Battle of Attu Paul Nobuo Tatsuguchi

american troops land supplies on attu on may 12.

on may 14, american artillery fired phosphorus smoke shells mark japanese positions in mountains. many japanese , many americans believed these poison gas shells. tatsuguchi noted in diary that, in enemy u.s. forces used gas no damage done on account of strong wind.

tatsuguchi recorded in diary forced move field hospital cave escape american naval , aerial bombardment. relocated hospital , patients several times japanese forces pushed americans. may 17 entry describes 1 of moves:

at night 11:30 o clock under cover of darkness left cave. walked on muddy roads , steep hills of no-man s land. no matter how far or how went did not on pass. sat down after 30–40 steps sleep dream , wake up, same thing on again. had few wounded , had carry them on stretchers. got frost-bitten feet, did not move after effort. after struggling time, had expended 9 hours, without leaving patients.

tatsuguchi refers again , again in diary constant, intense attacks american aircraft , artillery on comrades positions. on may 21, noted strafed when amputating patient s arm , on may 23 naval gun fire hit scored on pillar pole of tents patients , tents gave in , killed 2 instantly. no food 2 days. on may 26, tatsuguchi recorded there ceremony of granting of imperial edict. last line of umanose [japanese defensive position] broken through. no hope reinforcements. die cause of imperial edict.