[lbryce]

Today is the 66th anniversary of the battle for Iwo Jimo. We must never forget. In memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom, for truth, justice and the American way. God bless you all. God bless America.

[exnavy]

God bless the United States Marine Corps!

[USNBandit]

It is an amazingly small place for so many people to have died. i had the opportunity to go to Iwo Jima several times and the first time I flew over I felt like I was looking down at Gettysburg. Guys in my unit would always go up to Suribachi to clean up the American monument. The JSDF keeps their monument in pretty good shape.

[Pat4ever]

Freedom isn’t free! Thank you to all Vets, especially Marines. Semper fi!

[DeoVindiceSicSemperTyrannis]

[Don Corleone]

I was privileged to fly into IWO as an aircrew member several times in the 60’s. (C-124’s) out of Tachi. It was awe inspiring to walk the beaches ,see the caves and look at Surabachi and recall how just a few years before so many gallant men, many of them only half my age, risked and gave their lives for that tiny rock, . There was a great NCOIC who loved to take us on tours of the island. It was a lonely outpost where they were building a LORAN-C station.

[jmacusa]

To my late father-in-law John “Jack’’ Scharffenberger 4th. Marine Division ( Saipan Iwo Jima) Thanks Dad, thank you for my freedom.

[stylin19a]

absolutely incredible statistics in such a small area - 8 sq. miles

United States................Empire of Japan
Strength:
70,000...........................18,061–18,591
Casualties and losses
6,822 killed/missing......17,845–18,375 killed/missing
19,217 wounded............216 captured

Semper Fi.

[chesty_puller]

My Father didn’t hit Iwo, He was farther south. I was born with the Iwo Jima scene embedded in my brain. I miss my Dad. He was a good Marine to the end.

[MadMax, the Grinning Reaper]

Not all the U.S. troops/servicemen on Iwo were Marines. My father-in-law, Jim Lucore, Jr., was a member of the 75th JASCO (Joint Assault Signal Company), Signal Corps, third wave. His company took up to 75% casualties. He never talks about it, even at 90. However, he holds no animus against the Japanese soldiers. It was war.

There was also a Seabee company that was accidentally sent in (the request was for one engineer to operate a piece of equipment). They were lightly armed and decimated. Don’t know the unit identification.

A couple weeks ago, we lost Major Gen. Bruce Jacobs, a cardiac rehab friend of mine. He was in charge of an Army Transport ship taking the Marines in.

Radio Show hosts Mark Levin (his grandfather) and John Bachelor (father) had relatives in the Marines on Iwo.

Also, Swift Boat veteran John O’Neill’s father was flying skycap for the Marines on Iwo.

All were brave - the best America had. A salute to them and their families

MadMax, Vietnam journalist, son of
Morris Friedman, Chemical Warfare Service, 4.2 CM
and father of
Josh Friedman, 299th Army Engineers MRB, “First Forward”, OPF, 3/20/03

[Edgewood Pilot]

BTTT

[Tupelo]

It has been both my pleasure and honor to go to Sacatan, Arizona and see the park with the life sized statue of Ira Hayes, the Pima Indian who was the outside man raising the Flag on Iwo Jima.
The small town has a park named for Hayes and another of their sons (also a Pima) who was killed in WW l. I think the park and statues choked me up more than the Marine Corp memorial in Washington did. The park is absolutely spotless and very well maintained. Don't forget Sacatan is extremely small and very poor. Like all reservations.
I may be wrong but I think the other man depicted in the park was the first American killed in WW-l. I am ashamed to say I do not remember his name.

[sergeantdave]

A friend in the MCL was with the 28th Marines on Iwo Jima. Out of 31 snipers in his unit, 30 were wounded or killed. He took a bullet in his leg, causing pain and health problems the rest of his life, that eventually killed him. He won’t be listed as KIA, but he was, some 58 years later.

God bless these warriors. RIP, Marine.

[Verginius Rufus]

This afternoon C-SPAN was replaying an interview with James Bradley, author of Flags of our Fathers and son of one of the three flagraisers who survived the battle.

The actual flagraising on Mount Suribachi was on Feb. 23.

[gunnyg]

(“Three of us actually raised the flag–Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier, our company executive officer, Sergeant H.O. Hansen of Boston, and myself. “)

Gunny G’s….The Flag Raisings – Lest We Forget!

(“Three of us actually raised the flag–Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier, our company executive officer, Sergeant H.O. Hansen of Boston, and myself. “)

Gunny G’s….The Flag Raisings – Lest We Forget!

http://gunnyg.wordpress.com/2011/02/19/gunny-gs-the-flag-raisings-lest-we-forget/
*****

[fortheDeclaration]

Amen and amen!

[Marine_Uncle]

Born in 1946. I stand at attention and salute them all. The horrors that had to be surmounted, the bravery like in so many Pacific Battles as well as European by all our military forces across the board....
Then those God felt fit to survive moved on. And helped make this country the greatest nation on earth through hard work and brains.
Tens of millions of us now considered old, older... and so many more of younger age. We don't forget the sacrifices our men and women made and make in service to their country. Especially those that went through the horrors of combat first hand.
Last post I respond to this early morning in my neck of the woods, do have a great upcoming day.