4TH MARINE DIVISION AT IWO JIMA, MARCH 15 & 16, 1945
From March 12 to March 16, Regimental Combat Team Twenty-five was occupied in cleaning out "the pocket". In an area of resistance studded with caves and emplacements and absolutely impenetrable to tanks and other support weapons, the Jap defenders fought until they were individually routed out and killed by riflemen, demolition and grenade teams, and flame throwers.
On March 12, General Cates sent the following message, transcribed into Japanese, and broadcast by loudspeaker, to the Japanese Brigade Commander believed to be in this pocket with his men:
12 March 1945
To: The Brigade Commander:
This is the Commanding General of The Fourth Division, U. S. Marines, making a direct appeal to the Brigade Commander and his command to honorably surrender. You have fought a gallant and heroic fight, but you must realize that the Island of Iwo Jima has been lost to you. You can gain nothing by further resistance, nor is there any reason to die when you can honorably surrender and live to render valuable service to your country in the future. I promise and guarantee you and the members of your staff the best of treatment. I respectfully request you accept my terms of honorable surrender. I again appeal to you in the name of humanity---surrender without delay.
C.B. Cates
Commanding General
Fourth Marine Division
The broadcast was repeated several times but the Brigade Commander, if he heard it, chose to ignore the offer.
Finally, during the night of March 15-16, a party of nearly 60 Japs tried to break out of the pocket but failed in the attempt and were driven back to their caves. This defeat seemed to break their spirit of resistance, and by 1000 on March 16, the pocket had been secured.
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This would indicate that Pvt. Robson was killed very near the end of the battle. In fact, at 1800 on March 16, the day after Wiley Clayton Robson was killed, the island was declared secured. His daughter Margaret (age 6 at the time of his death) tells me that they were informed by his commanding officer that Pvt. Robson was killed when he stepped on a mine.
Wiley Clayton Robson was the son of Wiley Warren Robson and Annie Louise Middleton, and the grandson of William Nelson "Boss" Middleton and Ella Elizabeth Eason.
Clayton's mother died when he was only 5 months old. His mother's sister Willie Marie Middleton moved into the home to help Wiley care for his newborn son. A short time later Wiley married that younger sister of his dead wife.
Wiley himself died when Clayton was only nine years old. Presumably his Aunt/step mother Willie Marie raised him from that point.
From March 12 to March 16, Regimental Combat Team Twenty-five was occupied in cleaning out "the pocket". In an area of resistance studded with caves and emplacements and absolutely impenetrable to tanks and other support weapons, the Jap defenders fought until they were individually routed out and killed by riflemen, demolition and grenade teams, and flame throwers.
On March 12, General Cates sent the following message, transcribed into Japanese, and broadcast by loudspeaker, to the Japanese Brigade Commander believed to be in this pocket with his men:
12 March 1945
To: The Brigade Commander:
This is the Commanding General of The Fourth Division, U. S. Marines, making a direct appeal to the Brigade Commander and his command to honorably surrender. You have fought a gallant and heroic fight, but you must realize that the Island of Iwo Jima has been lost to you. You can gain nothing by further resistance, nor is there any reason to die when you can honorably surrender and live to render valuable service to your country in the future. I promise and guarantee you and the members of your staff the best of treatment. I respectfully request you accept my terms of honorable surrender. I again appeal to you in the name of humanity---surrender without delay.
C.B. Cates
Commanding General
Fourth Marine Division
The broadcast was repeated several times but the Brigade Commander, if he heard it, chose to ignore the offer.
Finally, during the night of March 15-16, a party of nearly 60 Japs tried to break out of the pocket but failed in the attempt and were driven back to their caves. This defeat seemed to break their spirit of resistance, and by 1000 on March 16, the pocket had been secured.
=====================
This would indicate that Pvt. Robson was killed very near the end of the battle. In fact, at 1800 on March 16, the day after Wiley Clayton Robson was killed, the island was declared secured. His daughter Margaret (age 6 at the time of his death) tells me that they were informed by his commanding officer that Pvt. Robson was killed when he stepped on a mine.
Wiley Clayton Robson was the son of Wiley Warren Robson and Annie Louise Middleton, and the grandson of William Nelson "Boss" Middleton and Ella Elizabeth Eason.
Clayton's mother died when he was only 5 months old. His mother's sister Willie Marie Middleton moved into the home to help Wiley care for his newborn son. A short time later Wiley married that younger sister of his dead wife.
Wiley himself died when Clayton was only nine years old. Presumably his Aunt/step mother Willie Marie raised him from that point.
4TH MARINE DIVISION AT IWO JIMA, MARCH 15 & 16, 1945
From March 12 to March 16, Regimental Combat Team Twenty-five was occupied in cleaning out "the pocket". In an area of resistance studded with caves and emplacements and absolutely impenetrable to tanks and other support weapons, the Jap defenders fought until they were individually routed out and killed by riflemen, demolition and grenade teams, and flame throwers.
On March 12, General Cates sent the following message, transcribed into Japanese, and broadcast by loudspeaker, to the Japanese Brigade Commander believed to be in this pocket with his men:
12 March 1945
To: The Brigade Commander:
This is the Commanding General of The Fourth Division, U. S. Marines, making a direct appeal to the Brigade Commander and his command to honorably surrender. You have fought a gallant and heroic fight, but you must realize that the Island of Iwo Jima has been lost to you. You can gain nothing by further resistance, nor is there any reason to die when you can honorably surrender and live to render valuable service to your country in the future. I promise and guarantee you and the members of your staff the best of treatment. I respectfully request you accept my terms of honorable surrender. I again appeal to you in the name of humanity---surrender without delay.
C.B. Cates
Commanding General
Fourth Marine Division
The broadcast was repeated several times but the Brigade Commander, if he heard it, chose to ignore the offer.
Finally, during the night of March 15-16, a party of nearly 60 Japs tried to break out of the pocket but failed in the attempt and were driven back to their caves. This defeat seemed to break their spirit of resistance, and by 1000 on March 16, the pocket had been secured.
=====================
This would indicate that Pvt. Robson was killed very near the end of the battle. In fact, at 1800 on March 16, the day after Wiley Clayton Robson was killed, the island was declared secured. His daughter Margaret (age 6 at the time of his death) tells me that they were informed by his commanding officer that Pvt. Robson was killed when he stepped on a mine.
Wiley Clayton Robson was the son of Wiley Warren Robson and Annie Louise Middleton, and the grandson of William Nelson "Boss" Middleton and Ella Elizabeth Eason.
Clayton's mother died when he was only 5 months old. His mother's sister Willie Marie Middleton moved into the home to help Wiley care for his newborn son. A short time later Wiley married that younger sister of his dead wife.
Wiley himself died when Clayton was only nine years old. Presumably his Aunt/step mother Willie Marie raised him from that point.
From March 12 to March 16, Regimental Combat Team Twenty-five was occupied in cleaning out "the pocket". In an area of resistance studded with caves and emplacements and absolutely impenetrable to tanks and other support weapons, the Jap defenders fought until they were individually routed out and killed by riflemen, demolition and grenade teams, and flame throwers.
On March 12, General Cates sent the following message, transcribed into Japanese, and broadcast by loudspeaker, to the Japanese Brigade Commander believed to be in this pocket with his men:
12 March 1945
To: The Brigade Commander:
This is the Commanding General of The Fourth Division, U. S. Marines, making a direct appeal to the Brigade Commander and his command to honorably surrender. You have fought a gallant and heroic fight, but you must realize that the Island of Iwo Jima has been lost to you. You can gain nothing by further resistance, nor is there any reason to die when you can honorably surrender and live to render valuable service to your country in the future. I promise and guarantee you and the members of your staff the best of treatment. I respectfully request you accept my terms of honorable surrender. I again appeal to you in the name of humanity---surrender without delay.
C.B. Cates
Commanding General
Fourth Marine Division
The broadcast was repeated several times but the Brigade Commander, if he heard it, chose to ignore the offer.
Finally, during the night of March 15-16, a party of nearly 60 Japs tried to break out of the pocket but failed in the attempt and were driven back to their caves. This defeat seemed to break their spirit of resistance, and by 1000 on March 16, the pocket had been secured.
=====================
This would indicate that Pvt. Robson was killed very near the end of the battle. In fact, at 1800 on March 16, the day after Wiley Clayton Robson was killed, the island was declared secured. His daughter Margaret (age 6 at the time of his death) tells me that they were informed by his commanding officer that Pvt. Robson was killed when he stepped on a mine.
Wiley Clayton Robson was the son of Wiley Warren Robson and Annie Louise Middleton, and the grandson of William Nelson "Boss" Middleton and Ella Elizabeth Eason.
Clayton's mother died when he was only 5 months old. His mother's sister Willie Marie Middleton moved into the home to help Wiley care for his newborn son. A short time later Wiley married that younger sister of his dead wife.
Wiley himself died when Clayton was only nine years old. Presumably his Aunt/step mother Willie Marie raised him from that point.
Gravesite Details
GEORGIA PVT US MARINE CORPS WWII
