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"A" company's 3rd platoon still held on the little ridge south of North
Dock, still received occasional machine gun and mortar fire, still
dished it out.
"K" company's 3rd platoon stood fast on MALINTA POINT, cut off to all
intents and purposes, but a definite plug in a definite gap.
Twice, the 1st platoon of "A" company tried to push patrols around the
bend of the road at SAN JOSE POINT and up the road on the east slope of
MALINTA HILL. Twice, they were driven back by heavy machine gun fire
from enemy pillboxes.
During the day, a concentrated, coordinated attack was made on the ice
plant which had been delivering such tolling fire against BLT #3 -and
which had maintained the gap between the THIRD battalion team and the
503rd 'Topside Force'. Cannon Company's SPM's not only assisted in the
attack, but - after the road had boon cleared (1500 18 Feb) - began an
ambulance run to the 503rd aid stations, bringing the wounded down to
BLACK BEACH for evacuation.
Between 1730 and 1800, three platoons from "I" company (missing text)
"K" on north MALINTA HILL. Three heavy machine gun squads were sent from
"M" to attachment with "L" company. The MALINTA HILL line was
considerably strengthened.
But for heavy fire received by "K" company’s 3rd platoon on MALINTA
POINT,(their communications lines went out again), the night was quiet.
On the morning of the 19th, "I" company moved out to take what had been
dubbed "Goalpost Ridge". This was the ridge below the "K" (now "I")
company position on which the nearest squad outpost had met disaster
that first night - the ridge on which "K" company's commander had met
death. Under fire cover from the 3rd platoon, the 1st made the assault.
Grenades, small arms and automatic weapons fire stopped them. The 4th
platoon was dispatched to their aid. It was driven back by an extreme
concentration of sniper fire.
The platoons withdrew. "M" company’s 81’s went to work. [missing
text]"Goalpost Ridge" did the job. "I" company’s 2nd platoon seized
it shortly before dark and dug in.
Meanwhile, the Japs set up a road block of their own at the south end of
MALINTA HILL. They began pecking away at the "A" company block which was
partially covered from their fire by the curve in the road.
"A" company had shifted platoons. First was relieved at the road block
position by 2nd, and in its turn it relieved 3rd on the little ridge
near North Dock.
The Japs didn't know that elements of "L" company were looking down on
their road block from a well concealed position 100 feet above it. After
letting the enemy get well in place, "L" company fired one shot, wounded
one Jap, and scattered his companions.
The 2nd platoon of "A" Company then accompanied a tank around the bond.
The tank fired point-blank into the temporarily abandoned position,
destroying it. In the cliff above the "A" company men found 2 caves from
which the block could be covered by fire. These were destroyed with a
few well-placed demolition charges. The platoon then withdrew to their
original roadblock to pass an uneventful night.
"K" company spent the 19th carrying rations up MALINTA HILL to "I"
company and bringing down 8 of their own recovered dead.
"I" company held the hot corner now. As night fell, intense barrages of
90mm mortar fire began to fall on their positions. At 0500 on the
morning of the 20th, 20mm and 50 calibre fire was suddenly directed on
the company from INFANTRY POINT...and...up that same, impossible cliff
again...came the Japs. The Yanks caught their grenades and threw them
back. "I" company’s 6Omm mortars dropped death-dealing rounds among
them. More hopeless from the beginning than those against "K", the
abortive assault failed disastrously.
February 20th was a quiet day. "L" company sent a patrol to ENGINEER
POINT. They had nearly reached the patrol objective when a naval air
observer informed them that they were walking into a Jap ambush. His
observation was perfect. The patrol withdrew, and the guns of a
supporting destroyer blasted the position. The patrol accounted for 4
Japs who tried to sneak around them.
"I" company moved farther north, under cover of heavy supporting rifle
fire, and, with the use of flame throwers, completed cleaning off the
northern end of MALINTA HILL.
"A" company sent its 3rd platoon to reinforce the South—MALINTA HILL
roadblock. Second platoon rechecked the caves it had demolished the
previous day. The roadblock was moved forward about 200 yards. The men
settled down for a quiet night.
"K" company's 3rd platoon sent a party down for rations and water. Their
situation, tactically, was much improved, but they, like everyone,
suffered from the shortage of water.
It was known that there was a goodly number of Japs still in the large
tunnels under MALINTA HILL. A scheme was devised whereby they might
successfully be driven out or easily eliminated. An "L" company patrol
was sent down to the East Tunnel Entrance with smoke grenades. The
grenades were to be thrown into the tunnel, in the hope that the rising
smoke would seek outlet from the tunnel through the air vent servicing
it. The vent could then be blocked and the Japs air supply cut off.
The patrol drew a lot of sniper fire, threw its grenades, killed a Jap
or two, and retired. The smoke stayed in the tunnel.
At 1400, "K" company was ordered back up onto the hill. The position
they would, occupy would complete a solid line across the BLT objective,
re—establishing physical contact with their 3rd platoon and bringing it
into formation on the north flank of a strong line of threat and denial
to enemy elements on the east of the island.
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