Nightmare on Iwo Jima: A Marine in Combat (Fire Ant Books) PDF
Preview Nightmare on Iwo Jima: A Marine in Combat (Fire Ant Books)
Nightmare on Iwo Jima Nightmare on Iwo Jima A Marine in Combat Patrick F. Caruso With a New Foreword by David G. Rathgeber THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA PRESS Tuscaloosa Copyright © 2001 Foreword and Index copyright © 2007 The University of Alabama Press Tuscaloosa, Alabama 35487-0380 All rights reserved Manufactured in the United States of America Originally Published by Naval Institute Press First paperback printing 2007 ∞ The paper on which this book is printed meets the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Science—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials, ANSI Z39.48-1984. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Caruso, Patrick F., 1921— [Nightmare on Iwo] Nightmare on Iwo Jima / a marine in combat / Patrick F. Caruso. p. cm. “Fire Ant books.” Originally published as: Nightmare on Iwo. Annapolis, Md. : Naval Institute Press, 2001. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN-13: 978-0-8173-5448-0 (pbk. : alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-8173-5448-4 (alk. paper) 1. Caruso, Patrick F., 1921— 2. Iwo Jima, Battle of, Japan, 1945—Personal narratives, American. 3. World War, 1939—1945—Regimental histories— United States. 4. United States. Marine Corps. Division, 3rd. Battalion, 3rd. Kilo Company—History. 5. Iwo Jima (Volcano Islands, Japan)—History, Military— 20th century. 6. United States. Marine Corps—Officers—Biography. I. Title. D767.99.I9C37 2007 940.54’2528092—dc22 2007008352 All photographs are courtesy of Associated Press World Wide Photos, unless otherwise noted. ToallofthemenandwomenkilledinAmerica'swars ForalltheGracesandBlessings Godhashanded... Maywenottakethemforgranted. Contents Foreword by David G. Rathgeber ix Preface xi Map of Iwo Jima 2 Part 1 A New Assignment 1 The Preparation 3 2 En Route 10 Part 2 Landing 3 On the Alert 19 4 Over the Side 27 5 Lieutenant, You’re in Charge 33 6 Motoyama Airfield No. 2 38 Part 3 Moving On 7 Attack and Counterattack 51 8 The Hill That Opened 61 9 Lunch with a Dead Man and Other Thoughts 66 Part 4 Heading North 10 Motoyama Village and Beyond 73 11 Night Attack on Hill 362-C 75 12 Know Thine Enemy 82 viii CONTENTS Part 5 The Last Patrol 13 Wounded 91 14 Barabbas or Jesus? 110 15 Our New Neighbors 114 16 Peace 118 Part 6 Nightmare in Hell 17 Men of Uncommon Valor 123 18 Reflections 147 Index 165 Foreword The battle for Iwo Jima, which took place over fifty years ago, is still the battle that many believe defines today’s Marine Corps. Iwo Jima is the only battle in Marine Corps history where U.S. casualties outnumbered the enemy’s. There were no great or grand tactics. The fight was measured in feet and yards, with the enemy fighting from a maze of interconnecting tunnels from which he could see but not be seen. K Company, Third Battalion, Ninth Marine Regiment, Third Marine Division, landed with the third wave. Within one hour of their initial as- sault, a young second Lieutenant, formerly sixth on the company’s chain of command, found himself thrust to the fore and required to take the responsi- bilities of company commander. When it was over, only 40 of the original 230 men in the company re- mained, and 100 percent of the officers were killed or wounded, including the young lieutenant. Pat- rick Caruso, the author, is that lieutenant. Wounded on the fourteenth day of the battle, Caruso was evacuated to a hospital in Guam.
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