Comments on: Iwo Jima (Island Week) http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/ Why bother seeing the world for real? Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:32:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: K http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-206772 K Mon, 05 Oct 2009 15:57:29 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-206772 Suribachi is not a big mountain (more like a very large hill. They took the rock because it was the first island that was close enough to the Japanese mainland where they could launch land based b-29 bombers tthoughout the entire Japanese main. Those are not shipwrecks but concrete boats built by the Japanese as decoy s in an attempt to confuse the invasion force. Suribachi is not a big mountain (more like a very large hill. They took the rock because it was the first island that was close enough to the Japanese mainland where they could launch land based b-29 bombers tthoughout the entire Japanese main. Those are not shipwrecks but concrete boats built by the Japanese as decoy s in an attempt to confuse the invasion force.

]]> By: pwickes http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-206713 pwickes Mon, 28 Sep 2009 14:55:00 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-206713 Born in '58, still trying to grasp scope of WW2. Can understand younger generations doubt. Thanks to the many observations and anecdotes such as found here and elsewhere we have the oppurtunity to try to understand what happened. Young friend when in the military visited France, said he was overwhelmed viewing the beaches where so many died. At times I cannot finish in one sitting accounts I've come across. Unable to express debt owed to G. Castorani and so many others. To us younger folk - it's important to question, and equally important to withhold judgement until learning more abut it. Born in ‘58, still trying to grasp scope of WW2. Can understand younger generations doubt. Thanks to the many observations and anecdotes such as found here and elsewhere we have the oppurtunity to try to understand what happened. Young friend when in the military visited France, said he was overwhelmed viewing the beaches where so many died. At times I cannot finish in one sitting accounts I’ve come across. Unable to express debt owed to G. Castorani and so many others. To us younger folk – it’s important to question, and equally important to withhold judgement until learning more abut it.

]]> By: Mike Newberry http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-204032 Mike Newberry Tue, 16 Dec 2008 07:13:43 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-204032 If guy castorani is still around, I'd love to talk to him. Doing research on my granddad who was on Iwo with 2 battalion, 24th Marines. wazungumike@yahoo.com If guy castorani is still around, I’d love to talk to him. Doing research on my granddad who was on Iwo with 2 battalion, 24th Marines. wazungumike@yahoo.com

]]> By: John Eckhardt http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-201907 John Eckhardt Wed, 10 Sep 2008 17:01:28 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-201907 Both flags are in the collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, in Quantico, and are considered by the Corps to be their most treasured items. At any given time, one is on display in the Museum's flag gallery (they are rotated to help preserve them). They can be photographed but without flash. It was more that a 'handfull" of bomber crews that made emergency landings on Iwo Jima. I think the number approached 2000 B-29s, or over 20,000 crew. How many of those would have made it back to Saipan/Tinian is impossible to say. And that doesn't count the crews that were saved because of the fighter escorts that flew from Iwo, or because of the removal of the Japanese early warning capacity on Iwo or the crews that DID have enough fuel to make it back to Tinian because the didn't have to take a dogleg course around the Japanese fighters on Iwo. Both flags are in the collection of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, in Quantico, and are considered by the Corps to be their most treasured items. At any given time, one is on display in the Museum’s flag gallery (they are rotated to help preserve them). They can be photographed but without flash.

It was more that a ‘handfull” of bomber crews that made emergency landings on Iwo Jima. I think the number approached 2000 B-29s, or over 20,000 crew. How many of those would have made it back to Saipan/Tinian is impossible to say. And that doesn’t count the crews that were saved because of the fighter escorts that flew from Iwo, or because of the removal of the Japanese early warning capacity on Iwo or the crews that DID have enough fuel to make it back to Tinian because the didn’t have to take a dogleg course around the Japanese fighters on Iwo.

]]> By: Oscar Olive http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/comment-page-1/#comment-201320 Oscar Olive Sun, 13 Jul 2008 05:18:49 +0000 http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/#comment-201320 What happen to the first flag. Where is it today or who has it? Did an officer get it as it showed in the movie "Flags of our Fathers" ? What happen to the first flag. Where is it today or who has it? Did an officer get it as it showed in the movie “Flags of our Fathers” ?

]]> By: Erich http://googlesightseeing.com/2006/08/28/iwo-jima-island-week/comment-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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-page-1/#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.

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