Infantry: "H" Co., advancing on RCT right flank, received knee mortar and MG fire vicinity (38.8-00.9) at 231715. Mortar fire was requested on the area. "H" Co. patrols have been unable to contact the enemy in that vicinity since that time. "G" Co., again attempting to take the high ground to its front was unsuccessful as of 231800 and withdrew for the night. During the night, 34-24, 2 enemy were killed by "G" Co. and one by "I" Co. attempting to infiltrate. A saber and blood were discovered in the vicinity of an "F" Co. booby trap. Two platoons of "F" Company advancing to a position abreast of "D" Co. discovered caves and recent graves containing a total of 30 enemy dead. In the vicinity of (40.5-97.0) "F" reported silencing one 20mm, one LMG, and 2 enemy KIA as it advanced. "G" Co. supported by "I" Co. platoon on its left destroyed 2 enemy 50 Cal. MG's and killed 3 enemy vicinity (36.3-97.6). An "I" Co. patrol killed 5 enemy in a cave vicinity (40.8-97.6). The cave contained all types of enemy weapons. "G" Co was in a fire fight as the period closed.

"RESULTS OF OPERATION: As the results of "F" Co.'s advance it is apparent that our efforts are inflicting casualties previously unreported. The continued pressure is forcing the enemy to bury his casualties on the spot rather than evacuate them to the rear. Our front lines, now more firmly consolidated, the 1st Bn. now are liable for the left flank protection and action, and the more advantageous position of supporting tanks and artillery, enhance our possibility of a more rapid advance.

About a mile separated the right flank of the 503d RCT and the barbed wire enclosed fortress of the 185th RCT. They had been forted up here when we arrived, and they would remain in their fort until they were withdrawn from the island. In between us were deep, wooded draws and high ridges. The ridges were rough with high hills in many places. The area was also more wooded. Although both our RCT and the 185th were supposed to patrol the area they were not noticeable early in the campaign and became extinct as time passed, so the 503d took care of this area. Before the 2d Battalion relieved the 3d as the assault battalion, as already stated, the 2d patrolled this rugged area. On one occasion Captain Taylor took his three rifle company commander and his S-3, 1st Lieutenant William E. LaVanchure, south down through a heavily wooded draw and up on the first ridge. We found signs of enemy occupation, but they were gone. A few hundreds yards to the east was a prominent hill. This was the hill which gave "G" Company so many problems as they attempted to advance to protect our flank. We probably went out a half mile or more, and I thought at the time it was poor judgment for five officers to be out on a patrol which should be done by a large combat patrol. I carried an 03-A3 Springfield with scope, the company's sniper rifle, Taylor carried a Colt 45 pistol, and the other three carried carbines. Fortunately the enemy had pulled back up to the hill.

1000

1600

1930

 At 1400 two tanks [Note: These were M-4, "Sherman," tanks; M-7's were self propelled 105mm's] were brought up to give supporting artillery fire on enemy positions to "D" Co. front. Enemy artillery secured a hit on one of the tanks but was immediately neutralized. At 1745 two short artillery rounds landed inside the perimeter wounding Pvt. Hardy in the arm. During the night several enemy infiltrations were repulsed.

We had received bouncing Betty mines as evidenced in the Periodic Report above which gives the account of an "F" company "booby trap." These were put out just before dark at a time set by battalion on possible routes of enemy infiltration. Then the next morning we took them up at dawn. Despite repeated warnings some men in our RCT were killed by them due to carelessness. They would forget and walk out of the perimeter. 

The 24th was a busy day for "F" Company. The "Chronological History of Company F" makes a mistake here. We were not sitting around writing home and cleaning weapons. That was almost a week off yet- and, even then, part of the company was out on patrols every day, and one platoon was up in the hills on outpost. Early the morning of the 24th "F" Company assaulted the next ridge. This was our first support by 4.2 mortars. They had been used to support other company attacks, but we had never seen them in action. For sometime we had heard of these terrible weapons in Europe , of how when the shells exploded raining phosphorus over the area the Germans jumped out of their foxholes and ran. We knew that in supporting other companies of our unit they were using both HE and WP, i.e., high explosive and white phosphorus. The barrage supporting us was short, because of the ammunition shortage, and we did not see any Japs jumping up and running. They fired several WP shells last resulting in some smoke on the ridge, but we still were not impressed. We moved out very rapidly in order to take advantage of the shock of the HE shells and the smoke. Much to our relief there were no mines and not much fire. The enemy did not seem to be prepared. The most resistance was encountered on the north end of the ridge where it dropped sharply and then rose rapidly back to a hill.    the 1st Platoon attacked this position. Bill McDonald was 1st scout for the 1st squad who was leading the attack along the ridge and then down into the deep swag. As Bill reached a point near the bottom of the swag the enemy opened up with a machine gun which was located in a bunker at the top of the hill. Bill crumpled and fell into the brush along side the trail. All who saw him fall were sure he was dead. The platoon halted and deployed seeking a method to effectively attack this hard to get to position. As they were pondering, suddenly, they heard hand  grenades exploding and a Thompson submachine gun firing. Rushing down to the swag and then up the hill they found Bill McDonald in charge with several dead enemy soldiers. Bill had not been hit by the machine gun's fire but had crumpled and rolled over into the grass to fool the Japs.    He crawled up the hill to the rear of the bunker and threw in a grenade. The Japs threw it back, and it exploded near Bill,  but did not injure him. Bill pulled the pin on another grenade, let the handle fly, and after it fizzed a couple of seconds threw it into the rear opening of the bunker. This one exploded before the Japs could react. Bill jumped down into the ditch behind the bunker ,and firing through the rear opening, killed the occupants. Bill was awarded the Silver Star Medal, and it was presented to him by General MacArthur, 8 June 1945, at 40th Division Headquarters in Silay.

The information given here along with the fact that there were three dead Japs_in the bunker comes from a news article printed in the Mt. Carmel, Illinois "Daily Republican" Register dated June 24, 1945. After forming the company into a defensive perimeter I reported to Captain Taylor over on Tokaido Road. which was still on our right.

When I reached Tokaido Road two M-4 tanks were sitting there behind a hill. They had been a short distance further to the east in front of the hill where they could survey the enemy country to their front and look for targets of opportunity. Suddenly a high explosive round hit the slope plate of the lead tank. This round was fired from a Jap dual purpose 75m gun. Dual purpose means that this high velocity gun could be used as an anti aircraft gun, or it could be used for ground targets. (Our S-3 was convinced that it was a 90mm gun). This particular gun was well concealed in a bunker further east and north of Tokaido Road.    The only damage to the tank was a black spot on the slope-plate where the round exploded. We suspected there was quite an odor inside the tank, but it was buttoned up so tightly that one would never know. I missed the show, but when I got there, the two tightly buttoned-up tanks sat there behind the hill in complete safety.

Captain Taylor pointed out the big ridge to our left front, on the north side of the road. It ran northeast to the southwest which put it at about a forty-five degree angle to the road. Taylor told me that hill was heavily fortified and was now "F" Company's next objective. As we advanced on the left "D" Company would continue to advance on the right. An, M-7, self-propelled 105mm howitzer from the canon company would be up early the next morning to give direct fire support. He told me to get with the platoon leader and see if we could pick out the bunker slits with a 20 power telescope . If the M-7 could find them they could destroy them.

We dug in for the night and at the proper time put out our Bouncing Betties. The incidence of attempted infiltrations decreased with the use of these mines. Even so, occasionally at night one of the bombs exploded. Usually the next morning we would find a lot of blood and a weapon or two. We did sleep better knowing they were there.

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