Posted on 02/19/2020 9:02:07 AM PST by ransomnote
In the long record of American heroism in combat, few episodes capture the indomitable will and the stouthearted spirit of the American warrior better than the triumphs on the island of Iwo Jima in early 1945. Seventy-five years later, we pay tribute to the immeasurable sacrifice of those killed in action on Iwo Jima, and we honor the heroic efforts of all who took part in one of the most costly and significant battles in our country’s history.
By February 1945, despite American forces possessing aerial and naval supremacy, the Japanese forces at Iwo Jima were well dug-in and prepared to fight to the last man for the strategically important airfields on this small piece of land. This was the first time in World War II that the Japanese were defending what they considered home soil. For 5 weeks, our Marines and Navy sailors endured a harrowing trial by fire, fighting to secure this remote volcanic island from more than 20,000 determined Japanese soldiers. Nearly 7,000 Americans died in the effort.
The fighting on Iwo Jima was some of the bloodiest and most costly in all of World War II, but it also gave rise to some of the greatest examples of patriotism and heroism in our Nation’s history, inspiring Admiral Chester Nimitz’s famous statement that “uncommon valor was a common virtue.” Few images evoke as much emotion from the American soul as Joe Rosenthal’s photo of six Marines raising our Flag atop Mount Suribachi in the opening days of the battle. In addition, 27 Medals of Honor—the highest honor given to members of the military—were awarded for actions of conspicuous gallantry during the battle. Of these, 22 medals went to Marines, making up more than 25 percent of the total Medals of Honor awarded to Marines throughout the entirety of the war.
Among the heroes at Iwo Jima were non-combatants, like Rabbi Roland Gittelsohn. In the days following the battle, Rabbi Gittelsohn delivered a powerful, stirring message at the Fifth Marine Division cemetery on Iwo Jima. There, he stated, “Here lie officers and privates, blacks and whites, rich and poor together. Here are Protestants, Catholics, and Jews together. Here no man prefers another because of his color.” For his service ministering to men in the thick of the combat zone, Rabbi Gittelsohn was awarded three service ribbons, and today his words resonate as a powerful testament to the founding principle of our Nation that liberty and democracy are the rights of all men and women of every race, religion, and creed.
On this anniversary, we honor those who answered the call of duty and ensured that the forces of freedom emerged victorious in that fateful battle. As a Nation, we remain forever indebted to the Greatest Generation.
This is a message that sounds like it came from our days gone by. Days of our greatness and days of OUR flag.
I remember calculating this out one time, and realized that it averaged one Marine killed every five minutes for thirty straight days.
Astonishing.
Imagine, if you will, this conflict being reported by today’s gutless, anti American, media. They would be demanding to know if we had an “exit strategy”, or if our responses were proportionate.
Reminds me that I need to add “The Sands of Iwo Jima” to my Netflix queue. One of John Wayne’s finest movies. Yes, at the end of the movie, they show the flag raising on Mt. Surabachi, in very dramatic fashion. Leaves me with wet eyes and lump in my throat every time.
Read the book “Flags of Our Fathers”. So much better than the movie.
Just a reminder, any 18 year old at the battle would now be 93.
If you haven’t seen it, yet. Watch “The Pacific”, I think it superior to Band of Brothers (and that’s saying something)
“Letters from Iwo Jima” was pretty good too.
Thanks for the tip. I just added “The Pacific” to my Netflix DVD queue.
Battle of Iwo Jima anniversary and President Trump’s message.
“imagine, if you will, this conflict being reported by today’s gutless, anti American, media”
Patton
My late father-in-law, 4th. Marine Division. Wounded on Iwo Jima. Leg wound, ‘’the million dollar wounded’’. Got him the heck out of there and home safe.
Someone remind me what speech Obama gave on the 70th anniversary or the 65th anniversary of this event.....
War is ugly but America stepped up and did what had to be done. Since WWII,America has lost its way in how it fights as we are about to lose the so called “War on Terror”/America’s longest war with the “peace talks” with the Taliban. Today’s America could never fight to win against the Imperial Japanese because of the left and the media.
I know. I am not sure we could do that again.
Even in WWII, though, as I recall, there was an outcry on the home front due to the casualties at Tarawa.
God Bless those men, every one of them.
Letters of Iwo Jima (Clint Eastwood) is really good.
Flags of our Fathers, not so much.
It is real hard to be a patriot now-a-days when so many are globalists sitting by and even profiting while the US economy is stripped mined and unbridled LEGAL immigration creates fertile ground for socialism. Even here on Free Republic there are globalists all over the place. You know who you are.
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