Final attack and death Paul Nobuo Tatsuguchi

japanese troops killed during yamasaki s final attack on may 30

yamasaki launched attack in morning on may 30. although attack succeeded in penetrating enemy lines, american rear-area personnel rallied , killed yamasaki , majority of attacking troops. of remaining japanese committed suicide; 27 taken prisoner.

two versions exist of how tatsuguchi died. 1 version did not participate in attack. later in day on may 30, 2 american soldiers, charles w. laird , john hirn, searching remaining japanese forces following defeat of yamasaki s attack, approached cave containing tatsuguchi s field hospital. tatsuguchi emerged cave, waving bible in direction of americans , yelling in english, don t shoot! christian! laird heard , understood tatsuguchi saying , withheld fire. hirn, however, shot , killed tatsuguchi. hirn later stated not hear tatsuguchi saying on wind , noise of battle , thought bible tatsuguchi holding weapon.

the other version told taeko , laura charles laird in 1984. laird, former army sergeant served on attu, stated sleeping in tent morning of may 30 when yamasaki s troops broke through american front lines. man ran laird s tent , laird shot , killed him, discover man american. saw 8 japanese soldiers approaching through fog, shot , killed them too. 1 of them tatsuguchi. laird said found tatsuguchi s diary , address book in shocked see american names , addresses.

j. mudry , of tatsuguchi s loma linda classmates, j. l. whitaker, medical officers seventh division on attu during battle. whitaker in path of yamasaki s final attack, survived without injury. whitaker , mudry stunned later learn former classmate on island japanese forces , killed nearby.