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Casualty Info
Home Town Bismarck
Last Address 419 8th St. Bismarck
Casualty Date Mar 09, 1945
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Unknown, Not Reported
Location Japan
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Fort Snelling National Cemetery (VA) - Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Battle of Iwo Jima (19 February â?? 26 March 1945) was a major battle in which the United States Armed Forces landed and eventually captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II. This five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the War in the Pacific of World War II. The Imperial Japanese Army positions on the island were heavily fortified, with a dense network of bunkers, hidden artillery positions, and 11Â miles of underground tunnels. The Americans on the ground were supported by extensive naval artillery and complete air supremacy over Iwo Jima from the beginning of the battle by U.S. Navy and Marine Corps aviators. Iwo Jima was also the only battle by the U.S. Marine Corps in which the American casualties exceeded the Japanese, although Japanese combat deaths numbered three times the number of American deaths. Of the 22,000 Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima at the beginning of the battle, only 216 were taken prisoner, some of whom were captured because they had been knocked unconscious or otherwise disabled. The majority of the remainder were killed in action, although it has been estimated that as many as 3,000 continued to resist within the various cave systems for many days after wards, eventually succumbing to their injuries or surrendering weeks later. The 36-day (Iwo Jima) assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,821 dead. Iwo Jima was also the only U.S. Marine battle where the American casualties exceeded the Japanese, although Japanese combat deaths numbered three times as many American deaths. Two US Marines were captured as POWs during the battle; neither of them would survive their captivity.
Comments/Citation:
What is a Navy Corpsman, many people ask? Well, I've decided to enlighten you; I've taken on the task. A Corpsman is a strange fellow; I'll tell you what I mean. He joined the U.S. Navy, but he's more like a Marine. When Marines are asked to go to war to fight and maybe die. They have their "Doctor" with them; he's their "go to" guy. A special breed of sailors that Marines do call their own. His job is taking care of them so they can go back home. When the shooting starts and bullets fly and men all hit the dirt. The Corpsman looks around to see if anyone's been hurt. He hears a feeble voice cry. "Doc, I'm over here". The Corpsman rushes forward, his mission crystal clear. He finds a wounded comrade, a Marine that has been shot. The Corpsman working swiftly, giving all he's got. The young Marine whispers weakly, "Doc, will I die today?" "Not a chance", the Corpsman replies, "if I have my way". The young Marine did survive to fight another day. On a miserable far off battlefield, a sailor saved his life. He'dsoon be going home again to his children and his wife. So, if you ever meet a Corpsman say a silent prayer. For there are many Marines alive today who are glad that he was there. There's no way of telling just how much he's done and seen. As I said, he's in the Navy but he's more like a Marine.
