congressional medal of honor winner rufus g. herring - USS Landing ...

What we now present here is the result of Carl'sdedicated labor - excerpts from the action reportsand deck logs of the ships involved. We believethat it deserves circulation among all LCI Veteransand ultimate inclusion in the LCI Archives atSolomons, Maryland. We would even be so boldas to hope that Oliver North learns of this heroicaction and includes it in an episode of his TVseries, “War Stories”!Because of the length of this account, we will presenthalf of it in this issue and conclude it in the next.Synopsis:On 17 February 1945, two days prior to the maininvasion of Iwo Jima, the LCI(G)s 457(FF), 438, 441,449, 450, 473 and 474 of Group 8, Flotilla 3, weresent in to protect the Underwater DemolitionTeams doing beach reconnaissance.It was perhaps one of the bloodiest days ever forthe LCIs in World War Two.The four UDTs were embarked in the destroyertransports (APDs) Barr, Bates, Bull, and Blessman.At a distance of 500 yards of the beach, the UDTswould make their plunge. They were followed bythe seven aforementioned LCI (G)s firing 20mmand 40mm guns at the beaches and preparing tolaunch 4.5” rockets. Soon after these gunboatspassed the 1,500 yard line, mortar shells beganfalling among them; a little later, as they werebeginning to launch rockets, they came underintense fire from the flanks of the beaches.Between 1055 and 1105 the seven LCI(G)sadvancing in line abreast began to take hits butpressed on to support the swimmers until forcedout by damage and casualties. The reserve andunassigned Group 8 LCI(G)s 346, 348, 466, 469and 471 dashed in to replace them, only to be hitin turn time after time. LCI(G)s 438, 441, 471 andseveral others, although hit several times, gallantlyreturned to the fray after retiring from it justlong enough to extinguish their fires and plugholes in their hulls.All twelve of Group 8's LCI(G)s took part and allwere hit, but stuck to it until the swimmers of theUDTs were recovered and clear. During thisengagement LCI(G) 474 was abandoned and sunkafter sustaining heavy damage and casualties.As was said of the LCI(G)s: “Their courage and persistenceinspired everyone who watched thesevessels.”All entries are for 17 February 1945 unless otherwisenoted.Deck Log, LCI Group 8,Flotilla 3 at Iwo Jima:1000—In line abreast, LCI(G)s 457 (FF), 441, 449,438, 474, 450 and 473 approached base of Mt.Suribachi on course 325T, distance 500 yards,speed 9 knots.1055—Hit simultaneously were LCI(G)s 474, 450and 473Deck Log, LCI(G) 474 :1055 to 1103—The ship took ten heavy caliberhits and many smaller hits, causing four fires,knocking out all seven guns and flooding fourcompartments while in an area approximately400 yards from the beach.1103 to 1130—Having incurred heavy damageand casualties, the ship began to settle in thewater. We retired from beach and proceeded todestroyer line 3,000 yards from beach. Ship beganto roll heavily from side to side because of waterin compartments. After requesting boat from USSCapps (DD-550) to pick up wounded, ship took listwhich made any work aboard most difficult.Proceeded to maneuver to get alongside DD-550so as to transfer all injured aboard for treatmentsince it appeared that ship would sink before boatwould arrive.1130—Alongside USS Capps (DD-550)14