To the Shores of Iwo Jima
Launched on February 19, 1945, Operation Detachment was the effort by the U.S. to capture the island of Iwo Jima. In one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Pacific War, the U.S. suffered over 25,000 casualties. It also resulted in one of the most iconic images in history. Presented here is a vivid account of the Battle of Iwo Jima in full color.
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Storming Fortress Pacifica: Iwo Jima 80 Years Later
In late March 1945, 300 Japanese soldiers appeared suddenly out of the dark near Hirawa Bay on the island of Iwo Jima, catching an encampment of US Marines and Army Air Force personnel completely by surprise. A vicious firefight ensued, not ending until the last attacker was killed three hours later. The Americans suffered 170 dead and wounded.
-Alemaster
I don't think that people in general understand just how bloody and horrific WWII was. Not that the wars we have fought since then were a walk in the park, of course. All war is hell. And all soldiers who fight are heroes in my opinion.
ReplyDeleteBut if one watches videos of some of the brutal fighting that went on in both Europe and in the Pacific, along with Northern Africa, it is so shocking that you don't know how these men were able to just continue fighting without curling up into the fetal position and pray for either their mommy or death.
Robert E. Lee said, "It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it". It is a sad thing that no president of the recent past was involved in war as a soldier, to learn that lesson. It is a lot different decision to take our nation to war when you have had someone shooting at you. I speak not from a position of my own experience, but of the many friends and relatives who have spoken to me about their experiences in battle. One of them was a forward observer, riding in an APC, which hit a tank mine. The other men in the carrier at the time all perished, while he was thrown 30 some feet into the air, losing a leg but keeping his life.
Once you realize just how bloody and brutal WWII's fighting was, the easier it is to understand Truman's decision to drop the bombs and bring that shit to a halt.
DeleteUnless the USA is directly attacked, it should be compulsory for every lawmaker to view 4 hours of combat footage and read four hours of after action reports from WWII, Korea Vietnam and the ME wars before they are allowed to vote for war resolution.
ReplyDeleteOnce they have voted, they need to get out of the way and let the professional warriors do what they need to do to end it, quickly.
The ridiculously restrictive ROE's that have been imposed over the last 40 years of conflict are ludicrous and only lead to unnecessary U.S. casualties.
Nemo
And once war is declared these lawmakers should lead the troops into battle with their sons beside them.
DeleteSpot on, Nemo. As Winston Churchill put it, "Having made the decision to go to war, it is folly to proceed by half-measures."
DeleteIt's fashionable to call him a warmonger nowadays, but the part his detractors misunderstand is that he fully understood the human cost of war and didn't shrink from it. "Do it to them before they do it to us", so to speak.
Shell
My dad was on Iwo Jima. He never talked about his time there. He would give you his marine frown & shake his head no.
ReplyDeleteIf I'm not mistaken it was mostly service troops and "dark green" Marines who put a stop to that last attack...
ReplyDeleteMy Dad was one of the Air Corps fighter pilots who survived the March 24 nighttime attack. The fighter pilots were the highest value targets on the island. The Japanese, high on sake and amphetamine, infiltrated the area and were slashing open tents with their swords and tossing in grenades. The pilots had a .38 or .45, a few of them had M-1's. The Marines showed up. In the morning Seabees buried 300 Japanese bodies in a bomb crater. A week later the Mustang pilots were escorting B-29's over Japan. I have my Dad's navigation chart from the first mission, an attack on a Mitsubishi factory in Nagoya.
ReplyDeleteDon in Oregon
My wifes dad was Air Corps on Iwo. She proudly wears an Air Corp tee shirt. She has several so about once a week she has one on in his memory and honor.
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