Private First Class Sheer walked right into this battle at the junction of the Piva and Numa - Numa trails , shortly before noon . Marine infantrymen had been stopped on the trail in their advance by the Japanese who were well dug in and camouflaged on each side of the trail . Five tanks were rushed to the action and they attacked on a front of 250 yards through dense jungle . The tank in the centre bore the Commander , Lieutenant Leon A Stanley and it was disabled when it struck a land mine set off when the tank struck a jungle vine across the road to which it was attached . Lieutenant Stanley had taken only a few steps when he was shot and killed . His body can be seen against the rear end of the tank . The Marine with the machine gun is Private Robert E Lansley . 14 November 1943