[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.

[hinckley buzzard]

Iwo Jima was a perfect target for a gas attack-- a small isolated island, nothing downwind for a thousand miles, no civilians to speak of except a few itinerant fishermen, and heavily occupied by dug in enemy troops.

FDR wouldn't do it. Wonder if he was right.

[The Shrew]

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.

I had the great honor to go to Iwo Jima in 1985. It was a fascinating day. You are exactly correct in comparing Iwo Jima to Gettysburg. The sense of awe and humbleness that overcomes one while in either place is simply amazing.

Thank you for your service.

TS

[warsaw44]

Does the place really smell as badly as I have read? I have always wanted to see Iwo Jima but doubt it will ever happen.