Voices from Iwo Jima | HistoryNet

I had the great pleasure to attend a luncheon kicking off a fundraiser to install an Iwo Jima Memorial at Camp Pendleton. Several Iwo Veterans were in attendance, one sitting next to me. The stories they had to tell were equally harrowing and thrilling. One spoke so vividly of the experience that a few Iwo Veterans were forced to leave the room until he was done.

Preparing for the next war can be a hit or miss proposition. The Dept of the Navy planned to dismantle the Marine Corps, but the Marine Corps had a counterproposal. They said they would take the primary mission of amphibious landings which gave them a lease on life. Ironically much of the fighting in the Pacific revolved around amphibious landings.

Very powerful stuff. Thanks for sharing the story of Iwo Jima veterans.