mrbsox
10-17-04, 12:59 PM
Setting at breakfast this morning at a local 'buffet Corral' with some house mates. As we're eating, a couple come in and set down, escorting an elderly gentleman to a chair. As the gentleman turns to sit, his 'cover' reads;
IWO JIMA SURVIVOR
with pins for 2 PHs, as well as unit pins I did not reckognize.
At one point, the lady whom was obviously his daughter, got up to go refill, and I met her around the end of a corner. After introducing myself as a veteran Marine, I asked if HE would mind meeting another Marine. Her eyes widened, and I could tell it would mean alot to HIM, as well as her.
He WAS true to form, humble, but forthright. He was glad to talk for a few minutes, and I was eager to listen.
These 'old Men of the Corps' are getting scarse. He gave me some stats I had not heard before, if someone could check them out.
Given the 22 (?) square miles of Iwo, Marine casualties amounted to @ 850 per square mile. Japaneese casualties amounted to @ 37,000 per square mile.
These old ears don't always work right, and there was a lot of background noise going on. Could someone research this for me.
Thanks.
I left them knowing that I felt it a honor to shake the hand of a TRUE piece of American history. And he echoed that our current Marines, are 'doing us proud'.
Semper Fi
IWO JIMA SURVIVOR
with pins for 2 PHs, as well as unit pins I did not reckognize.
At one point, the lady whom was obviously his daughter, got up to go refill, and I met her around the end of a corner. After introducing myself as a veteran Marine, I asked if HE would mind meeting another Marine. Her eyes widened, and I could tell it would mean alot to HIM, as well as her.
He WAS true to form, humble, but forthright. He was glad to talk for a few minutes, and I was eager to listen.
These 'old Men of the Corps' are getting scarse. He gave me some stats I had not heard before, if someone could check them out.
Given the 22 (?) square miles of Iwo, Marine casualties amounted to @ 850 per square mile. Japaneese casualties amounted to @ 37,000 per square mile.
These old ears don't always work right, and there was a lot of background noise going on. Could someone research this for me.
Thanks.
I left them knowing that I felt it a honor to shake the hand of a TRUE piece of American history. And he echoed that our current Marines, are 'doing us proud'.
Semper Fi