SECRET 26 FEB 45 FROM: 5TH MAR DIV TO : VAC INFO: 3D MAR DIV X 4TH MAR DIV X EXPED TRS DISPATCH SUMMARY FOR THE PERIOD 251700 TO 261700 FOLLOWS X DURING THE NIGHT THERE WAS VERY LITTLE ACTIVITY ON THE 5TH MARINE DIVISION FRONT X 2 JAPS ARMED WITH NAMBUS TRIED TO INFILTRATE OUR FRONT X THEY WERE KILLED X THE DIVISION JUMPED OFF AT 0800 AND ADVANCED UNDER HEAVY FIRE FROM THE FRONT X RIGHT FRONT AND RIGHT FLANK X THE CENTER OF THE DIVISION ADVANCED ABOUT 300 YARDS X THE LEFT WAS ECHELON TO THE REAR OVERLOCKING THE SAND FLATS OF THE BEACH X THE RIGHT WAS ECHELONED TO THE REAR KEEPING A PACE OF THE THIRD MARINE DIVISION X AT THE END OF THE DAY'S FIGHTING THE FRONT LINES WERE 198-OMIJK TO 199 KQ X ONE INTERESTING TARGET FOR THE DAY WAS FIRED BY ARTILLERY WITH AERIAL OBSERVERS X THIS TARGET WAS A CAMOU- FLAGED LARGE CALIBER GUN WITH JAP TROOPS IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY X ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE BY THE AERIAL OBSERVER AND ARTILLERY FIRE WAS MASSED ON THE GUNS X CORPS ARTILLERY REINFORCED THE FIRES OF THE 13TH MARINES ON THIS TARGET X A MIXTURE OF HIGH EXPLOSIVE SHELLS X TIME FIRE X AND SMOKE SHELLS WERE PLACED ON THE TARGET WITH EXCELLENT RESULTS X AS TARGETS HITS WERE REPORTED BY THE AERIAL OBSERVER X THE ARTILLERY FIRE WAS THEN SHIPPED AND MASSED IN AN ADJACENT AREA WITH THE SAME MIXTURE OF SHELLS X AND AGAIN THE EXCELLENT MASSING OF FIRE WAS OBSERVED AS SHACKS X PROBABLY CONTAINING ARTILLERY PIECES X AND OTHER INSTALLATIONS WERE DESTROYED X IT IS EXPECTED THAT 31 TANKS WILL BE OPERATIONAL FOR TOMORROW'S ATTACK X OUR CASUALTIES TO DATE AS OF 1200 KIA 32 OFFICERS X 489 ENL X WIA 132 OFF X 2173 ENL X MIA 2 OFF X 172 ENL X TOTAL 166 OFF X 2834 ENL X ENEMY DEAD 2692 X POW 6 X THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE ENEMY CASUALTIES FOR TODAY'S FIGHTING X ONE LARGE SWINGING DOOR HAD BEEN OBSERVED ON KAMA ROCK 1200 YARDS OFF OUR WESTERN FLANK X NGF APPEARS TO HAVE NEUTRALIZED THIS ROCK AND RESULTS IN DENYING ANOTHER OP TO THE ENEMY X ENEMY ACTION DURING THE DAY HAS CONSISTENT OF RESISTANCE FROM MACHINE GUNS X PILLBOXES X AND CAVES ACCOMPANIED BY THE EVER PRESENT ARTILLERY AND MORTAR FIRE X WHITE PHOSPHOROUS GRENADES ARE BEING USED EFFECTIVELY IN MOPPING UP ALL THE EXTENSIVE CAVE POSITIONS ENCOUNTERED X SUPPLIES LANDED X SMALL ARMS 1/2 UNIT OF FIRE X 81MM MORTAR 1 UNIT OF FIRE X 75MM AND 105MM 1/4 UNIT OF FIRE X FUEL 619000 GALLONS X WATER 7870 GALLONS X RATIONS 30000 X STATUS OF UNLOADING X LST'S 100 PERCENT X LSM'S 100 PERCENT X 6 APA'S 100 PERCENT X REMAINING APA'S AND AKA'S 65 PERCENT X SURF MODERATE BUT LCM'S AND LCVP'S UNABLE TO LAND X GENERAL UNLOADING DURING DAY X BEACHES RAPIDLY BEING CLEARED AND INLAND DUMPS BEING BUILT UP X SALVAGE SECTION IN OPERATION X 9 DISTILLATION UNITS IN OPERATION ON WEST COAST BEACHES X THERE ARE 27 SERVICEABLE LVT(A)'S X ONE UNDER REPAIR X ONE INOPERATIVE X 6 SUNK OR DESTROYED X LVT'S SERVICEABLE ARE 122 X 24 UNDER REPAIR X 12 INOPERATIVE X 42 SUNK OR DESTROYED X THERE ARE 36 SERVICEABLE DUKWS 21 OF WHICH ARE SEAWORTHY X ONE UNDER REPAIR X 1 INOPERATIVE X 58 SUNK OR DESTROYED X LOCATION OF COMMAND POSTS X NO CHANGE X RAY A. ROBINSON COLONEL, USMC CHIEF OF STA