BATTLE NARRATIVE operation Detachment
First Battalion, 24th Marines on Iwo Jima
February – March 1945
One day, I got 9 new men for my 13-man squad. These were young guys with no combat training and looked as if they had just got out of boot camp.
The first morning I got them, I found them all in a hole together. I chewed them out and told them never to bunch up again. One of them apologized to me and said they were just praying together before we had to saddle up.
I never learned their names. All of them were killed or wounded before the day was over.
This was the way it was every day. Collecting dog tags of kids who followed you, but you never knew their names.
The first morning I got them, I found them all in a hole together. I chewed them out and told them never to bunch up again. One of them apologized to me and said they were just praying together before we had to saddle up.
I never learned their names. All of them were killed or wounded before the day was over.
This was the way it was every day. Collecting dog tags of kids who followed you, but you never knew their names.
Daily Narrative
Part I: Into The Jaws
Part II: Ground Up
Part III: The Other Side
Campaign Casualties
| Company | Landed | KIA / DOW | WIA | Sick | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Headquarters |
203 |
7 |
33 |
3 |
43 (21%) |
|
Able |
220 |
35 |
115 |
2 |
152 (69%) |
|
Baker |
214 |
28 |
140 |
1 |
169 (79%) |
|
Charlie |
215 |
47 |
112 |
4 |
163 (66%) |
|
Medical |
39 |
5 |
14 |
|
19 (49%) |
|
Replacements (All Companies) |
160 |
24 |
68 |
1 |
93 (58%) |
|
TOTAL |
1,051 |
146 |
482 |
11 |
639 (61%) |
Notes On This Table
Accounts for casualties sustained between 19 February and 17 March 1945, plus later deaths directly related to battle wounds.
Primary data sources are battalion muster rolls and individual USMC casualty cards.
WIA: any wound caused by enemy action, qualifying for a Purple Heart.
(Does not count multiple wounds suffered by individuals.)
Sick: any ailment requiring evacuation that does not qualify for a Purple Heart.
(Does not count individuals who recuperated and returned prior to end of battle.)
There was a good biography of my father, Willard Klopf, on this or a related site I cannot find anymore. Could it be sent to thomas_r_klopf@yahoo.com
Hi Thomas! I sent you an email just now. Your father’s biography can be accessed here: Willard J. Klopf.
Cheers,
Geoffrey
Thank you for your work on this site.. My father Joseph B Coyle of Jersey City, NJ served as a BAR man on Roi&Namur , Tinian , Saipan and Iwo Jima.. After the war he returned to Jersey City and raised 8 children and 1 step-son.. He worked for Ballantine breweries and Budweiser both in Neeark , NJ. He passed away from cancer October 20th 1982My father never spoke about the war and disliked war movies and would tell my brothers and I that war is nothing like what you see in John Wayne movies.. My father did not have any visible scars other than deformed thumb nails and obvious PTSD. I would like to know more specifics about his platoon / company actions in any of these campaign’s .. I guess I’m trying to find out if there was any significant event that stayed with him all those years.. Also would like to know who served in his fire team and squad…..Respectfully, Michael Coyle
Hi Michael! Thanks for writing. Sent you an email with some answers to your questions – please reply & let me know if you got it.
Cheers!
Geoffrey
Hi Geoffrey. My name is Nancy Coyle, and I am one of Joseph Coyle’s children. I see that you sent an email to my brother Michael but it doesn’t look like he responded to you. Would you mind sending that email to me too. My email address is: nickyinseattle@yahoo.com
Thank you very much, and thank you for this site.
Regards,
Nancy
Hi Nancy – I did hear back from Michael back in February. I’ve forwarded our conversation to your email address.
Cheers,
Geoffrey
Trying to find out about my great uncle Windel L McDonald
1-24 Charlie co. Killed 11 days before war ended 4th marine division
1st battalion
hi my name is kristy wallace and I am looking for info on Ivan Wallace. he would be my father in-law but passed away when my husband was 17. as my husband was so young we don’t really know very much about his dad. any thing you can help us with would be wonderful. pleas email me if you can at kristykitten1980@hotmail.com thank you
Hi my name is Eileen “Taylor” Lubow, my father, Burton Pendell (aka Pindal) was on board the LST 812. He died when I was 13, so I don’t know alot and have been trying to narrow down the only thing he shared with me about the war. He showed me his scars on his legs, I think he said one was from a shot and the other might have been shrapnel. He told me that all he remembers is waking up on a beach and someone had bandaged his legs and must have drug him out of the water. He was a Ship fitter on the LST 812 and that’s all I can find. Did the LST 812 get hit? And it might have happened in Okinawa or Iwo Jima, I’m not sure.
If you have any information, Please let me know, I have been trying to connect the dots for years!!
Thank you, Eileen
Hi Eileen – I found your father on the rolls of LST 812. It doesn’t mention him being wounded, and I’m still looking for notes of the ship being hit off Iwo Jima. All I’ve found so far is an incident off Okinawa on 15 April 1945. While firing at enemy aircraft, two members of the ship’s company were wounded by falling shrapnel and taken to a hospital ship. However, that doesn’t gel with your father’s memory.
I will keep searching, but wanted to give you a heads up. You might want to consider getting his service record from the National Archives – that will certainly have more information than any online sources. My personal preference is for http://www.goldenarrowresearch.com.
Cheers,
Geoffrey
My name is Sharon Starkey Smith .My daughter,Danna Loyd has been in contact with you for information on my father,LeRoy Starkey.I just want to thank you for all your help and the information you were able to send.
2Lt. Steven H. Opalenik was my Great Uncle. I appreciate you’re dedication to this site and thank you. My family never spoke about his Military background. My Grandfather didn’t speak about his brother or of his time in the Navy(WW2 Korean) . I wonder if Brothers crossed paths. If he knew Steven was there and if he was one of the ships bringing supplies.
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I am looking for information regarding how my uncle, PFC Edward Charles Merrall died. Thank you for doing this site. He inspired me to become a marine as well. Semper Fi
Hi Ric – I have some info for you; will send an email.
Geoffrey
My father, Calvin Boone Tiller, carried a BAR and garded his sergeant as he burned out caves in their later days on Iwo. The Flame Thrower burped and his sargeant was killed. Dad had severe PTSD and after his death it occurred to me that Flame Thrower operators and their gards often had a pact that if the flame thrower burped the gard was to shoot the operator. Is it possible that this happened to my dad, or worse yet did he fail to shoot him. Ether way it would explain a lot.
Hello,
My step father served from 1941-1945 at Iwo Jima. He was one of the lucky ones that survived. He never spoke of his time there but I know it greatly impacted his life. His name was Ernest H Dondis from Rockland, ME. Is there a way to find out when he was there and what was happening at that time? I read through the narrative but I’m unsure when he was there and if he was honored for his service at Iwo Jima. Please email me if possible. I would love to share this information with remaining family and his surviving spouse.
Thank you,
Susan Parkhouse