Have to add in my late father-in-law’s unit, the Army’s 75th JASCO (Joint Assault Signal Company) attached to the Marines. Originally a smaller company, they became a “composite” unit of at least 660 Army men - communications. Don’t know how many actually landed on Iwo but their average casualty rate was over 60%.
Jim told me of seeing the flag hoisted at Mt. Surabachi from his base camp below (possibly recovering from his 3rd wound).
They were all brave men.
Just for some factoids:
John Batchelor’s father fly over Iwo
So did John O’Neill (Swift Boat Veterans leader)father.
I believe one of Mark Levin’s direct relatives also fought there (at least at Guadalcanal).
My late friend Gen. Bruce Jacobs (USA), was an Army transport commander at Iwo.
Everyone was there. It was an American victory, at a very high cost, but is saved the lives of thousands of American airmen during the rest of the Pacific war.
Never forget them!
FDR knew of $500,000 donated to MacArthur by the Philippines president, but faced his last election where MacArthur would have been a popular endorsement. FDR made a political decision that cost 10,000 US lives.
--Today's US History magazine.