Old Glory on Mt. Suribachi

[Cole11]

I once had an assignment for a class that entailed writing a paper on a event in history that we found significant, and what that event meant to us. I picked the Flagraising at Iwo Jima. I picked this because I was reading a book on it at the time, and it really meant something to me, the book was Flags of Our Fathers, and I recommend it to everyone. I am a Marine Corps history buff, and have read lots of books on the Marine Corps, but this one as I said earlier, really spoke to me, after I read it, I felt very close to those men there, and my paper was very easy to write. Today, Feb.23, 2004, is the 59th anniversary of this flagraising, although I already created a thread for the Battle of Iwo Jima, I decided that I would make another one for this special event. An event that has motivated me since I enlisted in to the Marine Corps exactly 4 months ago today. To me, it shows brotherhood, there wasnt 1 flagraiser, there were 6, it also is a sign of victory, even though the battle wasnt over with at the time the flag was raised. Our beloved Country's colors held up by 5 Marines and 1 Navy Corpsman meant that we as a nation can do anything, It gave people hope, not only on that hellish island, but throughout our great Nation and the world, this war was won! To the flagraisers, Sgt. Mike,Cpl. Harlon,Pfc. Franklin, Pfc.Rene, Pfc. Ira,PhM.2/c John, and the rest of the men on the island, thank you for your sacrafice

[cmbell]

OORAH to that

[michy]

I meet a Marine at seaworld last week, he told me he got to go to Iwo Jima to repair a plane that had to land, and his Gunny gave a few Japanese some beer to take them to the top of Mount Suribachi, and he left his dog tags there.

i read Flags of Our Fathers, great book

[MillRatUSMC]

TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
THAT OTHERS MAY SAY PROUDLY
I AM A MARINE

http://www.nps.gov/gwmp/usmc.htm
A nice piece on the Marine Memorial and the men of Easy Company 2nd Battalion 28th Marines the flag raisers.

On 19 February 1945, the 5th Marine Amphibious Corps (consisting of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions) landed on Iwo Jima (Sulphur Island). When the battle was over, 6821 American Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers , along with an estimated 20,000+ Japanese defenders had died. This was Americas first landing on what was considered traditional Japanese territory. It was the beginning of the end.

My note;
The 5th Marine Amphibious Corps was as big as the Marine Corps of today.
Well almost!

http://www.geocities.com/rbackstr2000/
The information about the 5th Marine Amphibious Corps came from this page on the web.

http://www.geocities.com/rbackstr2000/dday.htm
The assault of Iwo Jima
The daily summaries of the
Regimental Landing Teams

To speak in memory of such men as these is not easy. Of them too it can be said with utter truth: The world will little note nor long remember what we say here. It can never forget what they did here.
The above exceprt came from this page;
http://us.geocities.com/mbackstr2000/dead/dead.htm

The world will little note nor long remember what we say here. It can never forget what they did here.
The men of the 5th Amphibious Corps...who took part in the first and the second flag raising, who cherished life but did whatever it took...
TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
THAT OTHERS MAY SAY PROUDLY
I AM A MARINE...


Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[MillRatUSMC]

In memory of the men, who took part on the invasion of Iwo Jima.
The words spoken by John Bradley and Ira Hayes;
"I'm no hero, the real heroes are buried on Iwo Jima!

TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
THAT OTHERS MAY SAY PROUDLY
I AM A MARINE

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[MillRatUSMC]

namgrunt among those pages is the 26th Marines of the Marine you met.
He's among many who took part in the invasion of Iwo Jima in Febraury of 1945.

TO THOSE WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES
THAT OTHERS MAY SAY PROUDLY
I AM A MARINE

Semper Fidelis
Ricardo

[Lock-n-Load]

:marine: For a longtime the Stars and Stripes snapped proudly into the Divine wind currents...if you revisit Iwo Jima, you will notice the red meat ball flying right aside of Old Glory [momument and all]....more Jap tourists land on Iwo than Americans and hold up American tour buses to the summit, because Japs hold 2 hour rememberances exclusive to just Japs...who won that friggin' war????

[Dragon Air]

Lock-n-Load,
Well, we did win.... but we gave the island back to Japan. It is a hardly used air base now. I was there for the 50th anniversary and was amazed at how run down all the buildings looked. I guess no maintenance has been done in quite a while. The Japanese have improved the island a bit. We drove to the top of Suribachi.... a lot better than walking.

I have some pics if anyone wants to see them.

[marinemom]

My son was lucky enough to get one of those "hops" to Iwo while he was on float.

We have a nice glass jar full of black sand in a place of honaor at the house.

It will be put away BEFORE the reunion.!

[Lock-n-Load]

:marine: Thx for update....The Japs own Iwo Jima again...I wonder how the WW2 Marines, who conquered that isle, must feel now...I dunno...Feb 1945 to now...two different [USA] generations miles apart!! thx again, Marine:marine: