Battle of Iwo Jima 75 years on

 

FILE PHOTO: The flags of U.S. and Japan are hoisted as participants attend a memorial service jointly held by Japan and the United States to mark the 70th anniversary of one of World War II's bloodiest and most symbolic battles on the remote island of Iwo Jima, which is now officially called Iwo To in Japan, south of Tokyo March 21, 2015. REUTERS/Pool/File Photo

 

(Reuters) - This month marks the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima, which saw some of the bloodiest fighting of World War Two take place on a small Japanese island 1,200 km (745 miles) south of Tokyo.

 

Iwo Jima was the first native Japanese soil to be invaded during the Allied advance. Located halfway between Tokyo and Guam, it was regarded as a strategic outpost. Close to 7,000 U.S. Marines and nearly all of the 21,000 Japanese defenders of the island died during the 36-day battle.

The Japanese troops held the heavily fortified island for more than a month, supported by a network of bunkers and tunnels and hidden artillery positions.

 

From Feb. 19, 1945, over 500 warships and 1,000 warplanes from the U.S. navy and army pounded Iwo Jima so heavily that the shelling and bombing changed the shape of the island's highest point, Mount Suribachi, located at its southern tip.

 

White phosphorus was used in the pre-invasion bombardment and U.S. troops wielded flame-throwers during the battle.

 

Mount Suribachi was captured on Feb. 23. A photograph of six U.S. marines raising a U.S. flag on the mountain, the second flag-raising that day, was taken by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal and won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography that year. It later formed the subject for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.

 

FILE PHOTO: The Iwo Jima memorial is shown under cloudy skies in Arlington, Virginia, overlooking Washington, D.C. February 23, 2005. REUTERS/Jason Reed/File Photo

 

Iwo Jima reverted from U.S. to Japanese rule in 1968 and since then has housed about 400 Japanese navy and air force personnel who operate a landing strip. The runway is also used for night-landing practice by a Japan-based U.S. aircraft carrier.

 

Joint U.S.-Japan memorial services to mark the anniversary of the battle are held every year. In 1994, then Japanese Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko attended the service, the first time a Japanese emperor had visited the island.

 

Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi became the first Japanese prime minister to attend the ceremonies in 2005.

 

(Reporting by Hideto Sakai and Akiko Okamoto; Editing by Karishma Singh and Richard Pullin)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-02-17

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The Americans of today have virtually nothing in common with the Americans of that generation.

10 minutes ago, zydeco said:

The Americans of today have virtually nothing in common with the Americans of that generation.

wrong,  we respond to foreign enemies in the same fashion, that is why we are rarely attacked.  Our big threat now is from domestic enemies.

The U.S. Marines, and Fleet Marine Force (FMF) U.S. Navy Corpsmen (medics) and Chaplains, who were involved in that epic battle to help defeat the forces of Imperial Japan, are iconic individuals all.  Out of 7, the last surviving Medal of Honor recipient is still very much alive and well.  Marine Warrant Officer Hershel Woodrow "Woody" Williams (Ret.) wears his medal for every single man involved in that siege.  The young women and men serving in America's Marine Corps today look to those who served before them for guidance; which they certainly strive to follow. 

 

In America today, it is a fact that "less than 1% of the youth choose to serve in the armed forces".  No doubt the Marine Corps still garners very special female and male recruits who willingly volunteer! 

 

For those who cannot 'understand' this, just watch the documentaries on Marine Williams, and learn what he did.  It still inspires Marines today!!!

8 hours ago, webfact said:

...and the United States to mark the 70th anniversary of one of World War II's bloodiest and...

... even Reuters can get it wrong...

11 minutes ago, tifino said:

... even Reuters can get it wrong...

i thimk the text describes the file photo from the 70th anniversary ceremony.

5 minutes ago, tifino said:

... even Reuters can get it wrong...

I was about to leave a 'confused' emoji, which I would have regretted NOW that I went back and re-read the article. NOW I can see 'Reuters showed 70 years in one place and 75 years in another place.

I am embarrased that I almost claimed you wrong, when you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

i OWE YOU A THANK YOU (AND SORRY) EMOJI.... AND WILL DO THAT NOW.   Cheers....

18 minutes ago, tifino said:

... even Reuters can get it wrong...

 

2 minutes ago, kensawadee said:

I was about to leave a 'confused' emoji, which I would have regretted NOW that I went back and re-read the article. NOW I can see 'Reuters showed 70 years in one place and 75 years in another place.

I am embarrased that I almost claimed you wrong, when you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

i OWE YOU A THANK YOU (AND SORRY) EMOJI.... AND WILL DO THAT NOW.   Cheers....

Both of you are wrong. Taken out of context below is the complete cation.

"FILE PHOTO: The flags of U.S. and Japan are hoisted as participants attend a memorial service jointly held by Japan and the United States to mark the 70th anniversary of one of World War II's bloodiest and most symbolic battles on the remote island of Iwo Jima, which is now officially called Iwo To in Japan, south of Tokyo March 21, 2015. REUTERS/Pool/File Photo

 

7 minutes ago, kensawadee said:

NOW I am seeing that also, but if it wasn't for tifino's post you and I and him may have never seen that. So thanks to YOU also.

But the 2 different years in the article did lead to confusion in cases where we read something quickly and some small detail gets overlooked until our attention is focused more perfectly on it.

HOWEVER I think the 'SAD' emoji was over reacting and the explanation post you did was very eye-opening and explicit.... Thanks for your post. It clearly pointed out 'OUR ERROR' in reading.

it is called a Scotoma ???? 

5 minutes ago, tifino said:

it is called a Scotoma ???? 

I HAD TO GOOGLE THAT.

A scotoma is an area of partial alteration in the field of vision consisting of a partially diminished or entirely degenerated visual acuity that is surrounded by a field of normal – or relatively well-preserved – vision.

Yes. I think we both got it....... LOL

But thanks to that kwaibah (My Thai translates that to crazy buffalo) 555.... we both have corrected our understanding of the article).   I an indebted to kwaibah but i still resent the 'SAD' emojis in such a innocent matter as this.  Cheers

An off topic post has been removed. 

Reported Troll comment removed.

11 hours ago, tifino said:

... even Reuters can get it wrong...

 

I find Reuters articles to be typically riddled with inaccuracies. 

Japan’s Alamo thank god that’s over and we are allies now so much blood spilt and treasure lost my respects to all the brave souls 

Quote

This month marks the 75th anniversary of the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima,

 

Is it still going on ? wow someone needs to update them ... 

 

Reuters has become a second rate source, full of bad lazy reporting and holes...

The "Greatest Generation" for sure. But don't doubt that there are many Americans capable of bravery today. We just don't see them in the socialist/globalist news media, but they are there.

16 minutes ago, howbri said:

The "Greatest Generation" for sure. But don't doubt that there are many Americans capable of bravery today. We just don't see them in the socialist/globalist news media, but they are there.

 

It's the last war America had to win. If it happened again we would get out the whoop ass.  These days there isn't as defined an enemy and they tend to hide behind women and children. If we ever had to take the gloves off again and it was at the point it was winner takes all it would be the same. The modern enemy knows there are rules we are supposed to follow and constantly exploits them. 

 

My Grandfather drove an amphibious tank when we invaded Japan. My Grandmother was a nurse in the Navy.

 

21 minutes ago, Cryingdick said:

when we invaded Japan

Do you mean Okinawa or are you talking about Japanese territories?

A Marine veteran of that battle left a captured Japanese flag to me upon his passing. The flag bears many signatures and may lead to his identity. I'm hoping the flag can be returned to a member of his close family.