Lets not forget, 65 years ago this month

[Dam Dave]

Battle of Iwo Jima, The US sent more Marines to Iwo than to any other battle, 110,000 Marines in 880 Ships. The convoy of 880 US Ships sailed from Hawaii to Iwo in 40 days.

Easy Company started with 310 men. We suffered 75% casualties. Only 50 men boarded the ship after the battle. Seven officers went into the battle with me. Only one--me--walked off Iwo."
. . . Captain Dave Severance,
. . . Easy Company Commander (the Flag Raising Company)


February 19, 1945
Shortly before 2am on Feb. 19, 1945, the Navy's big guns opened up on Iwo Jima again, signaling the beginning. After an hour of punishment, the fire was lifted, leaving Iwo smoking as if the entire island were on fire.

Both Americans aboard their transports and the Japanese in their caves looked to the skies now. One-hundred-ten bombers screamed out of the sky to drop more bombs. After the planes left, the big guns of the Navy opened up again.

At 8:30am, the order, "Land the Landing Force," sent the first wave of Marines towards the deadly shores. Once ashore, the Marines were bedeviled by the loose volcanic ash. Unable to dig foxholes, they were sitting ducks for the hidden Japanese gunners.

Heavy fire made it impossible to land men in an orderly manner. Confusion reigned on the beaches.

The battle was unique in its setting. One hundred thousand men fighting on a tiny island one-third the size of Manhattan. For 36 days Iwo Jima was one of the most populated 7.5 miles on earth.



http://www.iwojima.com/

 

[Dam Dave]

More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US History.

In 36 days of fighting there were 25,851 US casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded).

Of these, 6,825 American boys were killed. Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished.

 

[94fordguy]

Thank you for your service, and the reminder


Excellent thread

 

[swampwater]

Semper Fi

Medal of Honor: Basilone, John.
‘Manila John’ Basilone was the only enlisted Marine to receive the Medal of Honor and the Navy Cross during WWII. Sergeant Basilone took on 3,000 Japanese troops on Guadalcanal to earn the Medal of Honor. A few months later Gunnery Sergeant Basilone requested to return to combat and he would give his life in the battle for Iwo Jima. He is one of the toughest men ever to claim the title Marine. Please take a moment to read the two citations of a hero.

Rank: Sergeant
Organization: U.S. Marine Corps
Unit: 5th Marine Division
Born: 4 November 1916, Buffalo, N.Y.
Departed: Yes, KIA Iwo Jima
Date of Issue:
Accredited To: New Jersey
Place: Guadalcanal
Citation – Medal of Honor
For extraordinary heroism and conspicuous gallantry in action against enemy Japanese forces, above and beyond the call of duty, while serving with the 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division in the Lunga Area. Guadalcanal, Solomon Islands, on 24 and 25 October 1942. While the enemy was hammering at the Marines' defensive positions, Sgt. Basilone, in charge of 2 sections of heavy machineguns, fought valiantly to check the savage and determined assault. In a fierce frontal attack with the Japanese blasting his guns with grenades and mortar fire, one of Sgt. Basilone's sections, with its guncrews, was put out of action, leaving only 2 men able to carry on. Moving an extra gun into position, he placed it in action, then, under continual fire, repaired another and personally manned it, gallantly holding his line until replacements arrived. A little later, with ammunition critically low and the supply lines cut off, Sgt. Basilone, at great risk of his life and in the face of continued enemy attack, battled his way through hostile lines with urgently needed shells for his gunners, thereby contributing in large measure to the virtual annihilation of a Japanese regiment. His great personal valor and courageous initiative were in keeping with the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.

Citation – Navy Cross
For extraordinary heroism while serving as a Leader of a Machine-Gun Section, Company C, 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 19 February 1945. Shrewdly gauging the tactical situation shortly after landing when his company's advance was held up by the concentrated fire of a heavily fortified Japanese blockhouse, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone boldly defied the smashing bombardment of heavy caliber fire to work his way around the flank and up to a position directly on top of the blockhouse and then, attacking with grenades and demolitions, single handedly destroyed the entire hostile strong point and its defending garrison. Consistently daring and aggressive as he fought his way over the battle-torn beach and up the sloping, gun-studded terraces toward Airfield Number 1, he repeatedly exposed himself to the blasting fury of exploding shells and later in the day coolly proceeded to the aid of a friendly tank which had been trapped in an enemy mine field under intense mortar and artillery barrages, skillfully guiding the heavy vehicle over the hazardous terrain to safety, despite the overwhelming volume of hostile fire. In the forefront of the assault at all times, he pushed forward with dauntless courage and iron determination until, moving upon the edge of the airfield, he fell, instantly killed by a bursting mortar shell. Stouthearted and indomitable, Gunnery Sergeant Basilone, by his intrepid initiative, outstanding skill, and valiant spirit of self-sacrifice in the face of the fanatic opposition, contributed materially to the advance of his company during the early critical period of the assault, and his unwavering devotion to duty throughout the bitter conflict was an inspiration to his comrades and reflects the highest credit upon Gunnery Sergeant Basilone and the United States Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life in the service of his country.

The USS North Carolina, USS Washington and USS West Virginia began firing 16 inch guns at a small island in the Pacific Ocean. That was on February 19, 1945 and it was the beginning of the Battle of Iwo Jima. On February 23, 1945, Joe Rosenthal snapped the famous photograph "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima." That was 65 years ago today. Six men climbed Mount Suribachi to raise Old Glory; five were United States Marines and John Bradley was a Navy Corpsman.
Here are the men that lifted the American Flag on Mount Suribachi:
Mike Strank b. 1919 Jarabenia, Czechoslovakia, d. 1945 Iwo Jima
Harlon Block b. 1924 Yorktown, Texas, d. 1945 Iwo Jima
Franklin Sousley b. 1925 Hilltop, Kentucky, d. 1945 Iwo Jima
Ira Hayes b. 1923 Sacaton, Arizona, d. 1955 Bapchule, Arizona
Rene Gagnon b. 1925 Manchester, N.H., d. 1979 Manchester, N.H.
John Bradley b. 1923 Antigo, Wisconsin, d. 1994 Antigo, Wisconsin

"Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue."
—Fleet Adm. Chester W. Nimitz
Semper Fi,

 

[XXL]

This is the kind of stuff they need to teach in school. Good post.

 

[Dam Dave]

The Battle of Iwo Jima took place in February and March 1945 during World War II and was marked by some of the fiercest fighting of the war. The American invasion, known as Operation Detachment, was charged with capturing the airfields on Iwo Jima.

The Imperial Japanese Army positions on the island were heavily fortified, with vast bunkers, hidden artillery, and 18 kilometers (11 mi) of tunnels. The battle was the first American attack on the Japanese Home Islands, and the Imperial soldiers defended their positions tenaciously. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers present at the beginning of the battle, over 20,000 were killed and only 216 taken prisoner.

During the 2-month-long battle, 27 U.S. military personnel were awarded the Medal of Honor for their actions. Of the 27 medals awarded, 22 were presented to Marines and five were presented to United States Navy sailors (see below); this is a full 30% of the 82 Medals of Honor awarded to Marines in the entirety of World War II.[1]

The Medal of Honor was created during the American Civil War and is the highest military decoration presented by the United States government to a member of its armed forces. The recipient must have distinguished themselves at the risk of their own life above and beyond the call of duty in action against an enemy of the United States. Due to the nature of this medal, it is commonly presented posthumously.[2]

 

[Pinner]

D-Day February 19, 1945
Shortly before 2am on Feb. 19, 1945, the Navy's big guns opened up on Iwo Jima again, signaling the beginning of D-Day.

This is wrong.... D day was June 6 1944... Normandy



HBO has a show starting this month that should be really good "THE PACIFIC"

Band of Brothers was Normandy and The Pacific will be, well the Pacific.

 

[Dam Dave]

This is wrong.... D day was June 6 1944... Normandy



HBO has a show starting this month that should be really good "THE PACIFIC"

Band of Brothers was Normandy and The Pacific will be, well the Pacific.

hmm, you are correct, I guess I should proof read before I cut and paste, sorry


http://www.hbo.com/the-pacific/index.html






.

 

[BU1]

Good post Dave.

My dad had a cousin who was badly wounded on Iwo. They thought he was dead and placed him on a body pile. 2 days later someone detected a slight movement from him and got him out of there. After a long recovery he went on to lead a long, productive life as a heavy equipment operator.

Here's to all of our service members, past and present.

 

[AKSNOWRIDER]

great post Dave...my son goes to marine basic training this fall....I can only hope he becomes half the man these men were....

 

[Dam Dave]

great post Dave...my son goes to marine basic training this fall....I can only hope he becomes half the man these men were....

good on him and good on you for raising a Warrior