April 5, 1945

5th _____ We fired star shells al[l] night in order to keep the fighting area all lighted up. We had AA defense a few times t[h]rough out the day & GQ this afternoon some Jap planes got into 18 miles but went out again. The ships started bombarding the island real heavy at 1730 (5:30) P.M.) _ Planes are also strafing & bombing Japan. We are now on this of island. We H.Cs & one CL & also one B.B. Texas is bombarding. Large fires can be seen on beach. The shore batteries on one of the smaller islands taken the first day is also firing. There really blowing hell out of the[m]. Were a few thousand yards from beach now. we [might] fire again tonight (star Shells). We had [sun]rise GQ & sunset GQ. We drope anchor at 1[9]30 _ [could] see trucks & tanks moving up to [first?].

{we did not get payed today}
___________________

"this of island" = Mobile moved to east side of the island.

AA = Air alert defense
GQ = general quarters
HC = high caliber
CL = light cruiser
BB Texas = Battleship Texas (photo is of the Texas during the battle)

Mobile's high caliber guns, plus one other light cruiser and the battleship were all bombarding at once.

"{we did not get payed today}" was written in the margin.