Rumors of an amphibious assault on Tinian began circulating among American fighting forces almost as soon as Saipan was officially “secure.” The Marines were particularly concerned, rightly figuring that if the rumors were true, they would constitute the first waves. Thoughts of a triumphant return to Camp Maui – and the wahines of Kahului and Haiku – which sustained BLT 1-24 through almost a month of combat began to fade, and the grumbling grew louder when new movement orders arrived on the morning of 11 July. Instead of heading back to Charan Kanoa – or, indeed, any beach where boats might land and take them to Hawaii-bound transports – the battalion climbed back up the ridges to a bivouac first established on the night of 7 July.

“We could not comprehend the logic or reasoning behind the recurrent rumor that a Tinian invasion by the 2^nd and 4^th Marine Divisions was imminent,” wrote 1Lt. Frederic A. Stott. “And upon our return to our battalion bivouac area on the high ground south of Marpi Point, we were greeted not by rumor but by an order for a two-day southward trek for continued mopping up operations.”  It was now clear why BLT 1-24 had been granted their respite on the previous day. Although the order was deemed wise in retrospect, the immediate reaction was overwhelmingly negative. “We weary foot troops could not appreciate it,” Stott continued diplomatically, “and we would gladly have declined the task in favor of any and all other troops on the island.”^[1]

The operation was scheduled to commence the following morning, so BLT 1-24 made the most of their remaining restful time. They had a second chance to send out mail, and many filled out V-Mail blanks with sentiments similar to those expressed by Sergeant Everett E. Schafer of Baker Company: