There may still be some living WW2 Japanese soldiers on the island.
In all seriousness, they were great warriors. I respect them greatly.
Kamikaze pilots were sacrificing themselves for their country and their family’s honor, unlike Muslim jihadists, who are only interested in the 72 virgins.
I’m going to be seeing an Iwo survivor for the holidays - my dad.
Spent time on Iwo in the 60’s. It was an experience never to be forgotten.
My late father-in-law(4th. Marine Div.) made it off that island but barely. I would hope,as I’m sure it might happen, that remains of missing Marines would be found. May all their souls rest in peace.
The HBO Pacific miniseries got Iwo right,and showed what a horrific slaughterhouse it was (the only battle of the war where American dead exceeeded Japanese). It was a treeless, lifeless rock with Japanese deeply entrenched in the higher ground.
Body disposal, these are the graves being excavated.
http://www.archive.org/details/WhatPriceIwo
The Mpeg2 is good quality one of best classic ww2 propaganda..
http://www.archive.org/details/ToTheShoresOfIwoJima
And when he gets to Heaven
To St. Peter he will tell:
“One more Marine reporting, Sir —
I’ve served my time in Hell.”
Pfc. James A. Donahue
United States Marine Corps
First Marine Division
H Company
2nd Battalion
1st Regiment
Said of the battle for Guadalcanal, but was certainly true of the entire war in the Pacific, Iwo Jima as much as any other and more than most.
It was a hideous war.