 When we got there our job became the point we were to be the point to spit the island and The first obstacle was the airfield because the airfield was Protected by a great number of pillboxes. We call them bunkers today. There were pillboxes then and they were reinforced concrete and hitting them with a bazooka or piece of artillery Wouldn't do anything to them except knock some holes in it, maybe But we couldn't break through because they had all the advantage. We're in open territory there and enclosed Structure, so that's where the flamethrowers Came in to use and we attempted several times during the day to break through this line of pillboxes and we had lost tremendous number of Marines My commanding officer was down to himself and two officers and Most of our squad leaders were gone So he called a meeting to gather in a big shell crater And at that point in time he asked me if I thought I might be able to do something I was the only flamethrower guy left in my company and Could could I do something about those pillboxes with a flamethrower because we're not attempted that at that point So he gave me four Marines To protect me as I would be working toward the pillbox During the course of about four hours I was able to eliminate the enemy within seven of them and that Opened a path so we could break through and once we got behind them then we had the advantage They couldn't shoot at us from back of the pillbox There's a lot about that day. I don't remember and Lost two Marines two of those individuals of the four that I had that he had assigned to me to Protect me They gave their lives that day Most veterans that have been in combat When they get home It's what they don't want to think about but I've always advocated and still do That the best thing they could do is get with other veterans of a similar experience and Talk about it Because you're finding out that you're not the only guy in this world that's had the same kind of experiences So I realized if we don't belong to these organizations Like the DAV if they don't have membership, they're not going to be effective