The assault on Wolmi-Do was preceded by two days of heavy bombardment. Four cruisers and five destroyers launched a violent offensive supported by air attacks from Task Force 77 (TF77). Our destroyers Collett and Gurke were hit; Swenson took casualties from a near miss. At 0500 on the third day, after a final barrage by three landing ship/medium rockets (LSMRs) and landing craft vehicles (LCVPs, LCVs), high speed transports (APDs) and one landing ship dock (LSD) loaded up the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines, and nine M-26 Pershing tanks from “A” Company, 1st Tank Battalion. Three out of the nine modified flame-throwing M4A3E8 HVSS POA-CWS-H5 Sherman Tanks in the platoon were newly born into Headquarters’ Company, 1st Tank Battalion, and were engaged during the initial attack on Wolmi-Do.