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IPTC: Caption
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First wave heads for the beach. As cruisers and battleships fired, LST's and transports eased slowly into assigned areas and made ready to land the landing force. Bow doors yawned open and ramps dropped slowly to the water; APA's lowered landing craft, which circled as they waited to receive troops. On the tank decks of the LST's all was noisy activity as motors started and assault Marines clambered into their assigned LVT's to await the launching signal. This came at 0725, and 20 minutes later 482 amtracs that would carry eight battalions into battle were churning the water. At 0830 the first wave (68 LVT(A)'s) crossed the line of departure and headed for shore behind gunboats that poured rockets and 40mm shells into the beach. 30 minutes were allotted for each assault wave to travel the 4000 yards (3650 meters) from the line of departure to the shore. Successive waves crossed the line with 250 to 300 yards between them. The LVT(A)'s of the first wave set their tracks down on Iwo Jima at 0902 Hours and commenced moving forward. They soon found, however, that the terrace immediately behind the beach, up to 15 feet (4.5 meters) high, masked the fires of many. Those that could not give effective support retracted from the beach and covered the landing of troops by engaging inland targets from the water. Three minutes later (0905) the second wave, the first to land troops, waddled up out of the water. As ramps were lowered all along the 3500-yard (3200-meter) landing beach, Marines of the 4th and 5th Divisions swarmed out of their vehicles and hit the volcanic sand at a run that slowed almost immediately to a laborious walk as their feet sank ankle deep into soft, loose volcanic ash. US Major General Keller Rockey's 5th Division and Major General Clifton Cates' 4th Division landed abreast on beaches Green Yellow, Red and Blue, each with two reinforced regiments in the assault. From left to right these were: 28th Marines (Colonel Harry B. Liversedge), 27th Marines (Colo
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IPTC: Copyright Notice
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Caption ©2007 MFA Productions LLC
Please Do Not Duplicate or Distribute Without Permission
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