26 March 1945 A.D. IWO JIMA: Several Hundred Japs Launch Another Final Counter-Attack
26 March 1945 A.D. IWO JIMA: Several Hundred Japs Launch Another
Final Counter-Attack; 1st LT Harry Martin, USMC, Mortally Wounded
and MOH Recipient; 200 of 20,700 Japs
Survive as POWs of 5th Marines; 6,000 U.S. Dead; 17,200 U.S. Wounded
1942 - During World War II, Adm. Ernest J. King
becomes Chief of Naval Operations and also Commander, U.S. Fleet, holding both
positions through the rest of the war, guiding the Navy's plans and global
operations.
1942 - Task Force 39, commanded by Rear Adm. John W. Wilcox, Jr., sails from Portland, Maine, for Scape Flow, Orkeny Islands, Scotland, to reinforce the British Home Fleet due the British Fleets involvement in Operation Ironclad, the British invasion of the Vichy French controlled Madagascar. The following day, Rear Adm. Wilcox, while taking an unaccompanied walk on his flagship, USS Washington (BB 56), is washed overboard and disappears in the heavy seas.
1943 - During the Battle of Komandorski Islands, Task Group 16.6, commanded by Rear Adm. Charles H. McMorris, prevents Japanese reinforcements from reaching Kiska, Aleutian Islands. USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) is damaged by gunfire from Japanese heavy cruisers, but damages one with return fire.
1942 - Task Force 39, commanded by Rear Adm. John W. Wilcox, Jr., sails from Portland, Maine, for Scape Flow, Orkeny Islands, Scotland, to reinforce the British Home Fleet due the British Fleets involvement in Operation Ironclad, the British invasion of the Vichy French controlled Madagascar. The following day, Rear Adm. Wilcox, while taking an unaccompanied walk on his flagship, USS Washington (BB 56), is washed overboard and disappears in the heavy seas.
1943 - During the Battle of Komandorski Islands, Task Group 16.6, commanded by Rear Adm. Charles H. McMorris, prevents Japanese reinforcements from reaching Kiska, Aleutian Islands. USS Salt Lake City (CA 25) is damaged by gunfire from Japanese heavy cruisers, but damages one with return fire.
1945 - As the main fighting on Iwo Jima nears an
end, several hundred Japanese attack Company C, Fifth Pioneer Battalion, 5th
Marine Division. 1st Lt. Harry L. Martin organizes resistance, rescues Marines
and, until mortally wounded by a grenade, leads a counterattack. For his
"conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life," he
is posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor.
1945 - USS Halligan (DD 584) is sunk by a mine off Okinawa. Also on this date, USS Balao (SS-285) sinks Japanese army stores ship No.1 Shinto Maru.
1945 - USS Halligan (DD 584) is sunk by a mine off Okinawa. Also on this date, USS Balao (SS-285) sinks Japanese army stores ship No.1 Shinto Maru.
1945 – On Iwo Jima,
the few hundred Japanese troops remaining on the island mount a final suicide
attack. They are wiped out by elements of the 5th Marine Division, which
have been assigned the task of reducing the last pockets of resistance. About
200 of the Japanese garrison of 20,700 remain alive as prisoners of the marines
of US 5th Amphibious Corps. American casualties have been almost 6,000 dead and
17,200 wounded.
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