Today is the 65th anniversary marking the Marine landing on Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Corps. The Marines in this picture raised the first flag on Mt. Suribachi belonged to 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines. There were forty men in the patrol. Thirty-six were killed or wounded in later fighting before Iwo was taken. These first six Marines in the first flag raising did it under enemy fire. They were 1LT Lieutenant Schrier, Sergeant Thomas, Sergeant Hansen, Private First Class Charlo, Private First Class Michels, and Corporal Charles W. Lindberg. Marine Sergeant Lou Lowery who took the picture immediately dived over the edge of the crater to dodge a grenade. His camera lens cracked but he and the film were safe. There were 23,573 Marine casualties in taking Iwo - over 6,800 of them killed in action. The Marines took over 1800 POW’s and killed 20,000 Japanese in capturing the Island fortress. God Bless our armed forces and the United States Marine Corps, taking it to the Taliban today in Afghanistan to preserve our way of life.
2 comments:
"to preserve our way of life"
More than that, Bernard, to preserve for all people the right to live free from oppression.
Yes, and right now they're doing it under some idiot politician's idea of the rules of engagement, Bernita.
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