David Mattiske - Bombardment assisting the army

Transcript

Anyway, we did win one very important bombardment, which helped the Army considerably. They were a standard. Because we had to take up a position around the coast to fire our guns at this particular Japanese hot spot, strong point. Our range was nearly 21,000 yards. And we would be firing at something we couldn't see, only on a map. And the Army people said, you know, "This is not too good. Dangerous." Their gunnery officer assured them, "You put your men out here, so that they're out of the way, and we'll hit that target." Which we did. We fired eight broadsides, everyone on target. And the Japs were decimated and the Army apparently just moved in and did it. They couldn't believe it.