Posted on 03/12/2006 3:08:04 PM PST by SandRat
IWO JIMA, Japan (NNS) -- Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) along with Sailors from USS Essex (LHD 2) and USS Harpers Ferry (LSD 49) paid a visit to the volcanic island of Iwo Jima to support the 61st anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, March 8.
A ceremony was held with veterans of the battle, from both the United States and Japan. Sailors and Marines from the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group (ARG) used Landing Craft, Air Cushion (LCAC) from Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 5 Detachment Western Pacific and helicopters from Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron (HMH) 262 (Reinforced) to “storm the beach” with equipment and personnel to support the annual ceremony.
Members of the ARG climbed Mt. Suribachi to look down upon the landscape of one of the most storied battles of World War II. Several Marines and Sailors reenlisted upon the famous sands of Iwo Jima, atop the legendary flag-raising mount.
“The fact that we were at a place where so many people had given up their lives six decades ago, and we were able to send very junior Sailors…and really launch their careers in the Navy at a historic spot where so much had happened, so many dramatic events and so many people gave the ultimate sacrifice, just gave me pause,” said Harpers Ferry Executive Officer Lt. Cmdr. Kevin P. Meyers.
Iwo Jima was the largest sustained aerial offensive of the Pacific War. The United States sent more than 110,000 Marines in 880 ships in what became the largest invasion force of the Pacific Campaign. It took 36 days of fighting and more than 25,000 U.S. casualties to bring the island under American control.
“When you stand on top of Suribachi and you look down on the invasion beaches down there…it’s just incredible to think how exposed the Marines were down there to the Japanese…there was just no place to go under the imposing heights of Mt. Suribachi,” MSSG 31 Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. James A. Vohr said. “I don’t think you have an appreciation for what it must have been like to fight up Suribachi until you have to walk up it.”
Harpers Ferry is part of the Forward Deployed Amphibious Ready Group, which includes Essex, USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43) and USS Juneau (LPD 10), all forward deployed from Sasebo, Japan.
For related news, visit the Commander, Amphibious Force, U.S. 7th Fleet Navy NewsStand page at www.news.navy.mil/local/ctf76/.
The most important contribution of the Marines to WWII was doctrinal. The Marines broke the tasks associated with an amphibious invasion into 7 subordinate steps, and thus made the task as a whole, possible.
During WWII, the Marines conducted 48 amphibious invasions. The Army conducted 200, but all used Marine doctrine.
Though casualties were often high, no US ampibious invasion failed.
Ping
The grandsons pay respect.
BTTT
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