IWO JIMA

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Seventy-two years ago today, U.S. Marines went ashore on the Japanese held island of Iwo Jima. The battle raged until 26 Mar 1945. "Where uncommon valor was a common virtue". Perhaps the most iconic fight in USMC history. A hand salute to all you Devil Dogs.

 

[Ozark Marine]

We have a Iwo Jima veteran at our American Legion Post in Springfield MO.
Still a hell of a Marine at 92 years old. A true American fighting man.
If your in the area, stop by American Legion Post 639.

 

[cmort666]

An illustrated lesson in what an invasion of Japan would have been like... minus the massive civilian casualty count. That would come at Okinawa.

All it takes to believe that the bombs were "unnecessary" or that the Japanese were "about to surrender" is a complete and utter lack of knowledge of conditions on the ground in Japan... along with a big dose of dishonesty.

 

[OLDNAVYMCPO]

Since I'm a Seabee, its only proper for me to mention a little known fact that the 133rd NCB and the 31st NCB Seabees came ashore with the Marines to repair/rebuild the air strip on Iwo. The 133rd suffered many casualties. The air field was operational in short order.

 

[SC_Mike]

My step father served on a supply ship that was off Iwo Jima. His brother, a Marine, was fighting on shore. I have the flag that came off his coffin in a display case on my gun safe behind me. He said they never stopped, he spent 13 months without stepping off the ship.

I didnt realize it was that long ago.

Thank you to those who serve/served.

 

[the ringo kid]

Seventy-two years ago today, U.S. Marines went ashore on the Japanese held island of Iwo Jima. The battle raged until 26 Mar 1945. "Where uncommon valor was a common virtue". Perhaps the most iconic fight in USMC history. A hand salute to all you Devil Dogs.

A sad thing is--most people do not realize the event happened-nor even know what WWII was? Ill bet most ""news" outlets will not even mention this--or if they do? it'll be like a 4th page minor by-line.

 

[moosedog]

A salute to all who fought the Pacific Theatre, including my father.
I'm reading Bill O'Reilly's "Killing the Rising Sun" which explains exactly why we did what we did to save American life's.
When my family's done with it, I'm going to donate my copy to the public library in hopes that some young people read it too.

 

[Ozark Marine]

Since I'm a Seabee, its only proper for me to mention a little known fact that the 133rd NCB and the 31st NCB Seabees came ashore with the Marines to repair/rebuild the air strip on Iwo. The 133rd suffered many casualties. The air field was operational in short order.

Seabee's were repairing bomb craters in the runway during the battle to take the field. In between Corsairs were landing, taking off, refueling, and rearming for close air support. Some never retracted the landing gear.
A balls out fight all the way.

 

[raljr1]

My Uncle, Joe Grousosky, landed with the 4th Marine Division in the second wave. He was wounded with mortar fragments during that campaign. His Kabar knife is with my son who is serving in Iraq right now with the 1-111th.

 

[TXSWFAN]

A New Breed was sure right. Better men than I ever was.

John Basilone - Wikipedia

 

[Milton]

My father who passed in '97 was in the Navy and on an LCM on one of the early waves to Iwo Jima.His ship was an Attack Transport just off the coast.He did not talk about it much only related once about the other LCM,s and LCVP's around his boat how one of the boats near his took a direct hit ( short round) from a ship shelling the island and just vanished.

 

[StakeOut]

Enemies become friends and friends become enemies = the history of the world.

keep your enemies close and your friends closer instead of the opposite

 

[Rangerpat]

Growing up in the early 1960's our next-door neighbor was a former Marine, Iwo Jima vet who was wounded during the battle.

He loaned me a book: Soldiers of the Sea, a history of the USMC which influenced me to enlist in the Corps in 1970.

While serving in the Marines our battalion first sergeant was an Iwo Jima vet, he told me that he moved less than 10 feet in the first 24 hours after he landed on the beach.

 

[Fishinfool]

Back when I was a kid, and going to school during the days, I worked at night as a security guard with an older, retired gentleman who was missing three fingers on his left hand, and walked with a limp.

One night I asked him how he lost them, assuming a woodworking accident.

He went on to tell me the story of his WW2 service as a Marine, and his involvement in the Pacific Island hopping campaign. He had taken part in several landings, and had finally been wounded on Iwo by shrapnel, losing his fingers, as well as a big chunk of his calf muscle. His account of his time in service, and what he went thru and seen was sobering, to say the least. He appeared to just be a quiet old retiree, but heroes are where you find them. He was mustered out after the injuries on Iwo, with two Purple Hearts, and a Silver Star. I'll never forget his accounts of what he went thru.

Larry

 

[raljr1]

I once asked my Uncle (previous post) how he was able to do what he did. His answer, "We didn't have it too bad, Bobby, it was warm where I was, my buddies in Germany were freezing." He landed on Tinian, SaiPan, Roi Namur and Iwo Jima......I often wondered what he would have said WAS bad.

 

[Ranger514]

Back when I was a kid, and going to school during the days, I worked at night as a security guard with an older, retired gentleman who was missing three fingers on his left hand, and walked with a limp.

One night I asked him how he lost them, assuming a woodworking accident.

He went on to tell me the story of his WW2 service as a Marine, and his involvement in the Pacific Island hopping campaign. He had taken part in several landings, and had finally been wounded on Iwo by shrapnel, losing his fingers, as well as a big chunk of his calf muscle. His account of his time in service, and what he went thru and seen was sobering, to say the least. He appeared to just be a quiet old retiree, but heroes are where you find them. He was mustered out after the injuries on Iwo, with two Purple Hearts, and a Silver Star. I'll never forget his accounts of what he went thru.

Larry

They sure as hell don't give out Silver Stars for KP duty. He must have done something extraordinary. My dad only had complete vision in his left eye. He served as a Medic in the Pacific. I know he spent some time on Okinawa, but he never talked much about it. He was hardly out of his teens.

 

[Big Cholla]

Don't Forget

Seventy-two years ago today, U.S. Marines went ashore on the Japanese held island of Iwo Jima. The battle raged until 26 Mar 1945. "Where uncommon valor was a common virtue". Perhaps the most iconic fight in USMC history. A hand salute to all you Devil Dogs.

The US Army represented by the 7 Div, 13th Battalion Combat Engineers also landed on Iwo that day. An Uncle of mine landed with the first wave of Marines and immediately took his troop of Combat Engineers into action clearing caves and bunkers of Japanese soldiers. He and his group made five each first wave landings with the Marines as they island hopped across the South Pacific.

 

[ParadiseRoad]

[ame]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLItyhpqcAY[/ame]

 

[twodog max]

Growing up I had the good fortune to know a marine veteran of Iwo Jima. I am sure he has passed on by now however First Sergeant Dean you are remembered.

 

[MCorps0311]

Seventy-two years ago today, U.S. Marines went ashore on the Japanese held island of Iwo Jima. The battle raged until 26 Mar 1945. "Where uncommon valor was a common virtue". Perhaps the most iconic fight in USMC history. A hand salute to all you Devil Dogs.

Oorah Semper Fidelis!