Wednesday, Feb. 21 (D+2)

Condition still about the same. The troops have made advances but the going is very tough. Bad weather is hampering them too. Low hanging clouds and rain, with fairly large swells in the sea. We retired to sea at night, had an air raid alert. They came in from all directions, in small groups. We could see the ships putting up anti aircaraft fire around the island. We heard over the radio that they got a Betty and a Zeke. The Japs name their bombers after women and fighters for men. They got two of our planes. It lasted for about 2 hours.

Thursday, Feb. 22 (D+3)

They now have about 2/3 of the island cleared. The volcano at the southern end is giving the troops a lot of trouble as the enemy can put motor fire out from it to hamper the landing of supplies on the beach. The aircraft and naval guns gave it a big bombing all day long. It doesn't seem possible that there can be anyone alive on it. We now have 108 men in the sick bay, the serious ones have been removed. We have had one man die on ship, the rest seem to be coming along ok. Casualties are not as high now as they were the first two days and we haven't received anymore casualties. Still very stormy weather. As we left the area on our night retirement we had a Jap air raid. It didn't amount to much, we shot down one of our own planes, nothing reported on the enemy. Looks like we may be here another week.

Friday, Feb. 23 (D+4)

Arrived back in the transport area around 0630, and went in fairly close to the beach. We still have about 200 troops on board and most of our cargo, but can't get any boats to take it off. The weather is still stormy. They have the beaches secured enough to land supplies, but small boats can't make it as the surf is too heavy. They took the volcano and we can see the stars and stripes flying at the top. That will lessen the firing on the beaches themselves. Still not making much advance on the other side of the island. We retired to sea at night, had an air raid around 10:00 P.M., but we didn't fire as all the planes were back in the transport area.

Saturday, Feb. 24 (D+5)

Went right in as close as possible to the beach and unloaded most of our cargo into an LST. Could see the beach very plainly, but can see no one laying around the island. Note: While anchored we suddenly noticed motor shells coming closer and closer to our ship from the volcano, so we weighted anchor and left in a hurry. The volcano at the southern end is covered with caves, pill boxes and the like. The airport has all the planes that the Japs did have blasted to pieces. You can see the Rising Sun on them. We also got rid of most of our troops, and leave tomorrow after we discharge about 14 jeeps we have left on board. Then presumably to Siapan where we'll wait for part of our crew that is on the beach, also to get new boats. We have lost six of our landing craft. Then we'll probably get Army and bring them back up so the Marines can be released for another strike, probably still north of here in the Ronin Islands.

Sunday, Feb. 25 (D+6)

Came back to Iwo Jima and unloaded the jeeps we had on board, also received some casualties, but nothing too bad. The fighting is still going on the island, Liberator bombers flew over in formation today and gave it a good pasting. We pulled out around 6:00 P.M. for Siapan, there are about 10 ships and we have 4 destroyers for a screen. We should get to Siapan Wednesday morning or noon. And that means mail. Am glad to get out of the actual war, for it meant very little sleep, perhaps only 4 hours a night. That was the most.

Monday, Feb. 26

At sea. Tuesday, Feb. 27 Around 1000 we got a report by radio from one of the destroyers escorting us that she had picked up a sub contact. So they went out to investigate. Around 1300 another destroyer reported one about 3 miles from us. About 5 minutes later it got within a mile of us, and they blew GQ. When we came topside we could see the can (a term for a Destroyer), dropping depth charges right off our port beam and the explosions jarred the ship. No word ever came through as to whether or not they got it, but the other can that went out earlier in the morning reported back that she had dropped her depth charges and Jap debris came to the surface with Jap markings on it, so she was credited with one Jap sub. That was as close as they have gotten to us with we knowing it.

Wednesday, Feb. 28

Arrived off Siapan around 0600 and anchored. Then around 1500 we went into the dock. The water is very shallow so they have to use floating docks. Got rid of all our casualties. From what the corpsmen say, these fellows are headed back to the states. We didn’t get off the ship, but a lot of the officers did and they got pretty well stewed up.