Journal Account: Two Days on the Beach at Mindanao - March 1945
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March 10, 1945
We went in on Mindanao this morning just a little after sunrise. I helped take in the second wave of "alligators" (landing tanks). A few shells landed close to us.
10:00 A.M. Now we are on the beach with the LST. There is some mortar fire, but no enemy planes. They are trying to hit the ship, but so far they haven't had any luck.
This part of the island has a heavy growth of cocanut (sic) palms, and undergrowth on it. It is fairly level for some distance back, then there is hills - that's where the Japs are.
3:15 P.M. They have opened up on us with artillery and mortar fire now. An artillery shell just exploded below me in the officers country-tore it all to hell. Shrapnel came up thru the deck about 3 ft. from me. - There's another hit up forward. This is getting to be a damned hot place!!
Later - one man was killed and two wounded by that last hit forward. Two solders were killed. The Japs are sure giving us a plastering here. - There's another hit forward. When a shell bursts on the ship it makes it quiver and shake all over.
Wonder what my wife is doing right now? You know a fellow could damed easy get hurt at a place like this!
March 11
We are still on the beach. The tide has gone out and we can't get the ship off. They found another one of our men this morning - or rather they found his head and one arm. He had got a direct hit by a mortar shell. He was a married man with three children.
The Japs started shelling us again this morning, but its all artillery now, and they must be firing blind. All their shells are going just over us.
Later - wow! here comes that mortar fire again. There is a regular rain of it up by the bow.
11:15 - Whew! finally we got off of the beach.
submitted: 9/15/2007
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11/18/07 10:01 PM
Radioman and all others,
Hi. My father-in-law, Carol Stuff was on LST 335 and I have been looking all over for either a photo of the ship or some history on her. Do you have anything I might be able to get a copy of?
Thanks!
Paul Mirich
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