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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)...

Americans, Japanese mark 61st anniversary IWO JIMA, Japan — Men once hellbent on killing one another gathered here Wednesday in peace to pay tribute to the more than 27,000 comrades who never walked away from the black-sand beaches of this strategic Pacific island. Former U.S. and Japanese servicemembers met at the Reunion of Honor monument for the 61st anniversary commemoration ceremony honoring those who fought here. The monument sits on a hill overlooking Yellow Beach, where in World War II many U.S. Marines landed on Japanese soil for the first time on Feb. 19, 1945. More than 100,000 U.S. troops...

Like most everyone here I loath the biased and negative manner in which the MSM reports the news from Iraq. I recently rediscovered an editorial Zell Miller had written back in October of 2004 describing what it would be like if TODAYS media had covered the battle of Iwo Jima in 1945. I don't see that this essay was ever posted to FR so what follows is Mr. Miller's insightful speculation ~ only now it is illustrated with actual images of this horrendous battle to win a foothold in the Pacific.

No matter where Marines are serving, from the Pentagon and Marine Barracks in Washington, to the loneliest outposts in Iraq and Afghanistan, Marines will stop, shake hands, say happy birthday, sing the Marines' Hymn and, if it is available, have a piece of cake. It doesn't matter to us if its an elaborate cake from some big hotel, a smaller cake from the great cooks aboard ship, or a cookie from an MRE, we're going to celebrate!

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA (NNS) -- After more than a month of conducting relief operations in the wake of two hurricanes that devastated the Gulf Coast, USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) returned home to Norfolk, Va., Oct. 2. After receiving orders to depart the Gulf of Mexico, the multipurpose amphibious assault ship steamed toward the Florida Keys and into the Atlantic Ocean. Oct. 1, Iwo Jima offloaded some 650 Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) and 1st Battalion, 8th Marines at Onslow Bay, N.C., via helicopters and Air Cushion Landing Craft (LCAC) from the ship’s well deck. “This...

ABOARD USS IWO JIMA (NNS) -- USS Iwo Jima (LHD 7) successfully got underway from its current berth in downtown New Orleans Sept. 21 as Hurricane Rita raged across the Gulf of Mexico. With the successful onload of supplies and personnel, including 647 Marines of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit (24 MEU), Iwo Jima began its trek down the Mississippi River to safer, open waters. The multipurpose amphibious assault ship has been moored in downtown New Orleans since early September, serving as a command and control hub and providing relief and recovery efforts as part of Joint Task Force (JTF)...

Admirals, I made a day trip to the Gulf Coast this weekend to visit with and thank our Sailors for the extraordinary work they are doing in the recovery and relief effort. I spent time at the Seabee base in Gulfport, NSA New Orleans and NAS/JRB New Orleans, as well as aboard HARRY S TRUMAN, BATAAN, TORTUGA and IWO JIMA. It was at once both a grim and an incredibly uplifting experience. Some of my impressions:

From CO USS IWO JIMA in New Orleans Interesting perspective on the Navy's involvement in Hurricane Katrina relief: Subject: IWO Update - 6 Sep 05 Hello All; Since I took over IWO JIMA over a year ago, I felt as though I had control of the destiny of the ship. I thought I lost it today, the first time ever, and that we were merely reacting to events rather than controlling them. Within the first 24 hours after arriving pierside in New Orleans, IWO JIMA has become many things. We are one of the few full service airports in the...

August 6th marked the 60th anniversary of America’s use of an atomic bomb on the Japanese city of Hiroshima. While some still argue that President Truman’s decision to use the A-bomb was “controversial,” they are afflicted with the scourge of our time, the loss of a sense of moral proportion and certainty. Unfortunately, those with relativistic morals will lead us to see the day when nuclear weapons are used again – this time to end once and for all the barbaric savagery of Islamism. Green Left Weekly (GLW) calls the U.S. putting a swift end to WWII – using atomic...

I have walked there several times from Rosslyn Metro station. However, I have never driven there, and would like to (would have family). Looking at the map, it appears that the road to the parking lot goes through Arlington Cemetery. Is that correct? If so, does that mean I can drive to the Marine Corps Memorial parking lot ONLY WHEN the cemetery is open? Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Japan honours US dead at Iwo Jima By Colin Joyce in Tokyo (Filed: 20/06/2005) Junichiro Koizumi yesterday became Japan's first serving prime minister to visit Iwo Jima in what analysts say is an effort to counter his image as a nationalist and revisionist. Mr Koizumi paid his respects alongside bereaved Japanese and representatives of the American army He made his visit during a ceremony marking one of the Second World War's most symbolic battles in which American troops first captured Japanese territory 60 years ago. The moment was caught in an iconic photograph of troops hoisting the Stars and Stripes...

The Collins Amateur Radio Club, in cooperation with the Cedar Valley Amateur Radio Club will be operating a special Amateur Radio Station at The Carl and Mary Koehler History Center, 615 1St. Ave. S.E. Cedar Rapids on February 19th and 20th to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the WWII invasion of Iwo Jima. February 19th is 60 years, to the day, from the landing on Iwo Jima by American forces. In that battle, which was fought to secure an emergency landing site for B-29's that were bombing Japan, 6,821 US forces were killed and 19,217 wounded. Iwo Jima was...

Nearly six decades ago, a 21-year-old Navy fighter pilot on a mission over the Pacific was shot down by Japanese artillery. His name might have been forgotten, were it not for 6-year-old James Leininger. Quite a few people — including those who knew the fighter pilot — think James is the pilot, reincarnated. James' parents, Andrea and Bruce, a highly educated, modern couple, say they are "probably the people least likely to have a scenario like this pop up in their lives." But over time, they have become convinced their little son has had a former life. From an early...