The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: Timothy on February 23, 2010, 04:20:12 PM
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65 years ago today.....
(http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tsbevins/MtSuribachi.jpg)
Semper Fi Boys.....
(there was even a sailor involved, Navy Corpsman)
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65 years ago today.....
(http://i384.photobucket.com/albums/oo283/tsbevins/MtSuribachi.jpg)
Semper Fi Boys.....
(there was even a sailor involved, Navy Corpsman)
+100
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The greatest generation. A lot of tomorrows were gave up for your todays.
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The greatest generation. A lot of tomorrows were gave up for your todays.
It's a pity that the pansy-asses in this country today don't realize or appreciate that fact.
Semper Fi, boys.
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It's a pity that the pansy-asses in this country today don't realize or appreciate that fact.
Semper Fi, boys.
+1
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(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/iwo_jima.jpg)
"I have just returned from visiting the Marines at the front, and there is not a finer fighting organization in the world!" ~ General Douglas MacArthur, US Army
"Of the Marines on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue" ~ Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz Iwo Jima WWII
We're surrounded? Good, now we can kill the bastards in any direction." ~ Colonel Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller
A ship without Marines is like a garment without buttons." ~ Admiral David D. Porter, USN
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To ALL the Armed Forces that were involved at that awful island, Iwo Jima. Thank You and God Bless You All.
For my Grandfather. Boatswains Mate First Class, Thomas D. Watchorn, he worked for two days straight loading more ammo onto the LCV's, and unloading the wounded, told me stories about Iwo Jima, right before he died, that I had never heard. Amazing effort by amazing men, every one of them.
(http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm182/twyacht/Grampa.jpg)
Thank you Grampa.
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Truly they are the greatest generation of Americans.
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My Old Man was safely in New York Harbour getting ready to shakedown the USS Soley, DD-707 during the Iwo Jima campaign.
Then there is this little tidbit of history that Pop never mentioned...
"Soley was credited with being the last major combatant U.S. vessel to transit the Panama Canal prior to V-J Day. She arrived in San Diego August 17 then on to Pearl Harbor for a brief stop before departing Hawaii on August 29th for Kwajalein. The ship arrived at Ebeye Island in the Kwajalein Atoll on September 5, and reported to the Commander Marshall-Gilbert Island Area for duty. After two days in Ebeye, Soley was assigned to Task Unit 96.15.1 and, in company with USS Hyman, proceeded to Kusaie Island in the Eastern Carolines to take part in the surrender of Japanese forces on the island. Kusaie was one of the smaller islands by-passed by American forces during the Pacific war.
On September 8, Lt. Gen. Harada of the Imperial Japanese Army signed the surrender documents officially turning over his garrison of some 4,000 troops to Commodore Ben Wyatt, USN, who commanded the two-ship force. Later that day Commodore Wyatt departed Kusaie on board USS Hyman leaving Soley there to enforce the surrender terms. Soley remained at Kusaie as station ship until mid-October. Andrew Black wrote home to describe being a member of the landing party during the surrender ceremony and related tales of the Japanese soldiers who had not seen anyone from the outside world for nearly three years. One Japanese ship had managed to get through to the harbor about a year earlier but was sunk by U.S. aircraft prior to off-loading.
Soley's Commanding Officer was charged with the responsibility of disarming the Japanese, collecting or rendering inoperative all weapons, destroying all ammunition, and segregating the Japanese and the various native groups on the island. He was also responsible for setting up a military government, dispensing food and medicines, and maintaining order."
Thanks Pop...
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The sight of that Flag guarantees the existence of the Marine Corps for the next 500 years.
Adm. Forrestal
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Here's a Semper Fi from this old squid.
I had an uncle who joined the Marines in the middle of WWII (he was 17 and just old enough to join) and was then killed by a sniper in one of the battles leading up to Iwo Jima.
I never knew him as I was born several years after the culmination of hostilities. But he was still a "hero" in my eyes.
Whenever we played "soldier," I was PFC Mahaffey, USMC.
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And just in time, for those who missed it, History Channel is rerunning some of the WWII in HD programs again. Snaged 2 this past week on the DVR.
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And just in time, for those who missed it, History Channel is rerunning some of the WWII in HD programs again. Snaged 2 this past week on the DVR.
I watched them last night and there are two more tonight. There is some new footage...but the intro on the first one pissed me off. The condescending arrogance of that man, Werner, dismissing the sacrifice of a young man from Mississippi as if his value was less because he "didn't understand" what was going on pissed me off.
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I don't know that I read it that way, Rastus. I though Werner was lamenting that so many died who didn't fully understand the war, and didn't really get to fight much. I think, and I could be wrong, Warner felt terribly sorry for those who lost their lives in a "random" fashion, without really getting a chance to fight.
But I'll watch it again with your outlook and see.
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My father and his brothers were combat soldiers in WWII, my uncle on my mom's side was in combat in WWII. I grew up with the social event in town being anything the American Legion had going on. None of the WWII vets had any illusion going over as to what was at stake before they signed up. In fact, to a man when they would speak about why they went ,in private, it was to protect their families and prevent the world from falling into the abyss of the Axis powers. Because they were poor...and I mean dirt poor...farm boys did not mean they lacked the understanding of the big picture nor does their background reduce in some way the sacrifice they made because they "didn't understand".
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For all the veterans in our past
(http://i703.photobucket.com/albums/ww40/BigCheeseStick/P1010530.jpg)
(My kids first day in Jr. ROTC) ;D
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Most excellent.
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Looks like a great kid.
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Good form on the Salute.
Our future is kids like yours.
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Good form on the Salute.
Our future is kids like yours.
+ 100 from another Patriot. God bless her and keep her safe.
Crusader Rabbit
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A good salute, indeed.
Semper Fi, Devil Dogs!
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+1 on the JrROTC...... Great photo....it gives us all hope for the future.
I learned lessons 25 years ago that have stood me in good stead to this day. I would recommend it to all students.
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Thank Goodness she looks like her mother... ;D
My 14 year old son is the same way, although they removed ROTC from his district. >:(
He inherited his mothers looks, and my love for God and Country, (and firearms)...
I can live with that.
Thanks BM.