Today in 1945...the assault on Iwo Jima.

[Frank237]

Sixty seven years ago today the assault on the Japanese held island of Iwo Jima began at 0859 hrs.

The battle lasted a total of thirty five days and would result in over 45,000 casualties on both sides.

Allied losses, mostly Marines were 23,203 killed, wounded or missing in action. Of that total 4,554 were KIA.

The Japanes would suffer near 100% losses. Allied estimates placed 20,530 to 21,060 Japanese in the island. In the end only 216 of those defenders were captured, the rest died, many being buried alive in their caves and bunkers.

There were 27 Medals of Honor awarded as a result of the battle for Iwo Jima. Twenty two of those to Marines. Those 27 medals were a full 28% of ALL Medals of Honor awarded during the entire War.

Joe Rosenthals chance capture that became possibly THE iconic image of the entire War.

Semper Fi

 

[ladder13]

 

[Rangerpat]

When I was growing up, our next door neighbor was a former Marine who received the Purple Heart for wounds received on Iwo Jima. "Pete" told me stories about the U.S.M.C. and loaned me a history book of The Corps, SOLDIES OF THE SEA. Needless to say it influenced me to enlist in the Marines after high school graduation. While serving with the 6th Marines, our batallion first sergeant told us a story about being 17 years-old and pinned down on the beach at Iwo Jima for over 24 hours, he was only able to progress about ten feet in that time period.
If you want to read a great book about the battle for Iwo Jima, read James Bradley's book: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS.

 

[chud333]

God Bless the United States Marine Corp !!!



chuck

 

[Frank237]

I have been doing a post commemorating the landing each year as my Dad was one of those 3rd Division Marines who landed early today all those years back. He never talked in detail about the actual battle until nearly fifty years later. He mentioned; "The War took away my Youth'. He said he went to War as a kid, but came home a far different perrson.

He hated the Japanese for years after the War. He saw the results of the torture they inflicted on a pair of marines they either picked up when wounded or grabbed them during the night from their foxholes. He spoke about that incident only once and you could see the hate in his eyes.

One of the other Marines in his platoon was another young Polish kid from New Jersey. My dad and he were buddies. He was wounded the first day, and my dad helped carry him to the shore and evacuation to the hospital ship. He thought that due to the serious abdominal wound his buddy was a goner. He was happy to hear months later that he had survived.

When the War ended my Dad went to visit him at his home ... met his younger Sister and that Marine later became my Uncle Frank. I'm named after him. He unfortunately died far too young, as a result of his wounds in the early 1950's.

So few of the WW2 Veterans left today. God Bless them all.

FN in MT

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I had a good friend that was there. He passed in 2003. Was a 2nd Lt. & became a Major in the Marines. Never heard him talk much about his service in WW2 until much later. I found out he was in 4 major invasions. RIP old Buddy.

 

[ChuckS1]

My neighbor's father, Frank Matthews, is an Iwo Jima veteran, assigned to the 2d Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. I love talking to him since at almost 85, he's still sharp as a tack. He's also a volunteer/tour guide at the Marine Corps Museum at Quantico. I took my 12 year old son there to listen to him talk about his experiences and let him appreciate this old gentleman, who's the nicest guy in the world. Here's a couple of links about him.

Bringing History to Life - Marines Magazine

Quantico Sentry - Iwo Jima: Quantico to host 65th Anniversary

 

[cmort666]

"Pete" told me stories about the U.S.M.C. and loaned me a history book of The Corps, SOLDIES OF THE SEA.

I think I read that when I was in grade school in the '60s.