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re: 75 years ago right now...the island of Iwo Jima became Hell on earth
Posted on 2/18/20 at 10:42 pm to Polycarp
Posted on 2/18/20 at 10:42 pm to Polycarp
quote:
I got to meet RV Burgin. He was featured in The Pacific series on TV. He wrote the book Islands of the damned. Hell of a guy.
I think Peleliu was even worse. Unfortunately, it ended up being all for nothing.
0
Posted on 2/18/20 at 10:45 pm to Twenty 49
quote:
Nice post.
The Washington Post has a good article today about Hershel Williams, a 95 year old Iwo Jima vet who was awarded the Medal of Honor.
Of the 27 Marines and sailors who earned the medal at Iwo Jima, he said he is the last one alive
He described how he and some other Marines on Guadalcanal received crates of flamethrowers, which they had to figure out on their own how to fuel and to operate.
When they later landed at Iwo Jima, he supervised six other flamethrower men. In hours, the others were dead or wounded.
The Americans were stopped by a cluster of pillboxes. The commander asked Williams to try to help with his flamethrower.
Too bad we stopped using the flamethrower. Would've really helped in Afghanistan.
Posted on 2/18/20 at 10:56 pm to Korin
With daisy cutters, carpet bombing, moabs, offshore cruise missiles and close air support by the A-10's, long range sniping ability, bribing intel, body armor, superior weapons and tactics, there's nothing a flamethrower would have offered the US forces in Afghanistan, except something for them to steal and use against us or their own people.
Posted on 2/18/20 at 10:57 pm to deeprig9
Nah it definitely would've helped with all the caves and such, especially in the northern part of the country.
Posted on 2/18/20 at 10:59 pm to Korin
What do you think happens when you shoot a flamethrower into a cave? Or worse, if you are in a cave, and shoot a flamethrower?
Posted on 2/18/20 at 11:02 pm to deeprig9
quote:
Or worse, if you are in a cave, and shoot a flamethrower?
Wow.
Posted on 2/18/20 at 11:08 pm to deeprig9
quote:
flamethrower
On the night of June 26, 1969, we shot and killed two NVA gooks assaulting our perimeter with a flamethrower that had its “pilot light” lit. They never got to light us up.
It was the only known attempt by the NVA to use a flamethrower in Vietnam. That flamethrower now sits in a war museum in Okinawa.
We nearly crapped our pants later when we realized what might have happened had we not taken that weapon out. Flamethrowers belong in history, however, long live napalm.
S/F
This post was edited on 2/18/20 at 11:10 pm
Posted on 2/19/20 at 5:38 am to cajuncarguy
My dad was at Iwo Jima, Guadalcanal and Leyte Gulf all over the South Pacific and even Alaska.
USS Dunlap, DD, 384
It’s fascinating to read the ship’s history and remember what few times he spoke about his experience from 42 to 45 and actually read about it.
He told the story of sinking a troop ship and picking up some officers and seeing many others drowning. It truly affected him all his life.
Gone since 1986. I still miss him.
USS Dunlap, DD, 384
It’s fascinating to read the ship’s history and remember what few times he spoke about his experience from 42 to 45 and actually read about it.
He told the story of sinking a troop ship and picking up some officers and seeing many others drowning. It truly affected him all his life.
Gone since 1986. I still miss him.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 6:56 am to RollTide1987
quote:
expecting good, solid soil...they were confronted by layers and layers of volcanic ash that made advancing off the beaches a little tricky. Foxholes could not be dug and it was difficult to find footing in the softer-than-expected soil.
Always wondered why we didn't do the same thing as we did pre-invasion at Normandy. Send someone in to grab soil samples of the beach.
Great post, thanks for taking the time.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 8:19 am to TheFonz
quote:
He said that was the best thing that could happen because he got to spend the rest of the war slapping pretty nurses on the arse in Guam and Hawaii.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 8:23 am to papasmurf1269
quote:
He said we burn them with flamethrowers we shot him we blew them up anything we could. He then tells me they would cut their heads off and stick them on a bayonet in the sand and say you mess with the United States Marine Corps and this is what happens
:boythatescalatedquicklygif
Posted on 2/19/20 at 8:37 am to Cash
quote:
Only 1,083 of the over 21,000 Japanese solders were taken hostage. Well over 90% of them on Iwo Jima died. Those were hard men on their own right. Thank God we didn’t have to invade mainland Japan.
Dropping the A-bombs was immoral.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 8:38 am to RollTide1987
My Dad was in the 5th and was on Iwo for the duration. Growing up he didn't talk about it much. In 1995 his house flooded and during the move we found a box of photos from his time in the Marines. He remembered not only the name of every man in the photos but where they were from. Long story short, I was able to reunite him with some of his buddies. One of the coolest and most rewarding things I've ever done.
If anyone has a relative that served in the 5th, I would be happy to copy the page with their name listed in this book.
If anyone has a relative that served in the 5th, I would be happy to copy the page with their name listed in this book.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 8:39 am to CJD4LSU
quote:
Agreed. I was fortunate enough to attend the 55th commemorative anniversary on Iwo. It was the first time that veterans from both sides stood face to face on the island since the war ended. After experiencing that, I found an even deeper level of respect for all those who had gone before me.
I was there on the 50th Anniversary. Hard to believe it’s been 25 years. I was with 1/8 at the time. We basically hosted the guys they flew over that fought there. I walked about every sqft of the island that I could. Having read every book I could find on the battle, it was a moving experience. Listening to the stories told by those that fought there was humbling and inspiring. The experience positively influenced the rest of my career in the Corps. Semper Fi!
This post was edited on 2/19/20 at 8:44 am
Posted on 2/19/20 at 9:12 am to SEClint
quote:
Imagine being like 18..and realizing you're in a battle that will be talked about for possibly hundreds of years.
Jacklyn Lucas enlisted in the marines at 14, lying about his age. He earned the Medal of Honor at 17 on Iwo Jima by throwing himself on two grenades, saving three other marines. He survived, though badly wounded.
The balls on that kid were immeasurable.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 9:16 am to RollTide1987
Here's a thread from a WWII vet from a few years ago, who was there. I wonder what happened to EdwardTeach? Miss him dropping in from time to time.
Remembering Iwo Jima -- 70th anniversary
Remembering Iwo Jima -- 70th anniversary
This post was edited on 2/19/20 at 9:17 am
Posted on 2/19/20 at 2:23 pm to RollTide1987
GySgt John Basilone, who won the Medal of Honor on Guadalcanal, was KIA on the first day. He was awarded the Navy Cross for his actions on Iwo Jima.
Wikipedia
Wikipedia
This post was edited on 2/19/20 at 2:24 pm
Posted on 2/19/20 at 2:30 pm to Keltic Tiger
quote:
"A casualty rate of over 83 %. This is why President Truman dropped the 2 bombs.
Absolutely. Many of us never would have existed if he hadn't.
God Bless them all.
Posted on 2/19/20 at 2:42 pm to SEClint
quote:
Imagine being like 18..and realizing you're in a battle that will be talked about for possibly hundreds of years.
Moreover, that you probably won't be around to add color to the conversation.
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