Iwo Jima Anniversary: A McLean Veteran Remembers
67 Years Ago This Morning, the Marines Landed in Hell
Sixty-seven years ago this morning, Feb. 19, 1945, the Fifth Marine Division landed in a hell named Iwo Jima. McLean resident James Wheeler was one of the thousands of teenage U.S. Marines who participated in the invasion. He saw the historic flag-raising Feb. 23. He also saw the death and horror that makes Iwo Jima not a name but an emotion. He recalled the battle for Iwo Jima at a November's Veterans Day Observance in McLean. Of all the Pacific island battles during World War II, Iwo Jima is the best known— and the deadliest. Marines fought and died on Iwo Jima for an airfield. An airfield that became a base for the fighters that would accompany B-29's on bombing missions over Japan. And a airfield that was the salvation for B-29 …
Keith O'Mara
7:37 pm on Monday, February 18, 2013
I am a Former Marine....1971-1973....and I had the HONOR of knowing another Former Marine who was an IWO JIMA Survivor. His name is Emil Samuelson and he wrote a book about his experience. It was modestly titled..."Just Another Marine". These Marines taught me the meaning of "SEMPER FIDELIS". more ›