thedrifter
08-17-07, 09:20 AM
The Battle of Iwo Jima has seized the hearts of many Americans since the iconic flag raising photograph was taken. But seeing pictures or more recent movies of the battle doesn't quite compare to actually visiting the famous battle ground.
Sweating their way through the scorching humidity Aug. 7, more than 60 Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit made the trek up Mount Suribachi to one of the most storied battle sites in American military history.
The MEU staff coordinated the trip for their Marines and sailors to give them a greater understanding of what those who fought on the island endured and accomplished, said Staff Sgt. Casey E. Brown, the MEU fire support chief.
"Warrior reflection is something Marines need to do," said Brown. "Because Iwo Jima was a big battle, it plays a significant role in the Marine Corps' heritage, and Marines identify themselves with that battle. This was an opportunity to give this new generation of Marines a greater appreciation for what the Marines and sailors went through back in 1945."
After arriving, the group was divided into smaller details. From there, each detail was given a map of the eight-square-mile island and was set free to navigate the terrain.
Everyone seemed to have their sights set on Mount Suribachi, which towered in the distance. But along the way, many also chose to witness the countless war relics that still remain on the island.
The walk up Mount Suribachi was a sobering experience for many of the Marines and sailors as they imagined what it must of been like for those who fought yard by yard to the top of the steep, heavily defended mountain.
On the summit, Marines saw a number of memorials paying tribute to both fallen U.S service members and Japanese defenders.
The groups then moved along the shoreline to Invasion Beach, the point where most of the U.S. forces came ashore. Some collected the black volcanic sand - a tradition among Marines and sailors.
For most of the service members, the trip was their first to the island. During the 36-day battle, the United States suffered more than 26,000 casualties while fighting approximately 22,000 Japanese defenders, according to official records kept at Headquarters Marine Corps.
Lance Cpl. Antonio Guzman, an administrative clerk with the MEU, said this trip was important to him because up until his visit, he did not know much about the battle.
"All I knew about the Battle of Iwo Jima was from the movies. I thought it was a typical battle just like any other," said Guzman. "Walking up through that island, especially the mountain, really puts the hardship of the battle into great perspective."
Sweating their way through the scorching humidity Aug. 7, more than 60 Marines and sailors with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit made the trek up Mount Suribachi to one of the most storied battle sites in American military history.
The MEU staff coordinated the trip for their Marines and sailors to give them a greater understanding of what those who fought on the island endured and accomplished, said Staff Sgt. Casey E. Brown, the MEU fire support chief.
"Warrior reflection is something Marines need to do," said Brown. "Because Iwo Jima was a big battle, it plays a significant role in the Marine Corps' heritage, and Marines identify themselves with that battle. This was an opportunity to give this new generation of Marines a greater appreciation for what the Marines and sailors went through back in 1945."
After arriving, the group was divided into smaller details. From there, each detail was given a map of the eight-square-mile island and was set free to navigate the terrain.
Everyone seemed to have their sights set on Mount Suribachi, which towered in the distance. But along the way, many also chose to witness the countless war relics that still remain on the island.
The walk up Mount Suribachi was a sobering experience for many of the Marines and sailors as they imagined what it must of been like for those who fought yard by yard to the top of the steep, heavily defended mountain.
On the summit, Marines saw a number of memorials paying tribute to both fallen U.S service members and Japanese defenders.
The groups then moved along the shoreline to Invasion Beach, the point where most of the U.S. forces came ashore. Some collected the black volcanic sand - a tradition among Marines and sailors.
For most of the service members, the trip was their first to the island. During the 36-day battle, the United States suffered more than 26,000 casualties while fighting approximately 22,000 Japanese defenders, according to official records kept at Headquarters Marine Corps.
Lance Cpl. Antonio Guzman, an administrative clerk with the MEU, said this trip was important to him because up until his visit, he did not know much about the battle.
"All I knew about the Battle of Iwo Jima was from the movies. I thought it was a typical battle just like any other," said Guzman. "Walking up through that island, especially the mountain, really puts the hardship of the battle into great perspective."