"A Few Good Men" : the 1/5 Marines 1942-45

[KG Erwin]

Battle 2: Sept. 6, 1942, 1300 hours
Weather: Rain
Visibility: 750 yards

Our mission is to break up an enemy encampment, and disrupt his attempts to renew attacks against our perimeter. We do not know if he has prepared defenses.

From north to south, I have Charlie, Able and Baker Companies. Charlie and Able will be moving straight ahead, and I expect this is where the enemy is concentrated. Their job is to pin & hold the enemy.

Baker Company is the key to my plan. They will execute a right hook, between a rice paddy and the southern VHs, through an orchard, and then swing northeast towards the rear VH groups. While visibility is good, the rain will slow the advance.

Once Baker Co has moved forward to the jump-off point, I will screen its northern flank with smoke, hopefully allowing it to slip past the main enemy concentration.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 7: Companies A and C are coming under fire from hidden snipers and knee mortars. Company B is as yet untouched. Progress is painfully slow.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 13: the enemy positions are starting to reveal themselves, so I'm altering my plan. Baker Company, on the right, will send 2nd Platoon towards the southern VH, while 1st & 3rd Platoons will veer northeast and curl behind the enemy facing Able Company.

[KG Erwin]

Turn 20: Slow progress. A single sniper, hidden in a tree, is holding up a whole platoon.
My squads are getting depleted quickly. It's turning into a slugfest, and my men are getting the worst of it.

Note to regimental HQ (cc to Division): The 9-man rifle squads and the 8-man BAR squads are too weak for this type of close-quarters combat. Without the mortars, whose crews are providing invaluable close support, we would be in an untenable position.

We should NOT be attacking superior numbers with insufficient fire support. The Japanese are tenacious defenders. Request engineers equipped with flamethrowers and better automatic weapons. The Reising SMG is too prone to breakdowns. My troops are referring to it as "The Rusting Gun". We need more of the proven and reliable Thompsons.

Map inclusion:

[KG Erwin]

From 5th Marines HQ to Lt Col Higginbotham, CO 1st Battalion:

"Request noted and forwarded. You will continue to advance and attack the enemy with all means at your disposal. We have provided you with the division's entire artillery support. Use it.

Col. Leroy Hunt, CO 5th Marines

CC: MajGen A.A. Vandegrift, CO 1st MarDiv"

[KG Erwin]

Turn 21: Now that the Colonel has given me a direct order, I am more determined than ever to obey the intent while preserving my command. Webb's Charlie Company is making progress on the left, and I'm ordering Able to halt. Cates' men are spent. Baker Company is inching its way north.

I'm not gonna reach the end objectives. I see that. So, my intent is simply to inflict as much damage on the enemy as I can, minimize my losses, and live to fight another day.

To hell with that martinet Col Hunt. He hasn't bothered to visit the frontline. Hopefully he will be happy with a high count of enemy dead. He likes numbers, especially of what I've come to call "the body count".

Jeez, my commanding officer is both an accountant and a butcher.