I was reminded by someone on my Facebook page of the anniversary. Then a quick question to Siri revealed that it was a few days ago, on February 19th.
On the 75th Anniversary, I made the 50 mile drive to Stockton, CA to hear 2 old Marines who were there describe their times.
One of them, Bill White, was the oldest Marine at 104. He has since passed away. His friend, Frank Wright, was in his mid 90s at the time. I felt that I was listening to living history. They mentioned things that only veterans would remember, such as the deaths from Marines trying to transition on the rope ladders between the ship and the Higgins Boats, with a sea that moved the boats 6′ up and down. Some were crushed before they even got to the shore.
Frank did most of the reminiscing and the things he said have remained with me.
As an aside, I got into a discussion with a Facebook friend on the revelation of the Marine at the “flag raising” who was for decades identified as Navy Corpsman John Bradley who was replaced by Marine Harold Schultz.
Of the 6 “flag raisers” made famous by the Joe Rosenthal photograph, 3 would be later be killed in battle along with the Marine combat photographer, Bill Genaust, who filmed this on his 16mm camera.
If you read the wonderful book by James Bradley (son of John Bradley), you knew that he never talked about that time. It was only after he died and his family want through his trunk in the attic that they discovered his (then) notoriety in helping to raise the flag. At the time of the book’s publishing nothing was known of Harold. His replacement from John was the result of a history buff that brought his suspicions to the Marine Corps who after investigation replaced John with Harold.
For those who read the book, James was saying with each anniversary the phone would be ringing with reporters, and the children were told to tell them that their father was “fishing in Canada”.
Of the 3 who were sent on a bond tour, all were reluctant “heroes”, saying that the real heroes were still on Iwo. One, Ira Hayes, died an alcoholic.
As to my opinion, there were 2 times that an American flag was raised. On the first attempt, a pipe was used that was too small to be seen by the ship crewmen at sea, much less the Marines not on Suribachi. I suspect that John Bradley was in that first group.
Sometime later the word came that these Marines were wanted on a bond tour, and those that had survived and could be found were sent.
Anyway I suppose I am getting off the topic of hearing these 2 Marines talk of their time on Iwo.
It was a memorable afternoon.
Thanks for the post. Iconic.
Made me reflect on my dad’s service in that war with 101st. He did not recount details of Market Garden or the Bulge until I was in service and quite along in my career. He only shared it in brief episodes with me. As he approached his 90th year, he was coaxed into telling his great grandkids a detailed account of his service while their mom videoed it. They each asked him questions that he answered in some detail. I learned much I didn’t previously know. The film series Band of Brothers and the book were closely watched and read by him (and me). While he was highly critical of some of the film episodes. The fact that there were a number of different directors for the episodes was very evident to him. He was impressed by the book as a whole. It happened that he was in a company that was closely aligned with Easy Company and later he was the S4 (supply officer) of his battalion so he personally acquainted with Winters and others featured. He was very approving of Winters.
My impression is that many of the WW II combat vets took years to become open to discussing the specifics of their service. some never did. I recall a group photo of the officers in his company I believe taken just before Market Garden. There were penned x’s placed above the heads of three of them. Perhaps this is why it took so long for him to be willing to talk about his service. The issue of stolen valor was a particular issue of anger for him and maybe for others as well.
Death6
Wouldnt it be technically 80th, some of the savagery of that campaign was seen in hacksaw ridge a preview of what the main island invasions would have been like sans the a bomb
Re market garden we know they had two different sources that leaked the mission a dutch operative and soviet agent anthony blunt
Most combat vets don’t want to talk about their experiences.
I had a funny encounter the other day, at the VA of all places.
In the line with me was a man with a Navy SEAL hat.
I had to congratulate him on just getting through training, whereupon he wanted to tell me how many North Vietnamese he killed.
A big red flag, for me. To me he was most likely a fake.
Stolen Valor.
And speaking of Easy Company and quiet vets. Years ago, when I first saw the series, I learned that one of my 6th grade classmates had a father who was in Easy Company. As this was in the 6th grade, and I am past 70, this was some time ago.
Clarence Hester had a successful roofing company in town for many years, and not once did he talk of his wartime experiences.