks and the support of the third battalion to claim the position before dark on w day the second battalion twenty second marines could see the fourth marines across a deep gully the latter held a thin twisted line extending sixteen hundred yards from the beach to harmon road the twenty second marines held the rest of a beach at forty five hundred yards long and two thousand yards deep at nightfall of w day general shepherd summed up to general own casualties about three hundred fifty enemy unknown critical shortages of fuel and ammunition all types think we can handle it will continue as planned to-morrow helping to ensure that the marines would stay on shore once they landed was a host of unheralded support troops who had been struggling since daylight to manage the flow of vital supplies to the beaches now as w day's darkness approached the fourth ammunition company a black marine unit guarded the brigade's ammunition depot ashore during their sleepless night these marines killed fourteen demolition-laden infiltrators approaching the dump faulty communications delayed the order to land the army's three hundred fifth regimental combat team colonel vincent j tanzola elements of the assault force for hours slated for a morning landing the second battalion of lieutenant-colonel robert d adair did not get ashore until well after nightfall as no amtrak were then available the soldiers had to walk in from the reef some soldiers slipped under water into shell-holes and had to swim for their lives in a full tide the rest of the three hundred fifth had arrived on the beach all wet some seasick by zero six hundred on w plus one Sidebars Medal of Honor Recipients private first class luther skaggs juniors medal of honor citation reads as follows for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty while serving as squad leader with a mortar section of a rifle company in the third battalion third marines third marine division during action against enemy japanese forces on the asan atala beachhead guam marianas islands twenty one to twenty two july nineteen forty four when the section leader became a casualty under a heavy mortar barrage shortly after landing private first-class skags promptly assumed command and led the section through intense fire for a distance of two hundred yards to a position from which to deliver effective coverage of the assault on a strategic cliff valiantly defending this vital position against strong enemy counter-attacks during the night private first-class skaggs was critically wounded when a japanese grenade lodged in his foxhole and exploded shattering the lower part of one leg quick to act he applied an improvised tourniquet and while propped up in his foxhole gallantly returned the enemy's fire with his rifle and hand grenades for a period of eight hours later crawling unassisted to the rear to continue the fight until the japanese had been annihilated uncomplaining and calm throughout this critical period private first-class skag served as a heroic example of courage and fortitude to other wounded men and by his courageous leadership and inspiring devotion to duty upheld the high traditions of the united states naval service Private First Class Leonard Foster Mason's Medal of Honor citation reads as follows, For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as an automatic rifleman serving

with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marines, 3rd Marine Division

in action against enemy Japanese forces on the Asan, Adela, Beachhead, Guam, Marianas Islands on 22 July 1944. suddenly taken under fire by two enemy machine-guns not more than fifteen yards away while clearing out hostile positions holding up the advance of his platoon through a narrow gully private first-class mason alone and entirely on his own initiative climbed out of the gully and moved parallel to it toward the rear of the enemy position although fired upon immediately by hostile riflemen from a higher position and wounded repeatedly in the arm and shoulder private first-class mason grimly pressed forward and had just reached his objective when hit again by a burst of enemy machine-gun fire causing a critical wound to which he later succumbed with valiant disregard for his own peril he persevered clearing out the hostile position killing five japanese wounding another and then rejoining his platoon to report the results of his action before consenting to be evacuated his exceptionally heroic act in the face of almost certain death enabled his platoon to accomplish its mission and reflects the highest credit upon private first-class mason in the united states naval service he gallantly gave his life for his country the taking of chinito ridge the following is a dispatch written by marine combat correspondent private first class cyril j o'brien in the field after the combat action he describes in his story it was released for publication in the united states some time after the event always after families were notified of the wounding or death of the marines mentioned This story is reprinted from the carbon copy of the file which he retained of the stories he filed from the Pacific.

Guam, July 24, delayed.

The first frontal attack on steep Chenito Ridge was made one hour after the Marine landing.