From the account of Pvt William Oakley:
"Upon getting to shore we were very near Major Crowe. This was a pretty stressful time, however training took over and we did what we had to do. We spent the day moving about and doing various things. At one time we were at the taxi strip and our planes were coming in so low I thought I could see the color of their eyes. We were too far in so we went back to towards the beach.
I located a flamethrower and when we returned, we saw two Marines from our platoon, one lying on his back just under the pill box port and the other kneeling nearby. The one on his back was reaching overhead and inserting grenades in to the port while the other gave him more grenades. They both pulled off and the flame thrower gave two squirts into the port and then he was directed to a nearby log structure whre it was reported we were receiving fire. We went to that building and he set it afire. I then left him and returned to my squad.
Several hours later around dusk, my gunner called for ammo and I went forward to his position and was placing the ammo on the ground when I was hit in the left arm and chest.
Tom Montgomery of Los Angles, with whom I had trained, came up and dragged me out of immediate danger into a shell crater. Later some else came up with a litter and they carried me to the seawall where I spent most of the night. Later still in the darkness I was taken to the end of the pier and some time after daylight was transported to a hospital ship."
Notes:
1. Email from Bill Oakley 23 April 2002
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Created 17 January 2020
