Marines, sailors observe 61st anniversary of Iwo Jima battle
IWO JIMA, Japan – Military rank insignias and badges adorn a post on top of Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Japan. They were left their by service members in honor of the warriors who lost their lives during the Battle of Iwo Jima. (Photo by: Lance Cpl. C. Lindsay)
Story by Lance Cpl. C. Lindsay
IWO JIMA, Japan (March 16, 2006) -- Marines, sailors, U.S. and Japanese World War II veterans and their family members gathered at the Reunion of Honor Monument March 8, in commemoration of the 61st anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima.
The ceremony honored service members killed during the battle and celebrated the current relationship between the U.S. and Japan.
Keith M. Little, a Marine veteran and Navajo code talker, was one of the 35 Iwo Jima veterans who shared their stories with the Marines that day.
“We faced much resistance (at Iwo Jima),” Little said. “Most of the fighting was personal confrontation.”
The Battle of Iwo Jima began on Feb. 19, 1945 at 8:30 a.m. when the order, “Land the landing force,” sent the first wave of Marines toward the shores of Iwo Jima. Once ashore, the Marines were slowed by the loose volcanic sand that made up the beach. Unable to find cover or concealment, the U.S. service members were exposed to persistent, enemy gun fire.
“We weren’t supposed to land here – they were saving us for Okinawa,” said Allan Lichens, a Marine veteran.
Marines used flame throwers and grenades to clear bunkers dug by the Japanese. More than 100,000 men fought on the island, which is roughly one-third the size of Manhattan Island, New York.
After the battle, nearly 21,000 Japanese and more than 6,000 U.S. service members died. Most of the Japanese fought to the death, 200 were taken prisoner.
“One can almost hear the exploding ordnance and (smell the) stench of gun powder and death,” said retired Lt. Gen. Larry F. Snowden, an Iwo Jima veteran. “War is a poor way to solve differences.”
Many of the former U.S. and Japanese service members and their families shook hands and spoke with their former enemies.
“I didn’t want to come back initially, but the officials (in my group) wanted me to come,” Little said. “I feel good about coming back, compared to my initial visit as a warrior in February of 1945.”
For many of the veterans, this anniversary was the first time they had been back since landing on the black sands in early 1945.
“Perhaps time is the best healing, but healing leaves scars,” Snowden said. “We can only hope that over time, the scars will fade away. And we can seek together the peace our nations deserve.”
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Russia Rejects U.N. Proposals on Iran
Andrey Denisov, Russian Ambassador to the U.N. listens at a Security Council Meeting at U.N. Headquarters Friday, March 17, 2006. (AP Photo/David Karp)
3/17/2006
By NICK WADHAMS - Associated Press Writer
UNITED NATIONS - Russia's U.N. ambassador on Friday rejected proposals that would have the U.N. Security Council demand a quick progress report on Iran's suspect nuclear program, saying — half in jest — that fast action could lead to the bombing of Iran by June.
Andrey Denisov spoke just before a U.N. Security Council meeting where diplomats planned to consider a revised list of British, French and American proposals for a statement on Iran. The latest draft proposals, obtained by The Associated Press, retain many elements that Russia and China have opposed.
A key sticking point for Russia is a proposal asking Mohamed ElBaradei, the chief of the International Atomic Energy Agency, to deliver a progress report in two weeks on Iran's progress toward clearing up suspicions about its nuclear program. Russia and China say two weeks is far too soon.
"Let's just imagine that we adopt it and today we issued that statement — then what happens after two weeks?" Denisov said in an interview. "In such a pace we'll start bombing in June."
Denisov chuckled after he made the remark, but it reflected Russia's fears that the international community has not yet decided how to respond if Iran continues to resist demands that it make explicitly clear it is not seeking nuclear arms.
To address that concern, senior officials from six key countries involved in negotiations over Iran's nuclear program will convene Monday to discuss both initial council action and the larger strategy toward Iran. The officials from Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany will talk about both the proposals circulated Friday and overall strategy.
For the last week, the Security Council has debated the best way to address the Iran issue. The split is now between Britain, France and the United States, which want a statement spelling out a number of detailed demands, and Russia and China, which believe that such action would send the wrong message to Iran.
Russia and China, which are allies of Iran, have said in the past that tough council action could spark an Iranian withdrawal from the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty. They also fear council action could eventually lead to tougher measures, such as sanctions.
Backed by the United States, Britain and France have proposed a statement that would spell out a list of demands that have already been made by the IAEA. They include a demand that Iran suspend uranium enrichment and take steps toward greater transparency and more cooperation.
Uranium enrichment can be used either in electricity generation or to make nuclear weapons. Iran insists its program is to produce nuclear energy — not weapons — but the IAEA has raised concerns that Tehran might be seeking nuclear arms.
Even though the demands in the British and French proposals are not new, Denisov said Russia would prefer the council to simply refer to IAEA documents that also contained those demands.
The primary concern of Russia and China throughout has been that the IAEA play the main role in handling Iran. They fear that such demands by the council would mean that the council, which has the power to impose sanctions, would be taking the lead.
"We need to send a message ... that the Security Council is supporting and reinforcing the role of the IAEA, not to replace or take it over from the IAEA," China's U.N. Ambassador Wang Guangya said.
The discussions came a day after Tehran offered to enter into talks with the U.S. aimed at stabilizing Iraq. The Bush administration said it would discuss the insurgency with the Islamic republic, but both sides said the talks would not address the standoff over Iran's nuclear activities.