Into the Rising Sun by Patrick K. O'Donnell

Author:Patrick K. O'Donnell [O'Donnell, Patrick K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780786176939
Amazon: 0786176938
Publisher: Blackstone Audiobooks, Inc
Published: 2005-07-15T05:00:00+00:00

B Company .30 caliber machine gun in action in Paluan. (courtesy of Jack Herzig)

The Japanese soldiers had constructed dugouts under each of the school buildings that were reinforced by thick logs. They had also prepared a maze of trenches they would have used in case of a seaborne attack that they were now manning to escape our fire. These preparations presented us with a formidable defense by the enemy while we could only take cover behind the logs that were standing on end supporting the civilian houses. From under the schools, we started to take rifle fire, which we were able to suppress, but then we came under heavy fire from a machine gun with us in the 1st Platoon as the primary targets. Pascarelli spotted the machine gun and engaged in a kind of duel and was able to put it and its crew out of action.

However, that was too late for several troopers who had been wounded and Captain Smith, who had been shot in both legs. During what seemed to be a standoff, our 3rd Platoon, from houses that gave them the advantage of elevation, was able to pick off some of the defenders who were moving through the trenches. The 2nd Platoon cut off several attempts by the enemy trying to escape from the schools to move to the south. Sergeant Blum, Ferguson, and several other troopers, firing as they went, ran into the new school in an attempt to locate and destroy the enemy under the floor. Blum was killed, Ferguson wounded, and the other troopers forced out by heavy fire from under the floors. We had to get Ferguson out as soon as possible. “Ted” Kaczor, from our mortar platoon, who was a big strong guy, said he’d go in and get Ferguson, who was pretty large too, while Ted Hoggatt, John Serba, “Junior” Malo, Max Kulick, and I would cover for them. Off we went, firing to prevent enemy fire from the dugouts. Kaczor came rushing down the steps practically carrying the wounded Ferguson when from under the building rolled a hand grenade that went off at our feet, killing Ferguson but leaving the rest of us, including Kaczor, unharmed. I’ve seen a lot of action, but that memory of Kaczor hauling Ferguson down those steps while we were trying to protect them is one of the most vivid in my mind.

By midafternoon, I still hadn’t seen any officer. Our platoon had lost some of our best people, but we were trying small-group forays and sniping where we thought we might have some effect. In a maneuver like that to get Ferguson, we stormed in and brought Don Blum’s body out of the school with no opposition this time. However, our wounded, which now included Prendergast, also from our platoon, were not getting adequate treatment. The lieutenant from regimental headquarters assumed command and ordered that we withdraw to the other smaller, southern sector of the settlement. Some of us thought that we shouldn’t leave what we had fought to take.

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