After having no breakfast, by the time the Battle of Iwo Jima panel rolled around, I was ready to chew on my notebook. Perhaps that hunger kept me generally grounded in the present, because I find that just
looking back through my notes is more emotional than I remember feeling during most of the presentation that day. The panel consisted of: Col. Frank C. Caldwell, recipient of the Navy Cross and CO of F Company, 2nd BN, 26th Marines, whose unit suffered the highest KIA rate in USMC History; Ralph K. Griffiths, veteran of the company that took Mt. Suribachi and raised the flags; Donald Mates, who was severely wounded; and James White, whose actions saved Mates' life.
Much like the
Band of Brothers panel, this one was a kaleidoscope of stories and memories--Caldwell in particular spoke that way. He started off by stating with great pride and awe in his voice that on Iwo Jima it had been his honor to command "two hundred and fifty-three of the bravest 19-year-olds you ever saw." He is 88 years old and so the words came slowly, with frequent pauses between sentences.
"The island was like a place out of Hell," he recalled. "The worst 30-some-odd days that I ever spent in my life." He described the smell and the barren landscape, using Hell as a simile rather than a metaphor.
Read the complete post at http://www.thedonovan.com/archives/2009/11/among_heroes_pa_2.html
Posted
Nov 23 2009, 07:07 PM
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Argghhh! The Home Of Two Of Jonah's Military Guys..