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       #Post#: 146--------------------------------------------------
       More on 44
       By: TRGodwin Date: July 9, 2020, 5:11 pm
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       Perhaps more than speculation on this one??...
       From book, Echoes of the Last World War by Lt William Sanders of
       D-1-2
       Second Day
       "After emptying the .50 Caliber machine gun, a Sherman tank came
       along the beach and stopped at the end of the perpendicular
       structure and fired several rounds into the window or slit of
       the pillbox. At that time, Petrie, Wolford and I walked over to
       the pillbox at the sea wall front and observed the worst carnage
       I ever seen in the war. I recognized the body of
       Private/Corporal Casto [PFC William Monroe Casto D-1-2] of West
       Virginia hanging head and upper body down over the left side of
       the rightmost of the two Amtracs stalled and their occupants
       virtually wiped out in front of the pillbox. Casto had been a
       member of the first platoon that I commanded, the command of
       which was taken from  me prior to leaving New Zealand. Bodies
       and body parts of Marines were strewn all around both of the
       Amtracs with Casto’s Amtrac stopped at a 45 degree angle on the
       sea wall and the other several yards before reaching the sea
       wall and closer in the corner formed with the sea wall by the
       perpendicular structure."
       ****
       "These Marines of my first weapon’s company platoon were simply
       trapped in the corner of the sea wall and the perpendicular
       structure. "
       Sanders mentions other Marines that he corresponded with in 2002
       of 2ndMarDiv that identified themselves as being with the tracs.
       Fred Clements being one of A-Co 2nd Amphib. Haven't absorbed
       that info yet. Map with arrow put in by Sanders where tracs
       were.
       #Post#: 147--------------------------------------------------
       Re: More on 44
       By: gunnygp Date: July 10, 2020, 12:08 am
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       Interesting. thanks for the post. I have referred to the
       "perpendicular structure" as a stone jetty. To the left (east)
       of the jetty the seawall was constructed of coral blocks with
       log emplacements along its length in the direction of the main
       pier. at the base of the jetty to the right is where LVT-2 #2
       and LVT-2 #9 ended up. LVT-1 #44 was just west of them and LVT-1
       #41 behind them on the second day. Lots of good Marines floating
       around them. Here is the rear entrance to that pillbox and the
       Marine wandering around looking at the carnage.      [attach=1]
       #Post#: 148--------------------------------------------------
       Re: More on 44
       By: Kim Harrison Date: July 10, 2020, 6:25 pm
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       Hi All
       Sorry been a while. Glad to see everybody, and prey you and your
       familys are well.
       As always we all band together and solve much.
       Great topic. I havnt got much to add. But hope you injoy pic.
       1930s base of Pier.
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