"Let's move it Marines!" That phrase started a basic suicide charge across the narrow neck of the island just beneath Mt. Suribachi. The 28th regiment, under the command of Colonel Harry "The Horse", was supposed to be a fourth of the way up the mountain by now, but the sudden and steady barrage of Japanese fire had changed any existing plans. They had just now moved off the beach on a 1,000 – yard charge down the narrowest point of the island in an attempt to cut Suribachi off from support. So far, it could hardly be going worse.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D-Day, Squad 1's POV

Tai ducked into an old bomb crater as shells crashed down around him. He and his new "squad" (Kari, TK, Davis, and Sora) had been sticking with another young Marine named Harlon Block as they dashed across the island. Garbled screams rose up from various places as other Marines were felled by shrapnel and bullets. Kari was barley keeping up, her peaceful ways shattered in the carnage. She finally collapsed as the charge came to a halt about halfway across. TK rushed forward to pick her up, only to collide with Davis en route.

"Ow, watch where you're going Davis!"

"Same to you, TJ!"

"It's TK!" By this time, Kari was awake again.

"It's been three years and you two are still fighting? Grow up!" The argument continued between the three of them before a Captain walked by and shouted above the yelling teens.

"Can it you three! Save it for the Japs!" he jerked his thumb towards the mountain as he spoke. He continued to lecture them on teamwork and the Marine Corps values, suddenly stopping as he looked at Kari. "This is against war department rules, you realize. Trying to get into the armed services when you aren't a male is a punishable offense." He ducked as a shell showered them with dirt. "If it weren't for this danged artillery, I'd have you taken to the brig right now; but remember, I know were your squad is." He stood and began to move to another foxhole before turning to Sora. "And that goes for you too!" he called back. They just stared after him as he disappeared into the smoke.

"If one more person has to come off of here as a casualty, I hope it's him." This from Kari, of all people.

"Hey, don't worry; I've got your back. You forget they gave us weapons when we reached HQ," he said with a sneer, holding up his M-1 carbine proudly. Kari shook her head sadly.

"Sorry, but even if he is a total jerk, I'm not shooting anybody, not even them," she said pointing up the mountain.

"You know, none of us has fired a shot since we showed up here," Tai pointed out. Sora looked up.

"I hope we never have to…"

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D-Day, Squad 2's POV

Matt's "squad" (Ken, Izzy, Yolei, Mimi, and Cody) had taken a slightly different path than Tai's. They were now lodged a short way up the foot of the mountain with a part of the battalion that had managed to break the defender's first line of defense (thanks to a few flamethrower troopers). Nothing was moving, casualties were building, and talk of a retreat back down the slope was spreading. Matt was on watch duty in the foxhole he and the rest of the squad had made out of a bomb crater, scanning the horizon with his binoculars for any sign of Japanese troops out in the open. There had been none so far.

"I thought I had been cruel as the Digimon Emperor, but this is insane," muttered Ken, gesturing towards a chute formed by the rocks where the Japanese were rolling grenades down into the dug-in Marines. Many hit their targets. "It's complete slaughter, we have no place to really defend ourselves and we can't even see them!" He ducked as a Japanese mortar exploded behind their position.

"Yeah, it's a miracle we haven't been hit yet," said a very dazed Yolei. She was startled as Matt jumped up and grabbed his rifle. He was obviously excited.

"JAP IN THE OPEN!" he screamed, sending soldiers all around them scrambling for their rifles, all wanting a chance to kill a visible enemy. The American line exploded with rifle and machine gun fire, and the lone patrolling soldier was cut down in a brutal assault. Matt sank back down into the hole, not having fired a single shot. "Missed," he muttered.

"How exactly can you be so calm at shooting at our own country men?" breathed Mimi, upset (obviously).

"You heard Izzy. These aren't the same Japanese we grew up with. These people are different. I mean, look around you! Look at what they have done!" Matt retaliated. Izzy kept looking down sadly as he responded.

"That's what I said, yes, and it's true, but I still have a problem with it. I have a problem with killing. It's just not right in my mind. I don't know about you, Matt, but…"

"But nothing," Matt cut him off. "I don't exactly agree with it either, but I'm not just going to sit around and watch as those guys up there keep killing these guys down here"

"I'd have to go with Matt on this one, guys. After I was done being Emperor, I vowed to help stop tyranny and torture. I think those guys are a pretty good example," said Ken solemnly. Cody, who had been silent the entire time, surprised everybody when he spoke up.

"Ken and I don't always agree, but this time I'm with him. I'm willing to teach those guys a lesson they'll never forget!" He also ducked as another shell hit. "If we can get to them, that is."

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

D-Day, Joe's POV

Joe and Doc were in about the same place they had been when the others left them a few hours ago. They had been working as a team fixing up the wounded and getting them prepared for evacuation. Currently, Joe had his hands full holding pressure on a bleeding artery as Doc tied off the broken limb with a tourniquet.

"Done," Doc announced exhaustedly, scanning the area for any more casualties. "I think that finally does it for this sector. We'd better catch up with the regiment now before they get too far away." With that, the medical duo set off across the smoke-covered landscape of Green Beach towards were Tai's squad was dug-in. They actually met at one point, exchanged a few words, and then went back to work. Joe immediately found their next batch of casualties waiting for them near the regimental Command Post, and they were soon busy again mending a broken bone here, pulling shrapnel out of someone's face there. It was quite obvious they were in for a long afternoon.

The rest of the day passed about the same, the only significant thing that happened was the regiment finally completing the 1,000-yard run across the island by the end of the day. But as the sun set on the bloody sands of Iwo Jima, it was set in everyone's mind that the battle would not be won quickly.

Jedihunter80: Thanks for coming again. I'm sorry I didn't get around to writing in a while, but it's good to be back. We are still looking for that artist to draw some pictures of the digi-gang in WWII attire, so find some talent please! See you in the next chapter!

The FanFic Theater is now closed for the day. Go away now.