Howdy Everyone-now I finish my final exams on November 5th so I might be a little scarce on these forums until then. During my absence-I was wondering If you could please compile for me any thing at all about the battle for Iwo Jima-I mean it-anything at all-I would like to construct a page on Iwo Jima for use on this site. I have just taken a sudden fascination to this battle-don't ask me why!!! Thankyou all in advance...Panzerknacker (Ryan)
OK, Ryan. I will search a bit in my books and see what can I do for you. And maybe I could learn something myself...
Hi Panzerknacker; My great uncle was there with the 5th Marine Division. He was with the 27th Marines 2nd battalion, part of a mg team. He was in the initial landings and was wounded two weeks later. His mg team took a couple of Jap grenades, fortunately they all survived and were sent home.
Like Friedrich says - maybe I can learn something here, too ! To 'kick off', the most comprehensive website seems to be : - http://www.weathersdesign.com/iwojima.htm [ 26. October 2002, 02:04 AM: Message edited by: Martin Bull ]
As a further thought on this ( slightly O/T perhaps ).. how sad to read of the troubled later post-war lives of two of the surviving Iwo Jima 'flag-raisers'. Makes you think of what we were discussing on the 'Idols' thread.
Why Martin-what happened to them??? I know one of the guys was killed before he could be brought home to do a war bonds tour or something of that nature.
Details on the websites are sketchy, but apparently, of the three survivors, 'only John Bradley was able to rebuild his life after the War'. The men were feted as National heroes and 'hounded' by the press. Bradley was careful only to give one interview in his life about Iwo Jima ; Ira Hayes became an alcoholic and died in 1955 and Rene Gagnon did a number of jobs including airline clerk , appearing not to achieve happiness in his peronal life.
It truly is a tragedy that some of our cult heroes cannot achieve happiness after their first 15 minutes is up...
That is a really cool site, Martin! I thought you wanted info about Guadalcanal, Ryan. I was doing some research on it. Or it is Iwo-Jima and Guadalcanal?
No, Just Iwo Jima Friedrich-I posted something awhile ago on Guadalcanal MOH recipients-perhaps this is where you got that from!!!
Iwo-Jima then. I have a little bit of information here at home. And I know where to find more: the library of my beloved's university. Now, I can't go in if I am not a student there, but I'll have to show them my ID: $$$$$$$$ WWII is worth for corruption, isn't it?
I am on the research! Would you bloody wait?! Writing in English is not so easy for me as it is for you!
HI guys, If you get a chance read "Flags of Our Fathers" it was written by one of John Gradleys sons. It covers all of the flag raisers and what happened to each one. When looking for it be careful, there is a condensed version for teenagers which leaves out a lot of things.
I ran across this neat link on the web. It's an American radio reporter broadcasting what he sees as he watches the battle at Iwo Jima. Thought this might be an interesting link for y'all to check out! Iwo Jima Radio Voice http://www.ibiscom.com/voiwo.htm