1945: US flag raised over Iwo Jima

BBC ^ | BBC

[Dubya]

US troops have raised the Stars and Stripes over Iwo Jima four days after landing on the Japanese-held volcanic island. The 28th Regiment of the 5th Marine Division took Mount Suribachi at 1030 local time. The extinct volcano offers a strategic vantage point for the ongoing battle for control of the island. Lying in the north-west Pacific Ocean 650 miles (1,045 kms) from Tokyo, Iwo Jima would serve as a useful base for long-range fighters to cover B-29 Superfortresses in a bombing campaign against the Japan's capital. Although the Stars and Stripes are flying over the island the battle is far from over and the Japanese are reported to be defending every inch of the island using elaborate underground defences. The battle for Iwo Jima has been described as the toughest fight in US Marine history by the commander of the Marines in the Pacific, Lt-General M "Howling Mad" Smith. On 19 February, after four days of naval and air bombardment had pounded the beaches and weakened Japanese defences, the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed on the south side of the island under the overall command of Vice-Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner.

[patriotmediaa]

Why We Fight: “Prelude to War”
the best video to watch
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mDulUKcmYvI&feature=related

[21twelve]

Is that the one in the Philipines that they did the movie about? Wow!

My uncle mentioned how he was on Iwo Jima two days(?) after the landing guiding aircraft in on the Jap landing strip. I mentioned something like “In two days the landing strip was secure?” He replied “Well, I wouldn’t call it secure - they were shooting from the jungle at the planes as they came it.” !

[SouthTexas]

A big thank you to all of them, wish they were still with us.

[DaGman]

My dad was in that 4th Marine Division.

[Dubya]

[Dubya]

Great thanks for sharing.

[Larry381]

Among my most prized possessions are pictures of my Marine father in Tientsin, China. His unit was training for the invasion of Japan when the war ended. They were given 48 hours to celebrate and then told they were going to north China. His unit landed in early October 1945 and were given the task of accepting the surrender of Japanese forces in the area and then repatriating them, and Japanese civilians, back to Japan. Almost every picture shows the Marines being mobbed and hugged by Chinese civilians and kids.

[Dubya]

SEMPER FI

[tubebender]

My sister joined the WACs and worked in a military hospital in Long Beach Ca in 44 and part of 45...

[1COUNTER-MORTER-68]

I can’t find the one of a gun-pit(105mm?) firing on

Mount Suribachi (just behind the gun when it fired)...

[Dubya]

[Dubya]

I bet they are. SEMPER FI

[Dubya]

BATAAN DEATH MARCH

[tubebender]

Yep...that's her. At 88 she is in fair health. Her husband passed away about 6 years ago. DDay Plus 7 veteran...

[Doofer]

When I was in the Navy my ship a Gator Freighter anchored off Iwo Jima in the late 80's.

All the Marines got to go ashore and they all collected a jar of sand.

Some made the climb to the top of Mount Suribachi. One even found an old Japanese Bayonet and kept it as a souvenir.

But the thing that really sticks out was the ocean was as smooth as glass and from a mile or so out the place looked so peaceful.

Which made it hard to imagine that there was so much death and bloodshed that had occurred there a little over 40 years earlier.

[Dubya]

May God grant her special blessings.
SEMPER FI

[Dubya]

Second Marine Division storming the sea wall at Tarawa atoll on Nov. 20, 1943.

[Dubya]

Which made it hard to imagine that there was so much death and bloodshed that had occurred there a little over 40 years earlier.

Seemed unreal I bet.

SEMPER FI NAVY

[freema]

In memory and honor of my uncle Ping.