6 March - Corps order for this day called for an attack in
echelon by the 3d marine Division.  At 0800 the 2d Bn, 21st
Marines, whose further advance depended directly on progress made
by the 5th Marine Division, was to attack with that division.  At
0900 the remainder of the division was to attack in conjunction
with the 4th Marine Division on the right.  With the exception
that the 2d Bn, 21st Marines (3d Rcn Co now attached) was to
attack an hour earlier than the remainder of the division, there
was no change in the scheme of maneuver previously employed.  The
3d Bn, 9th Marines was attached to the 21st Marines at 0600 and
moved to an assembly area in the vicinity of RJ-330  (TA 218-H)
At prescribed by Corps a ten minute preparation from 0750 to 0800
was fired in support of the attack of the 2d Bn, 21st Marines by
three battalions of the 12th Marines, three battalions of the
14th Marines and one battalion of Corps artillery.  In support of
the attack at 0900, three battalions of the 12th Marines and one
battalion of Corps artillery fired preparation from 0845 to 0850
and from 0855 to 0900 and followed with a rolling barrage lifted
100 yards every seven minutes for 300 yards.  Ninety minutes of
naval gunfire was also put down in support of the attack.  The
preparation in front of the 2d Bn, 21st Marines was ineffective
as the advance was stopped immediately by heavy hostile mortar
and small arms fire from the high ground in the 5th Marine
Division zone of action, despite the preparation that being fired
in that area.  At 0900 the 3d Bn, 21st Marines and 9th Marines
launched their attack but were able to make only slight gains
against small arms, mortar, artillery, and antitank gun fire.
The initial attack having bogged down, another coordinated attack
was launched at 1440 with the 21st Marines passing the 1st Bn,
21st Marines, which had been released to their control, through
the 3d Bn, 21st Marines.  This attack was preceded by a two
minute preparation which lifted 100 yards and fired for five
minutes.  The 1st Bn, 21st Marines slowly advanced about 200
yards against heavy enemy fire while the 9th Marines made
negligible gains.  After being disengaged by the advance of the
1st Bn, 21st Marines, the 3d Bn, 21st Marines reverted to
division reserve in an assembly area west of MOTOYAMA village.
At 1800 when lines were ordered consolidated for the night, the
situation was as shown on Enclosure B (15), Situation at 1800, 6
March.