Feb. 17, 1945

Hello Kay:

Arrived at Leyte and received 25 bags of mall. We were here only 6 hours.

USS West Virginia Receiving Mail

The Mississippi and the Pensylvania, came in with us. We are now on our way to Iwo, I think. The only kind of escort is two Cans. I wonder whats up?There is some scuttlebut that our Captain volunteered to go on our next invasion. I think it is the one the Marines are on.

Feb. 18, 1945

My Darling :

Gee its starting to get cold. Sleeping down below and enjoying it.

We are on a speed run so as to get to Iwo, by the time the Marines make their landing . We are Supposed to get there one hour before they land.

Feb. 19, 1945
My Sweet:

Well the Island is dead ahead and we can see hundreds of ships. I can hear the big guns now.

View from the USS West Virginia as she approaches Iwo Jima

The island is very small. It is 4-1/2 miles long and 3-1/2 miles wide.

The Marines hit the beach one hour before we got there.

All of our newest Battleships are here, we sure are in style.

You ought to have seen the West Virginia coming in. She is still going fast and heading for the beach. You would think she was putting troops ashore.

USS West Virginia Main Battery Firing

There are 50 or 60 planes flying over the Island and straffing it. Shooting rockets and all.

We can see the Marines advancing up the hill. There are supposed to be 10,000 Japs here.

The Japs are shooting mortars on the Marines as they are going ashore.

This is nothing like Leyte.

We came within 1,000 yards of the beach. I can see a big pile of junk on the hill, at least that is what it looks like. After I looked at it with the glasses I see it is Jap planes. Boy!! Are they a wreck.

Feb. 20, 1945
Darling:

Well, we have earned our 5th star now. The Wee Vee, got in  closer than any other Battleship.

Battle stars were awarded to ships based upon how many campaigns the ship had participated in.

I can see the Marines using flame throwers, Also can see them run and hit the dirt. Honey, I sure hope I never have to make a landing.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlD42IjgX8Y

We are still shelling the place.

Boy! those rocket ships are sure powerful.

Rocket Ships were usually converted LCIs which could fire up to 300 rockets per minute.

Just imagine, no air attacks.

By this time, most of the Japanese air force was effectively knocked out.  Kamikaze attacks started to come  more sporadically.

Feb. 21, 1945

My  Kay:

We are now Shelling the northern part of the Island.

We saw a Jap on a coral reef stationed with a machine gun. So shelled it with 40 m.m. shells.

40mm shells on a quad mounted bofor would be more than sufficient to take out a lone machine gunner.