Uncommon valor

Today marks the 75th anniversary of the amphibious assault on Iwo Jima. This picture was taken just as the lead elements of the 4th and 5th Marine divisions were hitting the beach. It would take the assault force over 36 days to subdue the small island and required committing the 3d Marine division (the floating reserve) on the 5th day.

When you become a Marine you are indoctrinated in the history and legends of the Corps. The Iwo Jima campaign looms large in tradition and is the source of much bravado and pride. Many people are familiar with the famous statue of the flag raising on Mount Suribachi that sits in Arlington, VA. Many iconic images come from that battle.

I often find that people seem to gloss over the cost of that campaign. It was a brutish, gut busting conflict. Sixty thousand Marines and Army soldiers fought 21,000 Japanese for a mere 8 square miles of volcanic desolation in the middle of nowhere. Almost all of the Japanese perished, along with almost 7,000 Americans. Another 20,000 Americans received various wounds. And this after the island had been bombed and shelled for over 70 days prior to the landings. Brutish, ugly combat.

So, while I commemorate this event and bid tribute to the bravery and valor of the Marines, I also cringe at the glorification of battle. Many quotes come from this event. Most notable in my mind is the one from James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy at the time.

"The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years."

Fucking politicians.