Comments on: Iwo Jima (Island Week) http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/ Why bother seeing the world for real? Sat, 05 Jul 2008 12:49:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Erich http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-200526 Erich Sat, 21 Jun 2008 03:24:26 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-200526 Just wanted to update. Iwo is not covered by anything that could be described as jungle growth. Maybe savana shrubbery. Two sides are black beach (and you can't even call it sand), sulfer pits, the mountain, and small trees and tall grass. That is all the island has nowadays, plus the one airstip that I believe is not civilian accesable, not positive on that one, I rode an LCAC in. The tunnels are still there, along with some blown out tanks and much of the national artillary. What really surprised me was the Japanese landing stratagey. All of the ships and boats they used to get supplies to the island where beached to make offload easier, and left as obsticales for the landing force. But we attacked the other side, so that didn't help much. Retreat or escape was never part of the plan or even possible. I must say that being there for a commoration ceremony was definately an impressive and weighty experiance, one that I count myself lucky to have experianced. If I figure out how to I'll post pictures. Just wanted to update. Iwo is not covered by anything that could be described as jungle growth. Maybe savana shrubbery. Two sides are black beach (and you can’t even call it sand), sulfer pits, the mountain, and small trees and tall grass. That is all the island has nowadays, plus the one airstip that I believe is not civilian accesable, not positive on that one, I rode an LCAC in. The tunnels are still there, along with some blown out tanks and much of the national artillary. What really surprised me was the Japanese landing stratagey. All of the ships and boats they used to get supplies to the island where beached to make offload easier, and left as obsticales for the landing force. But we attacked the other side, so that didn’t help much. Retreat or escape was never part of the plan or even possible. I must say that being there for a commoration ceremony was definately an impressive and weighty experiance, one that I count myself lucky to have experianced. If I figure out how to I’ll post pictures.

]]> By: Michael Townsend http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-199974 Michael Townsend Mon, 05 May 2008 23:29:48 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-199974 "The United States Marines are not the worlds police force. Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq?" We went into Korea as a task force from the UN. We were asked to go and help. Iwo Jima was significant for several reasons. 1. It was a landing strip for damaged bombers 2. Iwo served as an early warning base for Japanese fighters. The radar stations there gave them 2 hours to get fighters up. 3. Taking Iwo would be a base for long-range fighters to escort bombers 4. Iwo Jima was considered part of the Japan, so attacking and taking Iwo Jima would be like landing on Japanese soil and would demoralize the enemy 5. Iwo Jima and Okinawa were two invasions that gave the US a sense of what would happen if they did invade Japan. 7000 deaths in a war with several million casualties is not much. I'm not saying that any death worthless. Its not. 7000 deaths compared to 55,000 at Gettysburg. Iwo Jima hardly was the worst battle. “The United States Marines are not the worlds police force. Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq?”

We went into Korea as a task force from the UN. We were asked to go and help.

Iwo Jima was significant for several reasons.
1. It was a landing strip for damaged bombers
2. Iwo served as an early warning base for Japanese fighters. The radar stations there gave them 2 hours to get fighters up.
3. Taking Iwo would be a base for long-range fighters to escort bombers
4. Iwo Jima was considered part of the Japan, so attacking and taking Iwo Jima would be like landing on Japanese soil and would demoralize the enemy
5. Iwo Jima and Okinawa were two invasions that gave the US a sense of what would happen if they did invade Japan.

7000 deaths in a war with several million casualties is not much. I’m not saying that any death worthless. Its not. 7000 deaths compared to 55,000 at Gettysburg. Iwo Jima hardly was the worst battle.

]]> By: Dennis http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-199538 Dennis Mon, 31 Mar 2008 17:08:11 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-199538 My son bought a box of "stuff" at a garage sale. In it is a map of Iwo Jima,"Special Air and Gunnery Map" and shows troop movements as they happened etc. We have had a person from the Air Force Academy look at it, and he feels it is a treasure. They would like us to donate it, but we would like to know what it would be valued at..how do we get a value on it? My son bought a box of “stuff” at a garage sale. In it is a map of Iwo Jima,”Special Air and Gunnery Map” and shows troop movements as they happened etc. We have had a person from the Air Force Academy look at it, and he feels it is a treasure. They would like us to donate it, but we would like to know what it would be valued at..how do we get a value on it?

]]> By: military Stupidity http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-198959 military Stupidity Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:24:59 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-198959 Correction to incomplete sentence; Should have read:::: 20,000 casualties and 7,000 Marines killed, all so a few crippelled bombers had a place to land wasn't worth the price paid. Correction to incomplete sentence; Should have read:::: 20,000 casualties and 7,000 Marines killed, all so a few crippelled bombers had a place to land wasn’t worth the price paid.

]]> By: military Stupidity http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-198957 military Stupidity Sun, 17 Feb 2008 14:23:17 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-198957 Iwo Jima was a fight that should not have been fought. The US Navy controlled the Pacific all the way to Japan. Iwo Jima should have been by-passed completely, as we had already destroyed Japans navy. The soldiers on the island were isolated and alone. The US only wanted this island as an emergency landing strip for the bombers returning from missions on Japan. 20,000 casualties and 7,000 Marines killed, all so a few cripelled. When the tally of 27,000 plus American casualties is wieghed against the actual number of bomber crews saved. It just didn't make sense. Another discrace to the fact is that, the US Government actually gave the island back to Japan, and have now renamed it. Iwo Jima was a waste of time, goods and supplies that could better had been used elsewhere. Also, war with Japan was "declared" as our Constitution clearly stipulates. The United States Marines are not the worlds police force. Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq? Marines take an oath to protect America. Any Marine, Sailor, Airman, Soldier or other, who blindly goes off to these undeclared wars or police actions to tell and force other people how to live deserve to die. 7,000 Marines who gave the ultimate sacrafice on Iwo Jima are this countries last true heros. Iwo Jima was a fight that should not have been fought. The US Navy controlled the Pacific all the way to Japan. Iwo Jima should have been by-passed completely, as we had already destroyed Japans navy. The soldiers on the island were isolated and alone. The US only wanted this island as an emergency landing strip for the bombers returning from missions on Japan. 20,000 casualties and 7,000 Marines killed, all so a few cripelled. When the tally of 27,000 plus American casualties is wieghed against the actual number of bomber crews saved. It just didn’t make sense. Another discrace to the fact is that, the US Government actually gave the island back to Japan, and have now renamed it. Iwo Jima was a waste of time, goods and supplies that could better had been used elsewhere. Also, war with Japan was “declared” as our Constitution clearly stipulates. The United States Marines are not the worlds police force. Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq? Marines take an oath to protect America. Any Marine, Sailor, Airman, Soldier or other, who blindly goes off to these undeclared wars or police actions to tell and force other people how to live deserve to die. 7,000 Marines who gave the ultimate sacrafice on Iwo Jima are this countries last true heros.

]]> By: Michael Manley http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-191166 Michael Manley Wed, 26 Dec 2007 21:49:29 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-191166 Interesting comments. I think the comparisons between WW II and Iraq and a bit on the inane side. There are vast differences that should be obvious to the casual observer. (By the way, what does being young, well-educated and liberal have to do with anything?) WW II, as noted, was global and had the support of the US population as well as many others. Iraq is small, of questionable importance globally, and certainly hasn't had anything to do with "fighting terrorism," as some like to believe. Iwo Jima was a "fit" for the time and place and the strategies being used - which were global in scope. For the time and place it seems to have been the right thing to do. Is anyone going to equate Iraq with Iwo Jima? Please. Having said that, it in no way detracts from today's solidiers (warfighters as the technojaborwacky types like to say). M Interesting comments.

I think the comparisons between WW II and Iraq and a bit on the inane side. There are vast differences that should be obvious to the casual observer. (By the way, what does being young, well-educated and liberal have to do with anything?)

WW II, as noted, was global and had the support of the US population as well as many others. Iraq is small, of questionable importance globally, and certainly hasn’t had anything to do with “fighting terrorism,” as some like to believe.

Iwo Jima was a “fit” for the time and place and the strategies being used - which were global in scope. For the time and place it seems to have been the right thing to do. Is anyone going to equate Iraq with Iwo Jima? Please. Having said that, it in no way detracts from today’s solidiers (warfighters as the technojaborwacky types like to say).

M

]]> By: Doyle http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-179810 Doyle Wed, 28 Nov 2007 13:23:27 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-179810 For you, who think that so many died for a rock, or abunch of nothing, it's obvious that you are seriosly lacking in your historical education. You must be young and liberal. You sound like you think your very educated and well informed. Then you wrote your stupidity about Iwo Jima, and proved otherwise. For you, who think that so many died for a rock, or abunch of nothing, it’s obvious that you are seriosly lacking in your historical education. You must be young and liberal. You sound like you think your very educated and well informed. Then you wrote your stupidity about Iwo Jima, and proved otherwise.

]]> By: guy castorani http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-156610 guy castorani Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:30:25 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-156610 8th wave i think not sure.18 at that time.and it was worth every marine that was killed to help them fly boys that were flying them bombers over japan.they were the real heros.24th marines. 8th wave i think not sure.18 at that time.and it was worth every marine that was killed to help them fly boys that were flying them bombers over japan.they were the real heros.24th marines.

]]> By: guy castorani http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-156608 guy castorani Thu, 30 Aug 2007 01:12:33 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-156608 was in 8th wave,ran up that beach past dead and dieing marines and marines stuck on the beach to get to number one air feild and dug in.was knocked in to a deep shell crater by a body hiting me that was blown in front of me.that was on my way to number one air field.was not hurt then.but later was wounded.am in flags of our fathers book. was in 8th wave,ran up that beach past dead and dieing marines and marines stuck on the beach to get to number one air feild and dug in.was knocked in to a deep shell crater by a body hiting me that was blown in front of me.that was on my way to number one air field.was not hurt then.but later was wounded.am in flags of our fathers book.

]]> By: emma http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-120875 emma Wed, 14 Feb 2007 23:04:33 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-120875 I am recently doing a project on Iwo Jima and have learned many interesting facts about this small historical island. I can gurentee you that this island is worth seeing. I can't wait to see it myself. I am recently doing a project on Iwo Jima and have learned many interesting facts about this small historical island. I can gurentee you that this island is worth seeing. I can’t wait to see it myself.

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