elsie item issue 69 - USS Landing Craft Infantry

An Iwo Jima Remembrance
By
Nick Grosso,
Ship’s Cook, LCI (G) 450
A mortar explodes near LCI 450 at Iwo Jima
Editor’s note: We are indebted to Vaughn Hampton (Author of the “Underage Sailor” carried elsewhere
in this issue) for this account of LCI(G) 450 at Iwo Jima. Previous issues have told the
overall story of the brave little ships that braved the Japanese gunfire in order to provide protection
for the UDT swimmers. We felt this piece was an excellent addition to those accounts since
it is a first-person account of one LCIers experiences on that eventful day.
Saipan, Feb 11 – Feb 13 1945. Practicing ship beaching - 09:00 to 11:30 hours, then again 14:30
to “ 16:00 hours. At GO, sometimes firing some of our rockets. Working with the UDT groups -
something is up! 2/14/45 - Underway from Saipan -some gunnery practice.
February 16 -Captain Brady calls an All Hands Muster that evening at 19:00 hours. He tells us
we are going to invade Iwo Jima tomorrow. Shows us a map of the Island and where we are to
attack.
Reveille was at 04:00 hours on 17 February 1945. We had a good breakfast and then we all
turned to our guns and duties. GQ at 08:00 hours - we were ready. At 10:00 hours, we start in on
Iwo Jima. All guns manned, all Rocket launchers loaded and ready. The Galley is secured; I go to
my position, 2nd loader on # 2 20mm, starboard well deck. We begin our attack -7 LCI’s lined up
abreast moving towards the beach. We watch the ‘Corsair’ planes diving and their bombs being
released while over us. The Battlewagons, Cruisers, and the Destroyers are all firing at the island.
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