Nightmare on Iwo Jima: A Marine in Combat (Fire Ant Books)

189 Pages·2007·7.9 MB·English

by  Patrick F Caruso

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.