On the afternoon of February 23, 1945, Joe Rosenthal photographed the second raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima. A smaller American flag had been raised earlier in the morning.The Fifth Marine Amphibious Corps invaded the island on February 19, 1945. Approximately 60,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese participated in the Battle. In the end, 6,821 Americans were killed and 19,217 were wounded.While the Marines were fighting on the island, in the ocean, ships were being hit by the kamikaze. Carlyle Harmer was on LST 477 when a bomb hit its main deck, followed by a kamikaze hitting the side of the ship on February 21, 1945. This caused a terrible fire but fortunately, the Navy sailors and Marines on board were able to put the fire out and the ship was able to make it to shore.In the book, Dont Call Me Rosie, Carlyle recalled:On February 23rd, we steamed on the beaches at Hot Rocks, Iwo Jima at the foot of Mt. Suribachi. We unloaded our cargo and men and supplies all the while we were getting shelled from the island and it was landing all around us.After we unloaded our cargo tanks and men, we moved out to the middle of the bay and anchored. I was watching the big fight on the island through a long glass and I saw the flag being raised on Mt. Suribachi. It was the greatest thrill of my life.It took over 30 more days to secure the island. Over the next 30 days, let us remember those who fought at Iwo Jima for our freedom.Kathleen Thomas is author of the book, Dont Call Me Rosie, the Women who Welded the LSTs and the Men who Sailed on Them.
Category : General Gardening
