QPME: 70th Anniversary of Iwo Jima

 
Frank Matthews (24th Marines, 4th Marine Division - Iwo Jima) recounts a personal story of carrying a flame thrower on Iwo Jima.

Video upload & caption by VirtualNMMC

 
The Battle of Iwo Jima was the only battle in Marine Corps history where more Marines lost their lives than the enemy. Even still, from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945, Marines fought and bled to secure a valuable assets for the United State's Pacific Fleet. On the fifth day, a contingent from the 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division, climbed Mount Suribachi and raised an American Flag. The photo of five Marines and a Navy corpsman holding the flag became a symbol of hope for the war effort in the Pacific and the Marine Corps. Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded to American service members for actions on Iwo Jima. The seizure of Iwo Jima eliminated a strong defense near Japan's mainland, and gave the United States a much-needed resupply point in the advance toward Japan.

Video upload & caption by Marines

 
America needed to take IWO JIMA to secure a base for US Bombers. The Marines landed on Feb 15, 1945 and the fighting would last for nearly a month before the Americans took the island. 6,821 Americans died. To learn more about "The War" visit: https://www.pbs.org/thewar/ 

Video upload & caption by Ken Burns

 
They used their native language to relay critical battlefield messages during World War II. Now, the ranks of the Navajo Code Talkers are dwindling with age. But some tell the AP's Lee Powell they have a plan to preserve their legacy.

Video upload & caption by Associated Press

 
Marines, both "Old Breed" and "New Breed," recently traveled to Iwo To, Japan, to remember the Battle of Iwo Jima, which took place more than half a century ago. Lance Cpl. Tyler Mitchell brings us the story.

Video upload & caption by Marines

 
The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted from February 19th to March 26th, 1945. Col. Dave Severance fought 36 days on the island of Iwo Jima. As the commander of Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 25th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division he witnessed the battle from the front lines. At the age of 92, he thinks back on what what it was like to fight against the Japanese's elaborate tunnel system.

Video upload & caption by Marines

 
On Feb. 23, 1945, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the Pulitzer Prize-winning picture of Marines raising the flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima. He recalled, "I could only hope that it turned out the way that I looked at it through the finder." During World War II, Rosenthal also covered the invasions of New Guinea and Guam. Joe Rosenthal died on August 20, 2006 at the age of 94.

Video upload & caption by the Newseum