The Lore of the Corps
Gunboats pounded in Iwo recon mission
By Charles A. Jones - Special to the Times
Posted : May 28, 2007

The flag-raisings on Iwo Jima overshadow almost all other aspects of the battle, including action by Navy gunboats on Feb. 17, 1945, two days before the battle officially began.

But those gunboat crews took a terrible pounding in an important reconnaissance effort before Marines landed on the island.

Task Force 52, an amphibious support force, led a bombardment of the island in preparation for the invasion by ground troops. It included an underwater demolition group, made up of underwater demolition teams — the famous Navy “frogmen,” predecessors of today’s SEALs.

It also included two task units of gunboats, landing craft infantry configured with rocket launchers and 20mm and 40mm guns, making their designation “LCI(G),” with “G” for gunboat.

On Feb. 16, frogmen placed a beach marker to guide the assault troops.

On Feb. 17, several operations were planned, including minesweeping and beach reconnaissance by the frogmen, supported by warships and LCI(G)s.

As 12 LCI(G)s fired at the island to provide cover, the frogmen looked for problems underwater and at the eastern beach, where landings were planned. They found good beach and surf conditions and no mines or obstacles.

Japanese gun crews were ordered not to fire until assault forces landed, so that their positions would remain concealed until the last minute. However, they ignored the order, firing on and heavily damaging a cruiser and punishing the gunboats. All 12 were hit and damaged; one was sunk.

Although the Japanese gun crews thought they had repelled an initial landing attempt, all they had done was reveal the positions of gun emplacements that would later be destroyed.

One LCI(G)’s after-action report gives a sense of the sacrifices and bravery of the gunboat crews.

LCI(G)-449 — hit by shore guns, mortars and machine guns — suffered 60 percent casualties: Three officers, 15 crewmen and three passengers were killed; three officers, including commanding officer Lt. j.g. Rufus Herring, and nine crewmen were seriously wounded.

“In less than one minute, three hits started two serious fires, left the ship temporarily out of control, disabled all 40 MM guns, killed [21] men, and wounded [19] men, five of the [latter critically],” the after-action report states. The helmsman was unconscious.

Herring, despite having multiple wounds and severe bleeding, “continued to fight his ship.” Wounded and rendered unconscious twice, he recovered, assuming the helm until he was replaced. Unable to stand, he propped himself against empty shell casings, rallied his men and got the damaged ship to safety.

For his efforts, he received the Medal of Honor, one of five awarded to Navy personnel for the Battle of Iwo Jima and one of 27 awarded overall.

Of the 11 other gunboat commanders, 10 earned Navy Crosses, a fitting tribute to outgunned commanders who stood their ground as long as they could.

Ellie