The Battle – Photos by USMC Photographer Douglas H. Page
Below are a series of photographs taken by USMC Photographer Douglas H. Page.
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Below are a series of photographs taken by USMC Photographer Douglas H. Page.
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{ 144 comments… read them below or add one }
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My uncle served in Iwo Jima in the Marine 5th and landed there on day one. He has since passed awawy but i am looking for some info on him or anyone who remember him. His name was George “Sarge” Zarcufski from Shenandoah, PA. Thanks in advance.
My Father PFC James J. O’Connor was KIA on Iwo February 21, 1945. He served in Company “K”, 3rd Battalion, 24th Marines, 4th Marine Divison. I would love to hear from anyone who served with him. I am also looking for his best friend that served with him and made it out. His name is John L. Oberdorf. Thank You!
Working with Vets History Prog/LOC
An underage Seabee, Chuck Doubrava,
the Knight of the Black Pearl, on Iwo
1945 for one year. Know him? He lives here.
Nancy Aurora CO 80014
Anyone with Company D, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines?
My father-in-law, Robert Madill never wanted to talk much about it but we have a few mementos, his helmet etc. He would have been 18 yrs old at Iwo. We also have his hard bound copy of The 4th Div. book from camp Pen. He was in the CCCs at 16 (youngest in his group) before joining the Marines. From Somerville MA.
Would appreciate hearing from anyone from 5th Marine Div., 2nd Batt. 28th Inf. My uncle Floyd served in this unit and was KIA on March 1, 1945. His name was Cpl. Floyd Vaughn Hallmark from Arizona. Thanks, Ken Clark.
Sorry to say GEORGE ALBERT BUCK Third Marines and veteran of Iwo Jima and Guam passed away on February 25th 2013 at age 97.George passed away on the same day he went into action on Iwo Jima February 25th…68 years later!..George was 28 years old when he enlisted in 1943 at Great Lakes Illinois.George was born June 9th 1915.George worked up until a few months ago at age 97! Pnuemonia and an intestinial blockage took him down.George got to go on the memorial flight to Washington D.C a couple years ago sponsored by the V.F.W…we lost another brave Marine…….
I had a chance to see these images and thousands more at the National Archives in College Park MD. I highly recommend scheduling some time and viewing the images.
I WAS ON IWO WITH 62ND SEABEES ATTACHED TO 4TH MARINE DIV WAS ON IWO WHEN FLAG WAS RAISED GOD PROTECTED ME LOTS OF KILLING BOTH SIDES BODIES ALL BLOWEN APART
DOUG,
SEND ME AN E-MAIL, I HAVE INFO ON THE IWO SEABEES
JONATHON17PIM@AOL.COM
My father, Louis P. Tapio, lied about his age and joined the corps when he was 17 with his buddy Charles Crazy Thunder. They were fresh off the Oglala Sioux Reservation at Pine Ridge, SD. He fought his way across the Pacific and turned 19 years old on March 8th at Iwo Jima. He was in the 27th FMF-PAC 5th Marine Division Tank Battalion as a LST operator. (He learned to drive a cattle truck as a teenager growing up on the reservation, so the Marine Corp gave him a job as a driver.) His buddy Charles was KIA on Iwo Jima. This young man was only 18 when he sacrificed his life for his country. Most American Indians are very proud of their country and they would be among the first volunteers to fight for it’s freedoms.When my Father passed away a few years back, I was going through some of his things and there was a photo of him kneeling down by a government issued headstone with his friend Charle’s name on it. It was at the Holy Rosary Mission Cemetery on Pine Ridge. I think about his story often, usually more during this time of year on the anniversary of the battle. Everyone should take the opportunity to thank ALL Veterans, or any person in uniform, anytime you see one, for the sacrifices each one of them have made protecting our freedoms.
I was born at Camp Lejeune, NC and my father & mother both instilled in their children a sense of pride in their country. At times, I never really appreciated the sacrifices that were made by these men & women, that give me the freedoms I enjoy today. In this day and age when you see those freedoms eroded by various groups in this country, that do not understand the sacrifices made by the generations before us, It makes me angry and sad at the same time. Angry because the ideals, values & truths of the country our fathers & mothers helped make for us is fading fast and sad because everyday we lose more & more of those precious people that provided us with that freedom.
Semper Fi & God Bless All Our Troops!
robert.tapio@boystown.org
My uncle Sonny was KIA on Iwo on 1 March 1945. Would love to hear from anyone who may have known him. His name was Floyd Vaughn Hallmark. Served with Carlsons Raiders in the 3rd Marine Division on Guadalcanal and Bougainville prior to Iwo.
My name is Irving Mesher…I served on the Destroyer Escort USS Siolverstein, DE 534. We were part of a support group operating just off the island of Iwo Jima during the invasion. My diary (which was illegal to keep at that time) indicates that our ship was only about 1000 yards off the island when the flag raising took place. Naturally, we had no idea of the significance of the raising at that particular time. I soon found out years later…I am 88 years of age and one of the few remaining veterans of the invasion of Iwo Jima…WE should never, ever forget…
Dear Irving,
My Dad, Lewis O. Ridge, Sr. (Bud), was aslo in the navy at Iwo Jima. He served on the LST 807. He saw the flag raising on his ship, too. His best friend, Morris Smith, served with the marines and was part of the invasion. Dad passed away 2 yrs. ago. I haven’t gone through his pics of the war, but intend to do so the next time I visit my Mom. Father’s Day is coming up and I sure do miss him. After looking at the pics of WWII, I don’t think people realize what you and our fathers went through. Thank you Irv and God Bless.
I have a photo, that I believe, is of a massive grave site at the end of a runway or landing strip in Iwo Jima. Do you happen to have any contacts or references that I could use to have this photo verified?
Thank you.
I was at the National Archives on 3/1/13 looking through the Iwo Jima images and I did not see the images. The librarian had a request to locate the images that you referenced but they did not exist in that archive. If they exist, they may be in another location. There are specific sections for cemeteries and graves it wasn’t in there.
Stuart,
Thank you so much. Do you happen to have an email address or a telephone number for the National Archives? I have pictures of planes & ships from that time also. Thank you again for your time and input.
Nick
I wil be 87 next month, was 18 on Iwo with E-2-28 of 5th Division since 2/44. Too many false claims of “Saw Flag Raised.” Trapped on south end of Suribachi night Iwo of 2/22, heard all the commotion next morning. That was the first flag raising. When I came out safely from south end I climbed to Suribachi’s summit (around 0900 I think) I was not fired on, never saw any live enemy and didn’t see the flag (never looked for it). Did see fighting to the north, picking up stiff bodies from Green Beach with LVTs with lowered ramps then driven to ditches… the beginnings of 5th Division cemetery. Colonel Severance (Ret) and then Capt. and commander of E Co., told me recently “You were too early, the famous flag was lifted two hours later!” My hero is and was John Bradley, before, during and after Iwo . ALL true! Ex. Sgt. Jim Buchanan after Korea.
Looking for information about my uncle, Harold C. Krouse. Pvt, 3rd. Marines. KIA Iwo Jima. I only remember my Grandmother saying she believed he was still alive “over there” My Father was with the 3rd Army in France at the time of his brother’s death and sent home as a result. Growing up, we didn’t talk about it at all. I have read everything written about Iwo Jima and viewed over a thousand pictures looking for a resemblance. I now would like to take a trip to that island if at all possible. Not sure how to begin with that…
Re: WILLIAM THOMAS MELOY, PFC, mortar crewman. My dad never spoke about his USMC years either. I am 60 and it was only recently that I learned he was at Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima. He passed away on December 1st, three days ago. Although from Chicago, he spent his last 2 months in Vancouver, WA, near my brother. On Friday, Dec. 14th at 12:30 we will take his ashes to the Willamette National Cemetery. It will be a public ceremony with an honor guard. If anyone would like to be there we would be honored. The 30-minute ceremony will be followed by a late mid-afternoon snack at a nearby restaurant. Let me know: 224-523-6313. I have his Marine Corps photo album and my mom’s as well. I think she worked in the USMC telephone services building in D.C. Her album is full of names but his is not. I imagine they were too busy trying to stay alive and to help the wounded to trade niceties like forwarding addresses and such. My mom never spoke about her experience either, but I have a feeling she was having the time of her life in D.C. (Camp Lejeune sp.?) She looks so happy in those pictures. She did tell me about cockroaches that hid in the dining room tables. Those who had clean up duty there had to pick up each table and drop it on the floor a couple of times to shake out the roaches. I don’t know what they did then, the girls, I mean. There was also a tale about a woman in the next bunk who was having trouble getting her foot into her boot. She kept pushing and pushing, but no matter what she did, it just wouldn’t go in. It was as if there were a sock in there. She finally tried dumping it out onto the floor and with screams and creepy-crawlies let everyone know it was a mouse. Ugh! Contact me if this sounds familiar. My mom’s name then was ALDONA BARDY, also from Chicago. Thank you to all who served in the Pacific! And everywhere else, of course. —-Patricia Meloy
So sorry Patricia… You dad was an America Hero… I lost My Dad , Charles Moore…Set 22 2012.. He was a BAR man with E Co. 2nd Batt. 3rd Mar. He served early with 2/9…. On Guam, He received his first Purple Heart and his second Injury was on Chikita Ridge(sp) at Iwo…. He was My dad and My Hero… Thanks to all the Americans who fought for our America… Mike Moore, L/Cpl of the Marines 74-76
God bless your father and all the great brave men who served.
Larry Falk
Austin, Texas
The postings are so similar. Growing up with my dad, he never spoke of his time on Iwo as a member of the “Fighting 4th”, at least until his latter years. The stories that eventually trickled out belied his gentle demeanor, and it was like hearing something that happened to someone else. His name was Sherman Pinkham, part of the rocket launcher brigade. Anyone know him? One of his comrades whose name he never got carried him to the beach after he was severely wounded on day 3, and ran into the water to flag back the transport ship that had just left to get him to the hospital. He would have died otherwise, and I wouldn’t be writing this.
My father was in the 4th and also a marine photographer I have a few of his pictures from the south pacific.
I can email you what I have if you like.
The one that stands out to me the most…as I understand it…is one of a group of 20 marines with the Japanese flag from Mt. Suribachi, several in the photograph have signed their names to it.
My father was Sgt L.A. Doran (Dusty) USMC Ret ’69 Cherry Point NC
My father, Charles Biddle just passed away Nov. 10, 2012. He was a machine gunner in the 5th Division. He never spoke of his time in the service until he came down with Alzheimers in 2007. Then he would often cry as he recounted some of the memories. We are so proud of him and all the others that served. One thing we were trying to find out is after Iwo it gets a little fuzzy. Some family members say he went to Okinawa (but after the battle there). His discharge papers show Iwo and the Occupation of Japan. Anyone know more? I’ll have to look up what Company he was in.
Mike: If your dad was in the 5th Marine Division and stayed with the Division, which he probably did, unless he was wounded, he would have been on Iwo Jima and then the 5th Division went on to occupy Japan, his discharge papers would be correct. The 5th Division was not involved with the invasion of Okinawa, only the 1st and 6th Marine Divisions participated in that invasion, with the 2nd Marine Division in reserve and never used. The 5th Division was in Sasebo (? spelling), Japan during the occupation. If he went to Okinawa, it would have been on his own. What regiment of the 5th Division was he in?
My father, Carl Eugene Herberger, survived Iwo. He would rarely talk about it but would always say he felt lucky to get out alive since so many he knew did not. He was wounded by schranel and evacuated off but did return for the Home Island occuation. He was with the 5th Marines and was a company runner. If there are any survivors I would love to hear from them , unfortunately he passed away in 1994 but did father 8 children.
Carl, I am a Nam vet grunt, but I just talked to a man locally here in my town that was on Iwo and featured in our paper for veterans day. He was 300 feet below the flag raising but could not see it do to it being up hill. He was a machine gunner and out of 44 of them there was only 8 left. I can forward the info for you, to him, and see if he wants to talk about it. He told me he doesn’t talk about it, but being I was USMC he was willing. 86 I think he said and sharp as a tack. Anyway as I said I will forward your info and see if he is willing. Thats all I can do, as I won’t give out his name without his permission. It was an absolute pleasure talking to that man for about 45 minutes on the phone
Looking for any info about my grandfather robert lee peel, he was in the battle of iwo jima and recently passed. He would alway tell me stories about the war, but I was to young to understand. My grandmother won’t tell me much. I would really appreciate any info on him. Thanks
My dad, Jack Richter, of Saginaw, MI, then 19 yrs old, served with the 5th Marines, I believe, as a forward observer on Saipan and Iwo Jima. He never really talked much about the war but on the night that he died of cancer in 1988, he said that he felt like he was just lucky to survive Iwo for another 43 yrs and raise a family as he never thought he would get off that hell-hole alive. That has haunted me since then and as much as I would like to know more about Iwo, there is just no one around to ask.
My Uncles ( 2 ) 1 of them in the NAVY served on a destroyer 3 years, William G ( BILL) Turner,,,,,,, The other Noel David (RED ) Turner Marine Corps combat phototografer after ww2 he got out then went back in for Korea He stayed in 1969 he retired as a Master Sergant at CAMP LEJEUNE . He was orginally from Mississippi . Does any one know him any information will be appreciated.
Wesley Turner
My Uncle Noel David Turner ( Red ) he was a combat photografer he was there when it started and left when it ended He got out of the Marines then relisted and stayed in until 1969 He was at Camp Lejeune North Carolina when he retired did you know him ,,, any info will be greatly appreciated grant111946@yahoo.com
My son is a Proud Marine, currently serving in Afganistan. I have studied the battle of Iwo Jima for years. I am one American who is so proud and grateful for what all of your fathers and grandfathers have sacrificed for our country. So that we may be free. There are no words to describe their sacrifice. Their sacrifice will never be forgotten by me or my family. There are no greater Americans who have ever walked this earth. They are always in my prayers. I am in touch with my son and know that unfortunately he has seen things which will change him forever. He is, after all, a Marine. First in, last out. He has been based in Helmand Province. War is such hell, which is why your loving relatives never spoke about it. To relive it, is too painfull. Oh, the sacrifices they made! Unless you are connected with them, you simply cannot relate. God Bless them, and God Bless you for loving them so much, and understanding what they must have gone through. May they all rest in peace. God love you all, and God Bless America!
My Dad Alex Klinkoski was is the 4th Division his unit(?) was all twins. He wanted to find a Corporal Lindgren from back then. If anyone knows of him could you please pass along the information?
God Bless you all!
My grandfather was Robert Lindgren, wounded at Iwo but his rank was Pfc.
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