SECRET                                     21 FEB 45

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

THIS DISPATCH SUMMARY FOR PERIOD 201700 TO 211700 X DURING THE NIGHT THERE
WAS VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY ON THE 5TH MAR DIV FRONT X THE

ONLY EVENT OF ANY CONSEQUENCE WAS A COUNTERATTACK OF UNDETERMINED
STRENGTH WHICH WAS REPULSED BY RCT 27 IN TARGET AREA 180 Q AT 1945 X

5TH MAR DIV JUMPED OFF ON TWO FRONTS X AT 0810 ON THE NORTH AND AT 0845 ON
THE SOUTH X AFTER BITTER FIGHTING O-1 WAS REACHED IN THE EARLY

AFTERNOON X SEVERE CASUALTIES WERE INCURRED BY RCT 27 ESPECIALLY BY BLT
1/26 WHO WAS ATTACHED AND WAS ON THE LEFT FLANK X BLT 1/26 LOST

61 KIA AND 212 WIA X ON THE SOUTH THE ADVANCE WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT THE
ENTIRE AREA BEING STUDDED WITH PILLBOXES X THE BASE OF SURIBACHI

WAS REACHED BY NIGHTFALL X FRONT LINE POSITIONS ON THE NORTH ARE TA'S 197
Y WEST 181 BCDE X ON THE SOUTH TA'S 131 N TO 121 J SOUTHEAST TO 132 K

NORTHEAST TO 132 Q TO 132 V X 13TH MARINES SUPPORTED THE ATTACK FROM
INITIAL POSITIONS X THERE ARE NOW TWELVE 75MM PH'S AND THIRTY-ONE 105 HOWS

IN OPERATION WITH ONE PLUS UNIT OF FIRE ON GUN POSITIONS X TODAYS
EXPENDITURE ONE UNIT OF FIRE 75MM AND ONE-HALF UNIT OF FIRE 105MM X

BATTERY "C" OF 2ND 155 HOW BN IS IN POSITION IN VICINITY OF 147E AND FIRING
X
OWN CASUALTIES TO DATE ARE KIA 11 OFFICERS 201 ENLISTED X WIA 39

OFFICERS 1008  ENLISTED X MIA 1 OFFICER 192 ENLISTED X TOTAL 51 OFFICERS 140
1
ENLISTED X THESE FIGURES ARE CONSIDERED ACCURATE X ENEMY KILLED

TO DATE 722 X ENEMY METHODICALLY CONTINUES TO REMOVE DEAD AND WOUNDED
X NO POW'S TAKEN X ENEMY IDENTIFICATIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED AS
DISCOVERED X

SUPPLY X LANDING BEACHES HAVE BEEN MUCH IMPROVED AND READY TO RECEIVE
WHEELED VEHICLES X ENEMY FIRE DESTROYED CONSIDERABLE SHORE PARTY EQUIP-

MENT BUT AN ADEQUATE AMOUNT REMAINS X FIGURES ON SUPPLIES LANDED ARE
NOT AVAILABLE X THEY WILL BE SUBMITTED LATER X 34 TANKS ARE IN OPERA-

TION 17 ARE UNSERVICEABLE OF WHICH 4 CAN BE REPAIRED X LVT REPORT LATER X
HQ 5TH MAR DIV MOVED ASHORE AT 1400 X CP'S X 5TH MAR DIV 148G X 13TH


MARINES 147O X RCT 26 181P X RCT 27 164GX RCT 28 147M

                              RAY A. ROBINSON
                              COLONEL, USMC
                              CHIEF OF STAFF