Iwo Jima 65th Anniversary

Some of our World War II veterans are commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima by visiting the island.

IWO JIMA, Japan (AP) -- Dozens of U.S. veterans, now in their 80s and 90s, returned to the remote volcanic island of Iwo Jima on Wednesday to mark the 65th anniversary of one of World War II's fiercest battles.

The veterans, some in wheelchairs, flew to the island on a chartered airliner and fanned out across its famous black-sand beaches, where the U.S. invasion began on Feb. 19, 1945, and lasted 36 days. All told, nearly 28,000 troops were killed.

They were also taken to the top of Mount Suribachi, where the famous image of the American flag being raised was taken, before joining a joint memorial with U.S. and Japanese dignitaries.

"I was here for the entire mission, start to finish," said Richard Rothwell, 97, of Catonsville, Maryland. "I had people killed next to me and around me and I was just very fortunate I made it out alive."

Rothwell, who toured the island with Marine escorts pushing his wheelchair, was commander of a 4th Marines Division battalion when the invasion began. He retired as a colonel, with a silver star for his service on Iwo Jima.

Only five of the 18 U.S. Marine battalion commanders on Iwo Jima left the island still in command. The rest either died or were injured and relieved of duty.

Rothwell said the island today—inhabited only by about 300 Japanese troops because it is still deemed too dangerous for development because of remaining unexploded ordnance—is nothing like it was during the battle.

"It's a paradise," he said. "I see no resemblance at all. Even the beach seems different."

The island, the size of Manhattan, is a maze of tunnels, caves and dense, scraggly underbrush.

Attesting to how deeply dug in its Japanese defenders were, the island is also still giving up the dead, with dozens of remains recovered every year.

The battle claimed 6,821 American and 21,570 Japanese lives. Of that, about 12,000 Japanese are still classified as missing in action and presumed dead, along with 218 Americans.

Thirty-six days of fighting.

By the count used in this article, 28,000 troops dead.

Nearly 7,000 Americans lost their lives in a battle to secure a piece of land the size of Manhattan.

The victory came at such a high price. It's difficult to comprehend. The sacrifice was so great.

We should never take our freedom for granted. We should never forget.

We should honor our World War II veterans.
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