The Battle – The US Invasion
American air forces pounded Iwo in the longest sustained aerial offensive of the war. “No other island received as much preliminary pounding as did Iwo Jima.” -Admiral Nimitz, CINPAC.
Incredibly, this ferocious bombardment had little effect. Hardly any of the Japanese underground fortresses were touched. Twenty-one thousand defenders of Japanese soil, burrowed in the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima, anxiously awaited the American invaders.
The US sent more Marines to Iwo than to any other battle, 110,000 Marines in 880 Ships. The convoy of 880 US Ships sailed from Hawaii to Iwo in 40 days.
It was the largest armada invasion up to that time in the Pacific War.
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For those wanting to hear stories from those who where there during the invasion and battle for Iwo Jima I suggest viewing the video “Price For Peace”. It was produced by Steven Spielberg and Stephen E. Ambrose for the dedication of The National D-Day Museum. A film by James Moll. This film also covers the war in the Pacific Theater from Pearl Harbor to the American occupation of Japan in 1945. My father in law, Joe C. Russell, was a U.S. Marine who was there during the invasion and made us proud by being in this film. Many stories from those who fought in the Pacific. God Bless Them All!
We give thanks this Memorial Day for all of the brave souls who have defended this country over the years- I read last week approximately 1.3 million people have died defending The USA over the course of our history-God Bless Thema and all who have served- and those who suppoeted them.
Dose any on know Robert hurdle jr he was on iwo jima 1st marines 24 a company 4th devision 5th machine squadi would like to here any storys from him in the marines and on iwo
My Grandfather Sgt William J McVey served in C Company in the battle on Sipan and Iwo Jima. He received two purple hearts and the Bronze ,and Gold star. I would like to know more about my grandfather. Because i never had the pleasure of meeting him. I also would like to follow in his foot steps and become a Marine. MrUmile@yahoo.com
Hey I’m doing a report for school on Iwo Jima battles and I recently found out my grandpa. Sgt. Gillbert j Owens, fought in the 5th marine division, I was wondering if anyone could help me with my report by sending me an email with reliable sites, info, or if you knew my grandpa…..I’d like to know more about what he did in the war, like did he win any awards, help will be very appericiated
Kumikouzumaki16@gmail.com
i am doing a eighth grade research paper on major battles and would like to talk to veterans or historians.my email is bear_grant@yahoo.com. also if anyone veterans knew my great grandfather Ulysses S. Grant please email me. he fought in th epacific but i dont know what divisoin or anything
I recently discovered that my Pop Pop, Sgt. Martin C. Carroll USMC, also known as “Red” may have fought in the 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in Iwo Jima. He is a recipient of the Purple Heart and served from 1942-45. If anyone has any information or can let me know how I can confirm this, I’d greatly appreciate it. Thanks.
Scott
Hi Scott, did you make any headway on this? I may have data to help.
If anyone could please help me with getting someone that is willing to do an interview about first hand accounts of iwo jima please reply thank you
hi Nathan- my dad fought there- he is still alive at 95-
like many veterans-
he will not talk to strangers about it- but I have been able to gather a few bits of information over the years- send me an email
Hi Lin, what uniit was he with?
Hi Jaye- he was in the 10th Army, Combat MP’s, 724th MP Battalian- he told me he spent his 28th birthday in a foxhole on Iwo Jima- and did not think he would live to see another one-
Hi Scott, did you make any headway on this? I may have data to help.
here are some photos from National Geographic
http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/iwojima/iwo-3w1.htm.
My father was in the Navy in 1944-45. He was on the USS Lunga Point. I have many photos with some handwritten names such as Capt. G.A. Washburn, a pilot named Melton who was shot down in Okinowa, Lt. Fox, a figter pilot who was captured by the Japanese and escaped, Al Alicpod, Bill McFaden, Art Scarpa, Sam Gallagher, C. McIntosh, Bill Gedds, Weldon Callicutta, Buzz Monroe. Anyone related to any of these men? (my father had terrible handwriting!!)
hello I posted the reply about the interview. i just read your post and i was wondering if he went to iwo and if he did if he had any pictures. If you could reply to me that would be great. once again it is for a project in history. National History Day Or NHD you can google it to prove its legit but if u could email picture it would be much appreciated
My dad was born in Brooklyn NY and fought with the 3rd marine div lets talk about it thanks
hello i was just wondering if your father was still alive and would be willing to talk. I am in 8th grade and am doing a project on iwo jima and am looking for an interview. If u can respond that would be helpful. Thank you. Nathaniel.
My father, Walford Olav Heinen, served with the Fourth Marine Division on Iwo Jima in WW II. My uncle, John Frisbie Lyon, served with Patton in Europe in WW II. If anyone can (or knows) find out anything about either one of them, please leave a response or contact me.
you eer try to go to military records.com- or you might try to go thro american vets – i can only tell you what i know or write to washingtion army archives-19444
n the late winter of 1943 we were shipped to New Caledonia a French Island about 1500 miles north of Australia for jungle training. We were assigned to the 1st Marine Division and were intended to reinforce the Marines on Guadalcanal but by the time we finished the Japs were kicked of the canal
the battle of Guatalcanal ended December 10 1942
I have a friend, Fred Knighton, who served in the 3rd squad company f 2nd battallion 24 regiment 4th marines on iwo jima. After he was wounded by a jap machine gunner, he said that a marine, last name evans, was killed flagging a corpsman to help him. ill ask him about the first name.
An open request to anyone connected to the 24th Marines.
I recently came in to possession of a yearbook from the 24th, published in 1943. Although a west coast unit, I’ve been searching the internet to see if there is or was anyone in the yearbook from New England who may still be alive. If so, I’d like to reconnect them with this yearbook. That notwithstanding, if anyone would like a scan of any pages just let me know.
Mike Kirkland,
I have a Yearbook from the 24th Marines and there is a Martin S Kirkland, G Co., on page 77. Is that your father?
Tom Southworth
Bill,
My Father was in the 3rd Marines. His name was Stan Wisniewski. He was from Pennsylvania, enlisted in March 1944, was on Guam, was wounded on Iwo and finished out his tour in Panama. He passed away in 1987. Was wondering if you dad might have known him.
Stan
Randy,
I have a few pictures of a Marine named Frenchy. In case they are familiar, others named in pictures are John Stanhope, Kenly (Bill) from Philadelphia, Kilonsky, Stiles, Doc Galbincia, Marynuk, Caraway, Pop Edens, Purnelle, Tuk, Romanini, Senjard, Stan Waybright, Top Sargeant Aldridge, George Yenter, Grove, Hohl, Kieser. Spelling may not be totally correct as some of the hand writing was a little hard to read.
Let me know your Email address and I’ll send you the pictures.
My father was in the 3rd Marines and also was wounded on Iwo. He was also on Guam and one other island. I believe he went to Iwo from Guam. He joined in March 1944, went through boot camp in Parris Island (my son is a Captain at Parris Island today)1wke4z and finished out his tour in Panama.
Stan
My father-in-law, Vernon Lisenbee, was on Iwo Jima. He was in the 4th Marines and had a friend names “Snow”. I can’t find anything about him
My Grandpa fought at guadalcanal, i dont know if he was at iwo though, he died when my dad was 14ish and didnt talk about it much, to give you a refrence to how long ago that was my dad is 49 now.
My dad, Chester Clyde Lee, LTJG US Navy, served as a radioman on a Navy vessel during the battle of Iwo Jima. Not much is known of his service during this time for he never spoke of it. He passed away in 1997 at the age of 80. He is being commemorated in my poetic writing Unspoken Words and is honored in my book Awakenings From Then ’til Now. If anyone has family members or any form of recollections where my dad might have been mentioned, it would be great to hear from you.
Our fathers name was Walford Olav Heinen. He served with the 4th Marines on Iwo Jima. He might have been on the Bataan Death March also. Just don’t know or how to find out anything.
I am trying to obtain some info on my late uncle Aubrey Callaham. I know very little about his service other than that he fought and was wounded on Iwo Jima.I also know that he was in an Army communications group attached to the Marines. Uncle Aubrey was not inclined to talk about his experiences, so even his brothers, my father included, do not have much information either.
If anybody happens to recognise his name or can give me any advice on attaining information, I would be grateful.
Sincerely,
Michael Callaham
My friend Bob Darling was in the USMC on Iwo. He was in the marines and is up in years. He does not have a computer he has ocular degeneration. I am typing a short paper up about his life story for him to give to his two children. Here is a small part of it. Maybe some his friends from Iwo, the Solomon Islands or some other places he was during the war maybe interested in contacting him. This is a part of the seven page autobiography I am typing for him:
About that time my best friend Jerry Berg wanted to join the Marine Corps. To sign up you had to apply on Whitehall Street in New York City. I had a jalopy and he didn’t so I told him I would drive him. When we got there I said, “I might as well take the test with you instead of waiting in the carâ€. I realized I would not pass the test because of my rupture but why not give it a try? A few hours later I was a member of the Marine Corps. I was happy but I expected to be discharged when its training aggravated my rupture. To make a long story short I made it thru boot camp at Paris Island and was assigned to the 2nd Marine Division as an infantry soldier. About a month later there was a call for volunteers for the 1st Marine parachute regiment. This was the chance to join so my friend and I decided to join and we both signed up. When I arrived at the Chute training camp my friend Jerry never showed up. Parachute training was a more vigorous than boot camp so again I wondered if I would make it because I still knew I had a rupture and figured it would wash me out of the program. To make a long story short I did not have a rupture. In the late winter of 1943 we were shipped to New Caledonia a French Island about 1500 miles north of Australia for jungle training. We were assigned to the 1st Marine Division and were intended to reinforce the Marines on Guadalcanal but by the time we finished the Japs were kicked of the canal so we were sent to Bougainville Island the Northern most Island of the Solomon Islands. We made raining jump in the Islands. There simple was not enough open ground for the chute to maneuver to be practical. On Bougainville Island our mission was to push the Japs back beyond a mountain range and hold them there while the Sea Bees built an airfield. The army was sent in to hold the established partition. In this mission we had no vehicles and no armaments other than rifles and machine guns. The ground was too soggy and the trees to thick for any movement by foot. It is not good to have the army and the marines too close together when not operating in combat there is too much time for mischief. When the army came onto the island they had cameras set by to film the activity. They had vehicles and all sorts of equipment they could use those now since the Sea Bees had cleared some areas and made roads. Since our operation began we slogged through mud up to our waists. I don’t remember any polite compliment we bestowed on them. They had set up an outdoor movie and a kitchen while we were eating K rations. At the entrance to their outdoor movie they placed a sign: NO JAPS, NO DOGS,NO MARINES or at least that was the rumor we were told. I never saw the sign but believed it was true at the time.
This was probably not true but if it was as a joke or the result of an army solider it was the wrong thing for us to be told. We were a little irked seeing the army personnel riding in Vehicles while we had to walk. So my buddy and I thought we would even things out a little. They had a fenced in area where they kept about a dozen vehicles and we felt we were as entitled to government property as they were. They had a guard posted at the gate of the 4 men with rifles and a machine gun. We sneaked into the compound, I don’t remember how we got in but I certainly remember how we got out. My buddy got behind the wheel of a command car about twice the size of a jeep. He raced the engine and we took off. The guards at first ordered us to stop which we ignored and knocked the gates aside and kept going. By this time they were shooting. Luckily we did not get hit but a bullet hit the brake system and it was a steep grade down the mountain and at the speed were going soon told us we were in trouble. So we jumped out of the truck and tumbled a ways and hid in the underbrush and kept silent. A patrol came down looking for us but did not find us. When all was clear we walked back into our camp somewhat bruised but all in one piece. We never heard anything about it so I guess our commanding officer agreed with our sentiments. At this time, the 1st Parachute regiment and the Marine Raiders were sent back to the states to form the 5th Marine Division at Camp Pendleton California. We were given a 30 day rehabilitation leave of 30 days. I don’t remember where I got the money to take the train back to New Jersey. By this time my father had died. It was September of 1942. My mother, sister and bother had moved to Jersey City in a three or four family apartment. The rent was paid through my mother being the superintendent of the building on Broadway. I spent the time helping around the apartment and seeing a girl. I had been friendly prior to the war. I planned to leave a few days early to give myself time to hitch hike back to camp. Mom would have no part of it and insisted I fly to have the extra time at home…
Stan;
My father-i-law is 92, still kickin around and talks extensively about Frenchy. He was with the 28th marines and wounded in Iwo. He told me that Frenchy was his best friend, as they went through 5 pacific battles together.. Guadalcanal, Cape Glouster, Iwo Jima and 2 others. If you have a photo of Frenchy I would appreciate it if you could email it to me. I have only one of Frenchy. He also spoke of Henning, Groves, Dodd and Lt.Cordray. Any info would be great.
Randy
My father Was Capt. Charles C. Berkeley Jr. CO of G company 2/24/ 4th while in training in North Carolina,and California.finished the war as a Major on the battalion staff
Reply to Charles Berkeley, III posting of Dec 7, 2011
Hello Charles. I am certain that my dad (Kirby) and your dad were great friends who served together in the Marines. My dad was a Lt in G company 2/24/4th and always referred to your dad as “C-squared”. They wrote to each other for many years. Dad passed away on April 29, 2008 3 days after we celebrated his 90th birthday with a presentation of a birthday letter from the Commandant of the Marine Corps to my dad. 2 Marines in dress blues presented the letter and then stayed for several hours talking with dad. He was totally “with it” mentally till the end. My best to you and thank you for having such a wonderful father and friend to my dad. Dee Walker
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