Combat· World War II
Hill 362C (Iwo Jima)
Hill 362C was the last of the three numbered hills, attacked in a departure from standard practice.
Believing the enemy had grown complacent at night, General Erskine obtained permission to assault before dawn, when American troops habitually held the defensive. The 3d Marine Division moved across the darkened, broken ground and crossed a heavily defended strip unopposed, catching the Japanese by surprise; by mid-afternoon the hill was taken. The loss helped break down the coordination of Kuribayashi's remaining defenses. The Marines conducted the entire pre-dawn assault, an unusual night attack that became a model of tactical surprise.
Podcast episodes on World War II
Record no. 842