The Situation:

Heavily dug in IJA forces using foxholes atop of cliffs, pose as real challenge.

Through the swirling fog IJA muzzle flashes exposed the dug in Japs* [*we are using historical nomenclature ] on the cliff.
The bark of the BAR echoed off the cliff face, and while the Japanese soldiers fire slackened it did not stop.

Muskeg grass helped Col. Nick Tall, as he led his men towards the cliff face.
The vegetation was thick and wet, it and the fog made him hard to hit. Contrary to his name Nick was squat, broad shouldered and nimble. This enhanced his repute as a “lucky man”. Really he was just hard to hit.
His gravel laden voiced called to his men.
‘ keep going men, follow me, almost there!’ The cold wet boys picked up the pace.

Thru the noise of combat “Lohse, they got lil’ Jack” said the medic. A blind rage like a fever swept over Lohse, he charge the last 20 odd yards, hop scotching from 1 rocky out crop the next. Shooting from the hip, plunging his bayonet deep, throwing grenades.

Then…silence they were all down.
He muttered ‘little dirty bastards’ turned and waved the rest of the squad forward.
He did not see the IJA trooper feigning death until too late.

The squad saw Lohse head explode, then he was gone in the fog…

As the Yanks struggled up thru difficult terrain and walked into the IJA kill boxes, the volume of fire increased. Muzzle flashes thru heavy fog and cries of ‘you die Yankee’, haunted every step. 
How long would Col Tall and his men avoid KIA’s?

On the other flank Cpl Migliore had similar troubles the cliff face afforded little cover. The closer they got the worse the effect of the IJA fire was. Soon he and his team were all hugging the dirt.

Col Tall got thru on the radio, ” bring that arty in on the summit, we are bogged down here!”
Shells rained down, but the Jap emplacements continued to push effective for down the off of the cliff face, were they invincible?

Behind Col Tall, two of his squads were pinned by vicious fire. We ain’t gunna make it he thought to himself…nope… no amount of nimbleness is gunna save us now. As the fog swirled his men had become strung out. It was easier to hug the ground.
The squad with him looked around nervously. ” let’s go fellas. Let’s go…..we have to move or die” He said.

Suddenly Tall and his men were alone. It grew quiet.
Where the hell was everyone. Then wind picked up, howling, roar harder and harder. Where was everyone? Communication was almost impossible.

Out of the fog, like ethereal green boogie men, came a bedraggled squad, Shulte was wounded but raced up to the lee of the cliff. He kept up a stream of fire. Col Tall thought, hmm maybe we will make it after all. ‘One more push men, we can do this.’ He roared into the wind.

Under fire, Tall ran with them, emptying his Tommy gun and using it like a club on a spindly figure that rose ahead of him in the fog.

Drawing his service pistol the last 4 men in his squad scrambled, staggered and dove through the rocky terrain towards the last foxhole. They were close he could feel the goal line near!
His sure footedness and nimbleness kept him upright. They would make it!

2 shots, one hit the man in front center mass the other went wide. Rifle shots peppered around him, sharp shrapnel cut through pants, cut his face and made him flinch.
A cry from behind meant another lost man, he chanced a look back, wondering who was hit, missing the jagged rock that turned an ankle, he staggered forward dropping to a knee.
That was when the grenade landed at his feet.

4th and inches was his last thought…

The brave US forces, fight on leaderless. But now, they inch back not forwards.

Maybe a new leader can help them take the cliffs….tomorrow.