thedrifter
03-02-07, 06:42 AM
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Iwo Jima veterans share battle stories with depot
Lance Cpl. Charlie Chavez
MCRD San Diego
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- Depot personnel recently had the opportunity to hear first-hand stories about the battle of Iwo Jima and the hardships endured by Marines and sailors who fought in it in a seminar at James L. Day Hall Feb. 16.
James ‘‘Gunner” Carroll, Glen ‘‘G.I. Joe” Kanig, Mike ‘‘Iron Mike” Mervosh, Herman Rabeck and Dave Elliot Severance shared their experiences with an audience made up of Marines, veterans and civilians.
Carroll opened the discussion by touching on his preliminary training as a young Marine tank gunner and his experiences before Iwo Jima.
‘‘We were all confused about what was going on after we received training at what is now Admiral Baker Park (San Diego),” said Carroll, who lives in San Diego. ‘‘As a young private first class, I had no idea where Iwo Jima was let alone what was going on.”
According to Carroll, the Marines that initially landed believed that the assault was going to be easy, but were in for a surprise after they were attacked by the well entrenched Japanese.
Kaing said, the Iwo Jima Marines fought for 36 days and many of them recalled their friends who made the ultimate sacrifice and helped solidify the phrase, ‘‘Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Kanig was followed by Mervosh who spoke about the importance of every individual who fought to help secure the island.
‘‘When the flag was raised on Mount Surabachi everyone cheered and we knew we had made progress,” said Mervosh.
Navy Corpsman Herman Rabeck talked about the unwavering task of helping the wounded in what seemed like a never ending struggle.
Rabeck said once the wounded became an overwhelming, amount they would divide them into priority and who could or could not be helped.
Severance, who was the commanding officer, Company E, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, talked about the role he played as the commander and choosing to send a different flag to the top of Mount Surabachi. The second flag Severance sent to the top of the mountain was in the immortalized photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal.
Ellie
Iwo Jima veterans share battle stories with depot
Lance Cpl. Charlie Chavez
MCRD San Diego
MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO -- Depot personnel recently had the opportunity to hear first-hand stories about the battle of Iwo Jima and the hardships endured by Marines and sailors who fought in it in a seminar at James L. Day Hall Feb. 16.
James ‘‘Gunner” Carroll, Glen ‘‘G.I. Joe” Kanig, Mike ‘‘Iron Mike” Mervosh, Herman Rabeck and Dave Elliot Severance shared their experiences with an audience made up of Marines, veterans and civilians.
Carroll opened the discussion by touching on his preliminary training as a young Marine tank gunner and his experiences before Iwo Jima.
‘‘We were all confused about what was going on after we received training at what is now Admiral Baker Park (San Diego),” said Carroll, who lives in San Diego. ‘‘As a young private first class, I had no idea where Iwo Jima was let alone what was going on.”
According to Carroll, the Marines that initially landed believed that the assault was going to be easy, but were in for a surprise after they were attacked by the well entrenched Japanese.
Kaing said, the Iwo Jima Marines fought for 36 days and many of them recalled their friends who made the ultimate sacrifice and helped solidify the phrase, ‘‘Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Kanig was followed by Mervosh who spoke about the importance of every individual who fought to help secure the island.
‘‘When the flag was raised on Mount Surabachi everyone cheered and we knew we had made progress,” said Mervosh.
Navy Corpsman Herman Rabeck talked about the unwavering task of helping the wounded in what seemed like a never ending struggle.
Rabeck said once the wounded became an overwhelming, amount they would divide them into priority and who could or could not be helped.
Severance, who was the commanding officer, Company E, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, talked about the role he played as the commander and choosing to send a different flag to the top of Mount Surabachi. The second flag Severance sent to the top of the mountain was in the immortalized photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal.
Ellie