SECRET                                     20 FEB 45

FROM:       5TH MAR DIV
TO  :       VAC                     INFO:  HQ EXPED TRS  X  4TH MAR DIV

AT 0830 5TH MAR DIV RESUMED THE ATTACK ON TWO FRONT X RCT 27 WITH BLT 1/26
ATTACHED ATTACKED TO THE NORTH X RCT 28 ATTACKED TO THE

SOUTH EACH ON FRONT OF TWO BATTALIONS X ADVANCES IN BOTH DIRECTIONS
WERE BITTERLY CONTESTED X SEVERE CASUALTIES WERE SUFFERED FROM ENEMY

MORTAR AND ARTILLERY FIRE X AT THE END OF DAYS FIGHTING FRONT LINES HAD
ADVANCED ABOUT 800 YARDS TO THE NORTH X THE ATTACK TOWARD SURIBACHI

MADE NO MATERIAL PROGRESS X PRESENT FRONT LINES 180 XY TO 181 UVW ALL
CENTER AND 147 Q TO 132 CI X NGF AND AIR CONTINUED VERY ACTIVE SUPPORT

RCT 26 LESS BLT 1/26 WAS 5TH MAR DIV RESERVE HAS NOT BEEN COMMITTED AND IS
LOCATED IN VICINITY OF 148 AB X ALL 13TH MARINES IS ASHORE AND SUPPORTED

TODAYS ATTACK X REPORTS ON CASUALTIES WILL BE SUBMITTED LATER ENEMY
DEAD X 900 REPORTED KILLED BY BLT 2/27 X COMPLETE REPORT LATER X

POW TWO WOUNDED CAPTURED BY BLT 2/28 X RCT 27 CAPTURED A CP AT 163 X  X
ALSO A DUMP AT 163 E CONTAINING FOOD AMMUNITION AND UNARMED BOOBY
TRAPS

X REDWING CAPTURED AMMUNITION DUMP AT 147 S X WILL REPORT ON TANKS
SARDINE ABLES AND SARDINES AS SOON AS POSSIBLE X BEACHES ARE STILL IN

POOR CONDITION BUT BEING IMPROVED X MATTING IS BEING LAID AND EGRESS
ROADS BEING CONSTRUCTED X UNTIL COMPLETED TRACTORS ARE ONLY VEHICLES

THAT CAN REACH FIRM GROUND UNASSISTED X BEACHES RED TWO AND GREEN ONE
HAVE BEEN UNDER CONTINUOUS FIRE X RED TWO IS NOW SOMEWHAT BETTER AND

RECEIVING SUPPLIES X GREEN ONE STILL UNDER FIRE AND TAKING CASUALTIES
UNABLE TO OPERATE EXCEPT FOR PASSAGE OF LVT'S X TRACTORS HAVE BEEN IN

USE CONTINUALLY MOVING FORWARD COMBAT VEHICLES AND CLEARING BEACH
WRECKAGE X SUPPLIES NOW BEACH WILL BE MOVED TO DUMPS DURING DARKNESS X

WHEELED VEHICLES HAVE COMPLICATED SITUATION X FOLLOWING SUPPLIES LANDED
X SMALL ARMS ONE UNIT OF FIRE X MORTAR ONE AND ONE-HALF UNIT OF FIRE X

ARTILLERY THREE-FOURTHS UNIT OF FIRE X FUEL TEN THOUSAND GALLONS X WATER
TWENTY-FIVE THOUSAND GALLONS X RATIONS THE THOUSAND K FIVE THOUSAND C
X

SUPPLIED LANDED MAINLY BY LVT'S AND DUKW'S RUNNING DIRECTLY TO USING
UNITS X LOCATION OF CP'S 5TH MAR DIV IN APA 96 X ADC 5TH MAR DIV AT


148 G X RCT 26 AT 148 F X RCT 28 147 S X RCT 27 148 L X 5TH MAR DIV CP 148 V
 X 13TH
MARINES 147 S X THIS DISPATCH SUMMARY IS FOR THE PERIOD

191700 TO 201700 SEE PREVIOUS REPORTS FOR NIGHT COUNTERATTACKS X


                                   K. E. ROCKEY,
                                   MAJ. GEN., USMC.