SECRET 19 FEB 45 FROM: 5TH MAR DIV TO : VAC INFO: HQ EXPED TRS X 4TH MAR DIV DISPATCH SUMMARY FOLLOWS X 5TH MAR DIV LANDED ON SCHEDULE X OVERRAN LIGHTLY HELD BEACH DEFENSES AND PROGRESSED INLAND OVER NUMEROUS MINE FIELDS AND IN THE FACE OF MODERATE FIRE X DUE TO EXCELLENT NAVAL GUNFIRE AND AIR PREPARATION OF ALL TYPES X EARLY PROGRESS TO THE WEST WAS RELATIVELY EASY X ADVANCES TO THE NORTH AND SOUTH WERE HEAVILY CONTESTED AND WE SUFFERED CONSIDERABLE CASUALTIES X PRESENT FRONT LINES 163 S TO 164 W ON THE NORTH X NO INFO AVAILABLE AS TO WHETHER BEACH ON WEST COAST HAS BEEN SECURED X ON THE SOUTH THE FRONT LINE IS STILL FLUID X TROOPS HAVE TAKEN 147 O TO 132 I X ALL RESERVES HAVE LANDED X BLT 3/28 RELEASED TO PARENT ORGANIZATION X RCT 26 LESS BLT 1/26 IN 5TH MAR DIV RESERVE IN VICINITY OF 148 F X BLT 1/26 RELEASED TO RCT 27 TO FI LL IN GAP BETWEEN 5TH MAR DIV AND 4TH MAR DIV X 13TH MARINES HAVING GREAT DIFFICULTY IN LANDING DUE TO BEACH TERRACES SOFT SAND AND FIRE ON BEACHES X TRACTORS ARE DRAGGING DUKWS TO FIRM LAND X 13TH MARINES LESS 4TH BN HAS LANDED AND WILL BE IN POSITION BY DARK X OUR CASUALTIES NOT REPORTED WILL FURNISH LATER X COLONEL PLAIN RCT 27'S EXEC WOUNDED IN ARM X MAJOR DOLLINS 5TH MAR DIV AIR LIAISON OBSERVER ONE CRASHED X ENEMY DEAD NOT REPORTED WILL FURNISH LATER X 40 TANKS OPERATIONAL OUT OF TOTAL OF 51 X LVTA'S IN OPERATION NOT KNOWN X 173 SARDINES IN OPERATION X WILL REPORT LATER ON NIGHT BEACH DEFENSES X SUPPLIES LANDED X 3/8 UNIT OF FIRE OF SMALL ARMS X 1/2 UNIT OF FIRE MORTARS X 4000 GALLONS WATER X 3000 RATIONS X 900 ROUNDS 105 AND 900 ROUNDS 75 X FUEL NONE X EMERGENCY SUPPLIES BEING LANDED ON ALL BEACHES X RCT 27 HAS LOST ABOUT 1/3 OF ITS MOTOR VEHICLES X 2 HALF TRACKS X 1/2 37MM GUNS X LOCA- TIONS OF CPS X ADC 5TH MAR DIV AT 148 G NORTH CENTER X RCT 26 148 F X RCT 28 AT 148 U X AND RCT 27 AT 148 L RAY A. ROBINSON COLONEL, USMC CHIEF OF STAFF