Raising of the U.S. Flag at Iwo Jima

On February 23, 1945, our American troops seized Mount Suribachi, the highest point of Iwo Jima Island, making an intense stand during WWII against Japan. This major victory at the Battle of Iwo Jima secured a valuable aircraft base for the U.S. and was a sign of impending defeat for Japan.

30,000 marines of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions, under V Amphibious Corps landed on the shores of Iwo Jima, with another 40,000 Marines following. After a grueling battle resulting in 6,821 American lives being taken and roughly 21,000 Japanese lives, the U.S. overtook the summit. The statement made by Admiral Nimitz, "Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue" epitomized the fighting of the U.S. Marines.

The flag is raised - On February 23, 1945, the first U.S. flag was placed on Mount Suribachi, which was then followed by the raising of a second, larger flag for ceremonial purposes.

It was at this conclusive point that Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal took the above 1945 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph entitled "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima." Five marines of Company E (2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division) along with a Navy corpsman, raised the U.S. flag using an old water pipe as the post.

Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal was quoted as saying to General Howlin’ Mad Smith,
"The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years."

In 1954, the image was memorialized as a large, bronze statue, placed at the USMC War Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery

[USMCRET6391]

Semper Fi

[SGRock]

I visited my sister in the DC area some 7 years ago. I insisted we go to Arlington to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and also the Marine Corps War Memorial. I saw a gentleman there just reading the names of the battles. He rubbed his hand across "VietNam". I caught his eye, and he nodded a greeting. I replied with "Semper Fi, Sir." His reply to that was a choked "Semper Fi, Marine" in return. Then he walked away shielding himself from the cold. My sister asked me what that meant. As is with many that never have been in the Corps, it was hard to explain.

Many remember ceremonies or parades concerning special times or places, like seeing the Silent Drill Team perform in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial. I will never forget that man in front of the Iwo Jima Memorial and what that short greeting meant to me and probably him as well.

SEMPER FI!
LONG LIVE OUR CORPS!

[Grimmy]

Semper Fi

Well, these were pictures I took of Iwo Jima back in 1995.

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