Iwo Jima

[muggsy]

Today marks the 70th anniversary of the battle of IWO Jima. The battle lasted for 36 days with 7,000 Americans sacrificing their live for freedom and 25,000 Americans wounded in action. Let these fine men not be forgotten.

[deadeye]

My dad was one of them. Combat Engineer. Thank God he was one of the survivors but only one of his friends made it. He would never talk about it or watch a war movie. All he would say is he couldn't understand why he made it and others didn't. In my hometown of 300 people 17 men were drafted - 2 came home. Sad.

[muggsy]

I had six uncles who served in WWII. My uncle John was a marine who served on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was wounded by shrapnel, but survives to this day. He's 93 years young and still going strong.

[ripley16]

The Museum in Quantico has an excellent exhibit on Iwo Jima. A must see for anyone visiting the area.
http://www.usmcmuseum.org/index.asp
One of the two actual flags flown are on display at all times. Usually there is a docent volunteer that served in the battle, willing to give his personal story. Very well done and very inspiring. The whole museum is first class for that matter.

[JohnR]

"But we cannot win this war by killing them. We cannot kill our way out of this war. We need in the medium to longer term to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups, whether it’s lack of opportunity for jobs…”

Such a quaint contrast.

[Harrylee]

All these fine men should be remembered and honored they gave their all for us

[getsome]

^^^^What he said!!!^^^^.....They saved the world

[AJBert]

Sailed past there a few years back on one of many Westpacs I made and we took the time to stop for a short memorial service and put a reef in the water. When you look at the island it is truly amazing the amount of lives lost over that little rock in the ocean. A very humbling experience, on my part at least.

[ltxi]

Geographically and physically it may be just a little rock in the ocean....in any other sense it isn't/was not. I was, albeit quite young, very much alive at the time. My dad was WWII Navy and those vets are/were my childhood examples and heroes.

[muggsy]

I once asked my uncle what the rules of engagement were in WWII. He didn't understand the question. I explained what the rules of engagement are and he replied, "Hell the only rule of engagement we had was kill Japs and no one was too concerned about how." Now that how wars are won.

[muggsy]

Geographically and physically it may be just a little rock in the ocean....in any other sense it isn't/was not. I was, albeit quite young, very much alive at the time. My dad was WWII Navy and those vets are/were my childhood examples and heroes.

The main reason for taking Iwo was to enable our bombers to reach the Japanese mainland. The were two valuable air strips on Iwo Jima.

[O'Dell]

Amen, JohnR. God bless the soldiers, sailors, and Marines of Iwo Jima.

[marshal kane]

"But we cannot win this war by killing them. We cannot kill our way out of this war. We need in the medium to longer term to go after the root causes that leads people to join these groups, whether it’s lack of opportunity for jobs…”

Such a quaint contrast.
You could give each one of these SOBS a fine estate in Beverly Hills, a Rolls Royce, and 50 million dollars play money and that wouldn't change their minds one iota in killing infidels. These people are on a holy crusade so the "root causes" for them be damned. The liberal who uttered this trash is a product of what is being taught in our elite universities by liberal professors. We have yet to try killing our way out of this war so who's to say that it cannot be done until we try. I don't recall the Army being hampered by any rules of engagement during the Indian wars while the West was being settled.

[Bill K]

The knowledge of and appreciation for Marine Corps history (and traditions) is important to being a Marine. Now that I'm seventy years old it means even more to me. I feel privileged to have once served my country as a Marine (1962-1966).

[marcinstl]

2 forces in the pacific, each suspected the other of having imperialistic designs on the pacific and asia, each was correct in their suspicions. wealth and resources are up for grabs, have a war to determine the "winner". 70 years later who won what? US is struggling along, Japan is ok. somebodies grandpa died and 70 years later, drive the prius over to the market and pick up a plate of "california rolls", sushi.

[ltxi]

^ Methinks you be needin' a much better understanding and appreciation of history. :2rolleyes:

[DanTana]

A story I'd like to share about Iwo Jima and some of the 24,000 B-29 crewman's lives save by the airfield there.

Fourteen costly days after the marines landed on Iwo Jima, engineers from the 2nd Separate Engineer Battalion and the 62nd Naval Construction Battalion were working busily to repair Airfield No 1. Japanese and Americans still fought fiercely along the forward edge of the battle area, and there remained a constant threat of indirect fire to the marines on the airstrip. A few observation planes had utilized Iwo Jima since late March. Consequently, a short wooden control tower had been constructed on the airfield, just large enough to hoist a single marine observer 20 feet above the airfield. In the aftermath of March 4, Airfield No. 1 received an unanticipated message from one of the naval support ships. Apparently, a B-29 had run short of fuel, was headed toward Iwo, and planned to land.


The predicament must have excited the ground crew. There was no time to coordinate a cease-fire of artillery or naval gunfire; the silhouette of the B-29 could be seen making a slow approach on the Pacific horizon. "Clear the airfield" is the shout that may have gone out to construction crews.


These veterans, accustomed to impromptu commands, likely scrambled to remove equipment and personnel. The massive Superfortress came onward at what must have seemed a snail's pace to the airmen, drawing Japanese antiaircraft fire. It continued forward and touched down on the airstrip. Marines and sailors watched in amazement as the enormous flying battleship slowed to a stop.


One marine combat correspondent described what went through his mind as the B-29 landed: "Like a giant bird, it set down on Motoyama Airfield Number One…. The B-29 landed on hallowed ground, volcanic ash surfaced with hard clay which recently had soaked in the blood of American Marines…. These Leathernecks from your and my hometowns made it possible for the B-29 to land here. Now, those lads are buried in the shadow of Mount Suribachi, where Old Glory flies from the crest, proclaiming to all that American Marines conquered the Japs who held the formidable volcano fortress."


When that first B-29 touched down on Iwo Jima, troops on the ground could not contain their enthusiasm. They left their covered positions to surround the bomber en masse, making for a famous photograph. The Americans on Iwo Jima deemed there was much to celebrate in this seemingly trivial event.


These men longed to understand the purpose behind the past two weeks of vicious combat. Amid the chaos of death and destruction, the Superfort had suddenly landed directly in front of them. In the first days of the battle, men argued whether the island would have any lasting military significance, but the appearance of the B-29 quelled all that. By the end of hostilities, 36 Superforts had landed on Iwo Jima.

[Harrylee]

That was really good Dan these men did incredible things, my father was in Europe at the time at a very young age. He was and still is my hero, I still think about him all the time. Thanks for the story