Feb 21 part c

2-22-16

I guess I’m “all in” on this:

Let’s hear from Frank Studenski:   February 21, 1945:

This morning we are with the rest of the cruiser bombardment force, we are nearing the island.   Destroyers can be seen in close, firing star shells at the island.   We teamed up with several battleships and began firing our eight inch guns. This morning is an overcast sky and planes were making strafing and rocket firing runs.

Our targets were gun emplacements, block houses, shelters and ammo dumps.   We were very close to shore of approximately 6500 yards on the north end of the island. We continued firing all day and late into the night.   Some of the ships were firing all night.   Fighters and bombers were over the island all day.   Fighter planes were dropping Napalm Bombs on Mt. Suribachi and Strafing as they made their runs.   We were at general quarters all day, till we secured from firing.   The only hot food we had was coffee to go with the sandwiches.   We retried from the area and will return in the morning.   I am glad to be in the director, otherwise I would have to help store all of the empty brass.

And, we might as well see Frank’s entry for February 22, 1945:

This morning at 0700 hours, we again are shelling the island with eight inch and five inch shells.   Today is a cloudy rainy day.   Jap anti-aircraft fire was not accurate.   Planes continued to hit targets.   Some of our shells are creating explosions, indicating that an ammo dump or fuel dump was hit.   Planes are concentrating on Mt. Suribachi with heavy fire.   There are a large group of ships here firing at targets on the island.   We secured from firing at about 1700 hours and with the rest of the cruisers left the island to rejoin our task group.   We fired a lot of eight inch and five inch shells, there sure is a lot of brass.