11-210 Garand Picture of the Day

https://www.milsurps.com/images/impo...PICT4439-1.jpg

DescriptionGetting Japs out of a cave, top of Mt. Suribachi. February 23, 1945 - Iwo Jima(rudeerude)

Now THAT'S the reality of combat...two guys are apparently pulling up a body from a cave, yet somethings funny. Outsiders don't understand that part.

Jim, I don't think they are pulling out a body. That looks like a string instead of a rope. It could be the grenade on the end of a string that was used in the PTO and CBI theaters to clear out caves. Either way I know what you mean by the G.I.s finding that humor eased what they had to deal with while preforming their task. Also noticed that the Marine with the cap has two ammo belts on.....Frank

Look down the hole between them Frank. Is that a face? A head? And yes, that guy definitely has double first line ammo.

Jim, you're right. My eye's must have been tired. I magged it up and can see the body. Thanks for pointing that out.....Frank

One marine has two ammo belts on, was that common?

I personally knew of men that would carry way beyond first line ammo. Still today the Canadian issue is 5 mags but many feel you won't survive with less than 10. Most of these guys seemed to carry bandoleers. I think belts would be more durable. Easier to do fire and movement with. I guess there was enough of them lying around...

Have to ask - why would they need to pull out a body of an enemy - must have been a lot of them laying arround - not down a hole?

The only way to be sure he's dead is see him dead. Not guess.

I suppose - but if he is still enough to put a rope around and then get pulled up I would tend to think he is dead ( or really commited) - on theother hand they me be leading out a live one