DOCSLIB.ORG

75Th Anniversary Ceremony First Flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima Honoring Sgt Ernest “Boots” Thomas

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
75Th Anniversary Ceremony First Flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima Honoring Sgt Ernest “Boots” Thomas 75th Anniversary Ceremony First Flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima Honoring Sgt Ernest “Boots” Thomas & WW II Veterans “BOOTS” THOMAS VETERANS MEMORIAL February 21, 2020 10:00 AM 930 W Washington St., Monticello FL Sponsored By: Jefferson County Historical Association, American Legion Post 49, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 251 The City of Monticello, Florida and The Jefferson County Tourist Development Council [email protected] (850) 997-5007 Cell 850-321-6975 Sgt. ERNEST “BOOTS” THOMAS IWO JIMA VETERANS MEMORIAL 75th Anniversary of the First Flag Raising on Mount Suribachi On February 23, 1945, Sergeant Ernest “Boots” Thomas, USMCR, led his platoon to raise the first United States Flag atop Mount Suribachi on the Japanese Island of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima was the first Japanese Territory taken in World War II. On March 3, 1945, Ten (10) days after earning the Navy Cross for Heroism (Previous action), Eight (8) days after the raising the First Flag, and a week before his 21st Birthday, Sergeant Thomas was killed on the battlefield. On February 19, 1945, after months of bombardment, culminating 74 days of continuous air strikes, the largest Marine Combat Force ever assembled landed on the eight square mile Japanese Island of Iwo Jima. At the Southern tip was a 550' volcano, Mount Suribachi, that gave the Japanese a commanding view of the Marine beachheads. The base of Suribachi was surrounded by U.S. Marines on Dday+3 and the next day at 10:20 A.M. Marines from Company E, 3rd Platoon, raised the Stars and Stripes atop Suribachi. Thomas’ Platoon took photographs as they proceeded up Suribachi which still had pockets of Japanese infantry dug into its many caves. These are the only photographs of their climb up Suribachi and of the First Flag raising. At the time these photographs were widely published by newspapers in Florida. Several hours later another group of Marines, who had been ordered to do so, raised a larger second flag. The photograph of the larger Second Flag being raised has become one of the most famous single photographs ever taken. It has been widely circulated and was used to cast the Marine Corps Iwo Jima Memorial at Arlington. On March 26, 1945, following 36 days of the bloodiest battle in Marine History, the most heavily fortified island in the world was secured. The victory had cost 6,821 U.S. Marine lives and more than 20,000 Japanese lives. Iwo Jima was the first Japanese Territory conquered and was of paramount importance for refueling aircraft and as a base of operations for bombing raids of the main Japanese Islands and Tokyo. The story of “Boots” Thomas leading his 3rd Platoon to the summit of Suribachi, raising the First U.S. Flag and fighting to hold Suribachi, would have been lost to history, if not for the unwavering efforts of a boyhood friend, Dr. James Sledge. Dr. Sledge has been instrumental in keeping this story from fading away by honoring his memory, courage and valor with the “Boots” Thomas Veterans Memorial and also by collaborating with R.A. Sheats in her book “Call Me No Hero.” Actor and director, Clint Eastwood, told both stories, (First Flag and Second Flag) in his film “Flags of Our Fathers.” “Boots” Thomas grew up in Monticello and was returned for burial in Monticello’s Roseland Cemetery. “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue”.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Download Ships Named for Significant Military Or Naval Events
    Ships Named for Significant Military or Naval Events Compiled in March 2007 by: Glenn L. Smith Lieutenant Commander, United States Navy (Retired) 3571 Orrstown Road Orrstown, PA 17244 Main resources used included: • Dictionary of Naval Fighting Ship (DANFS), • Naval Vessels Register (NVR), • Catalog of United States Naval Postmarks, published by the Universal Cancellation Society, Fifth Edition, 1997, with Addenda and Corrigenda, November 2001, • Six Frigates, by Ian W. Toll, 2006, W.W. Norton, NY, NY, • Wikipedia, the online encyclopedia, • and other on-line resources. Expression of Appreciation: Sincere thanks to Larry Brennan for a very thorough and insightful critique of the original copy of this list, and to Bob Rawlins for his suggestions on improvements to the list. This revision is significantly better for their suggestions. Responsibility: Every effort was made to ensure the accuracy of this list. Appreciation cited above notwithstanding, all errors or omissions in this list are the sole responsibility of the compiler. Additions and Corrections: This is intended to be a dynamic document, and all future additions and/or corrections should be sent to the compiler at the above address. Ship’s names: In this list, ship’s names and hull numbers are in bold print. They are listed in alphabetical order. Ship’s hull numbers: Ships normally have hull numbers that describe their function and sequential order of being built. In the list, for example, USS Admiralty Island CVE-99 was the 99th escort aircraft carrier built. Some ships have had more than one hull number, having been converted from one function to another. In those cases, all known hull numbers are listed.
    [Show full text]
  • Iwo Jima: Forgotten Valor US Wartime Posters
    U.S. Wartime Posters Primary Source Adventures: Iwo Jima: Forgotten Valor Office of War Information. Enemy Ears Are Listening. Illus. by Ralph Illigan. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1942. (OWI Poster No.5). (PR 32.5015:5; Poster, 14” x 26”). U.S. War Department Public Relations Bureau. We’ll Lick’em, Just Give Us The Metal! Illus. by Ronald McLeod. [Washington, D.C.]: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1943. (Army Official Poster). (W 107.8: M 56/3; Poster; 40” x 29”). University of North Texas Libraries A U.S. war loan poster Primary Source Adventures: Iwo Jima: Forgotten Valor U.S. Treasury Department. War Finance Division. Next! Japan, 6th War Loan. Illus. by Bingham. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, 1944. (WFD 958-A). (T 66.8: W 19/15; Poster 28” x 20”). University of North Texas Libraries Lindberg’s enlistment Primary Source Adventures: Iwo Jima: Forgotten Valor U.S. Navy Department. Marine Corps. Land with the U.S. Marines: Apply or Write, to Nearest Recruiting Station. Illus. by Vic Guinness. Philadelphia: McCandlish Litho Corporation, 1942. (Poster, 40” x 28”) From Charles W. Lindberg, Oral History Collection University of North Texas Libraries Primary Training for the invasion of Iwo Jima Source Adventures: Iwo Jima: Forgotten Valor From Charles W. Lindberg, Oral History Collection University of North Texas Libraries Primary Source Adventures: Iwo Jima: Forgotten Valor George W. Garand & Truman R. Strobridge. Western Pacific Operations: History of the U.S. Marine Corps Operations in World War II Vol. IV (Washington D.C. Historical Division HQ, U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • 1945 March 26-April 1 Bloody
    1 1945 March 26-April 1 Bloody Iwo This week brought the first news of La Crosse County casualties in the Battle of Iwo Jima that was fought in the Pacific Theater from the middle of February almost through March 1945. Before February 1945, most people had never heard of Iwo Jima. A month later this tiny eight-square- mile speck of land, smaller than the city of Onalaska, would touch all parts of the country, and the county, because of the sacrifices made there.1 La Crosse Tribune, 1945 March 22, page 12 2 In normal times, Iwo Jima was a barren, desolate, inconsequential lump of rock and volcanic ash in the middle of the Pacific Ocean with no redeeming qualities. But World War II was far from normal times. Even relative specks of land garnered attention merely because of their location. Just as real estate salespeople say now, it is all about location, location, location. Iwo Jima was halfway between American-held Saipan and Tokyo, Japan. On the south end of the island was an extinct volcano named Mount Suribachi. The northern end of the island was dominated by "rocks, boulders, chasms, lava ledges, and steaming sulphur pits."3 An American intelligence officer described the island as one-third airfields and fortifications, one-third cane fields and scrub growth, and one-third barren. A plateau rose on the northern two-thirds of the island.4 The airfields are what made the island strategically important. Japanese on the island could give early warning of American B-29 bombers on the way to raid Japan.
    [Show full text]
  • Islands of Wailing Ghosts List of Works False Manchukuo
    Enari Tsuneo Exhibition : Japan and Its Forgotten War: Showa Notes • Data about each photograph are provided in the following order: number, title, comment, place and date of shoot- List of Works ing, size of the print (mm), type, and owner. • All works for which no owner is stated are in the collection of the photographer. • Enari Tsuneo wrote the commentaries on each section and the commentary on the Islands of Wailing Ghosts. 8 16 24 32 41 49 Islands of Wailing Ghosts Th e Remains of a “Donryu” Susupe Beach, Where the U.S. Marker for the Grave of an Western Cave, the Headquarters “Block House” in Ormoc Inside the Navy Medical False Manchukuo Type 100 Heavy Bomber Forces Landed Unknown Sailor of Infantry Corps No. 222 Th e U.S. forces attacked Ormoc, in Division Bunker Th e bomber is lying in the jungle. The beach was stained with blood Many of the U.S. sailors who were Because a field hospital was also the west; the Japanese, defending it, A chamber pot and other medical It has been 70 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor, the opening Th e adjacent Alexishafen airfi eld has from close combat between the killed at Pearl Harbor rest in the located in the cave, when it was were destroyed completely. These supplies, a kettle, a washbowl, and Th e Manchurian Incident contrived by Japan’s Kwantung Army battle in World War II in the Pacifi c. Th ree years and eight months returned to the wild but the huge Japanese and the Americans.
    [Show full text]
  • Battle of Iwo Jima Would First B-29S Land on Iwo Jima
    CHRONOLOGY: PARTICIPANTS: United States and Japan • Feb. 19, 1945: Marines attack multiple landing COMMANDERS: zones on the southern section Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz (U.S. of the island and reach part of Navy), Gen. Holland “Howlin’ Airfield #1. Mad” Smith (U.S. Marine Corps), Lt. Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Japan) • Feb. 23: 28th Marines plant American flag STRENGTH: atop Mount Suribachi. United States (110,000 personnel, more than 26,000 total casualties, • Feb. 27: 6,821 killed), Japan (20,000 to Airfield #2 is taken. 22,000 personnel, all but approxi- mately 200 dead or missing) • March 3: Airfield #3 is cleared. SURVIVOR’S SON: • March 4: “The battle of Iwo Jima would First B-29s land on Iwo Jima. quickly turn into a primitive contest of gladiators: Japanese gladiators • March 25: fighting from caves and tunnels The last pocket of Japanese resis- like the catacombs of the Colos- tance is defeated. seum, and American gladiators aboveground, exposed on all sides, • April 18: using liquid gasoline to burn their Last Marines leave Iwo Jima. opponents out of their lethal hiding places. “All of this on an island five and a SOUTH, THEN NORTH: half miles long and two miles wide. American forces started attack- An area smaller than Doc Bradley’s ing Iwo Jima on Feb. 19, 1945, hometown of Antigo, but bearing 10 making landfall in different zones BATTLE OF IWO JIMA times the humanity. A car driving 60 that were identified by colors. miles an hour could cover its length They moved southward to secure February 19, 1945 – March 26, 1945 in five and a half minutes.
    [Show full text]
  • Featuring Author James Bradley
    All the Best Podcast Episode 9: “Courage Under Fire: Chi Chi Jima” Featuring Author James Bradley James: Here's some reflections from President Bush after he was shot down in Chichijima and rescued by the Finback submarine. "I'll never forget the beauty of the Pacific, the flying fish, the stark wonder of the sea, the waves breaking across the bow. It was absolutely dark in the middle of the Pacific. The night's so clear and stars so brilliant. It was wonderful and energizing, the time to talk to God. I had time to reflect, to go deep inside myself and search for answers. People talk about a kind of foxhole Christianity where you're in trouble and you think you're going to die, so you want to make everything right with God and everyone else right there in the last minute, but this was just the opposite of that. I had already faced death and God had spared me. I had this very deep and profound gratitude and a sense of wonder. Sometimes when there's a disaster, people will pray. Why me? In an opposite way, I had the same question. Why had I been spared and what did God have in store for me? One of the things I realized out there all alone was how much family meant to me. Having faced death and been given another chance to live, I could see just how important those values and principles were that my parents taught me, and of course I thought about how much I loved Barbara, the girl I knew I would marry.
    [Show full text]
  • The Marines Raise the Flag on Mount Suribachi
    CONSULTANT EDITOR DAVID G. CHANDLER IWO JIMA 1945 THE MARINES RAISE THE FLAG ON MOUNT SURIBACHI DERRICK WRIGHT is the author of Campaign 77: Tarawa 1943, Tarawa: A Hell of a Way to Die (Windrow & Greene, 1997) and The Battle for Iwo Jima (Sutton, 1999). His interest in the Second World War started in childhood, as he grew up in the Teeside area which was subjected to so many bombing raids. After national service with the Army, he became an engineer specializing in Ultrasonics. Retired, he lives with his wife on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors. He has four daughters. JIM LAURIER is a native of New Hampshire. He graduated with honors from the Paiers School of Art, Connecticut, in 1978 and has worked as a freelance illustrator ever since, completing assignments in a wide variety of fields. Jim has a keen interest in military subjects, both aviation and armor, and is a Fellow member of the American Society of Aviation Artists, the New York Society of Illustrators and the American Fighter Aces Association. IW0 JIMA 1945 THE MARINES RAISE THE FLAG ON MOUNT SURIBACHI SERIES EDITOR: LEE JOHNSON IW0 JIMA 1945 THE MARINES RAISE THE FLAG ON MOUNT SURIBACHI TEXT BY DERRICK WRIGHT BATTLESCENE PLATES BY JIM LAURIER First published in Great Britain in 2001 by Osprey Publishing, Elms Court, Author's Note Chapel Way, Botley, Oxford 0X2 9LP, United Kingdom. Email: [email protected] The author wishes to thank Mr. Taro Kuribayashi, son of the commander of the Iwo Jima garrison LtGen Tadamichi © 2001 Osprey Publishing Ltd.
    [Show full text]
  • Spring 2005.PMD
    World War II Chronicles A Quarterly Publication of the World War II Veterans Committee ISSUE XXVIII, Spring, 2005 Veterans Remember IWO JIMA 60th Anniversary The Battle of Iwo Island has been won. The United States Marines by their individual and collective courage have conquered a base which is as necessary to us in our continuing forward movement toward final victory as it was vital to the enemy in staving off ultimate defeat. By their victory, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their country which only history will be able to value fully. Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue. -Admiral Chester Nimitz World War II Chronicles A Quarterly Publication of the World War II Veterans Committee WWW.WWIIVETS.COM ISSUE XXVIII, Spring, 2005 Articles -In This Issue- Iwo Jima: Iwo Jima: Storming Sulfur Island by 60 Years Later 5 Colonel Joseph H. Alexander, USMC-Ret The armed forces of the United States seize In early 1945, victory for the Allies was in sight. one of the most heavily defended islands in Nazi Germany was crumbling, and the slow but the world steady advance of the American forces in the Pa- Raising the Flag on Mt. Suribachi by cific brought them ever closer to the heart of Im- 15 G. Greeley Wells perial Japan. Yet in order to intensify the aerial The story behind the most memorable bombing of the Japanese homeland that would deal the Empire its deathblow, an island base for moment of World War II and an image that fighter escorts would be needed.
    [Show full text]
  • Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
    Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima: A Triumph Arising from Tragedy Andrew Da Junior Division Historical Paper Paper Length: 2,499 Words 2 "Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue." ​ ​ 1 - Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, 1945. ​ Seventy-four years ago, on February 23, 1945, in the Western Pacific Ocean, six U.S ​ Marines strained forward in unity, firmly planting a large American flag atop Mount Suribachi, the highest point of the Japanese island of Iwo Jima [Appendix A]. Joe Rosenthal, an Associated Press photographer, captured this historic moment on film — a photo that ultimately became one of the most recognizable images in American history.2 Raising a flag over another country’s land is commonly considered a sign of victory, marking the conclusion of a conflict. However, underneath the triumph depicted in Rosenthal’s image, there was also tragedy: in just five days, American casualties climbed to 6,000 while Japanese resistance remained fierce.3 For the next thirty-one days, over 70,000 American forces landed on the unremitting hell known as Iwo Jima, and more than 20,000 of them would be injured or killed.4 The heroic raising of the flag during this tragic onslaught framed Rosenthal’s photo into an inspiring triumph. The flag-raising not only sparked American morale during a difficult period of war but also shaped the Marine Corps’ core values and eventually became an iconic symbol of American patriotism and heroism. The War in the Pacific On December 7, 1941, Japan’s surprise attack on Pearl Harbor initiated war in the Pacific Theater.
    [Show full text]
  • Japan Volume 1
    PUB. 158 SAILING DIRECTIONS (ENROUTE) ★ JAPAN VOLUME 1 ★ Prepared and published by the NATIONAL GEOSPATIAL-INTELLIGENCE AGENCY Bethesda, Maryland © COPYRIGHT 2005 BY THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT NO COPYRIGHT CLAIMED UNDER TITLE 17 U.S.C. 2005 NINTH EDITION For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Internet: http://bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512-1800; DC area (202) 512-1800 Fax: (202) 512-2250 Mail Stop: SSOP, Washington, DC 20402-0001 Preface 0.0 Pub.158, Sailing Directions (Enroute) Japan, Volume 1, for every influence tending to cause deviation from such track, Ninth Edition, 2005, is issued for use in conjunction with and navigate so that the designated course is continuously Pub.120, Sailing Directions (Planning Guide) Pacific Ocean being made good. and Southeast Asia. Companion volumes are Pubs. 154, 155, 0.0 Currents.—Current directions are the true directions toward 157, and 159. which currents set. 0.0 Dangers.—As a rule outer dangers are fully described, but inner dangers which are well-charted are, for the most part, 0.0 This publication has been corrected to 22 January 2005, including Notice to Mariners No. 4 of 2005. omitted. Numerous offshore dangers, grouped together, are mentioned only in general terms. Dangers adjacent to a coastal Explanatory Remarks passage or fairway are described. 0.0 Distances.—Distances are expressed in nautical miles of 1 minute of latitude. Distances of less than 1 mile are expressed 0.0 Sailing Directions are published by the National Geospatial- Intelligence Agency (NGA), under the authority of Department in meters, or tenths of miles.
    [Show full text]
  • Gila River Relocation Center, 1942-1945, Monument Dedication
    BANQUET PROGRAM GILA RIVER DEDICATION REUNION MARCH 17-19 1995 COVER DESIGN: DETAIL OF NOH ROBE, 18TH CENTURY, TOKYO NATIONAL MUSEUM COLLECTION. BANQUET CEREMONIES MASTER OF CEREMONIES: HY SHISHINO ENTERTAINMENT PROGRAM FLAG SALUTE: HIROSHI TAKUSAGAWA ARTISTS ) INVOCATION: FATHER JOHN YAMAZAKI ' WELCOME: SEI DYO I. PIANO: JOHN FUYUUME (2 min. "Rigoletto Paraphrase") INTRODUCTION: GUEST SPEAKERS DIGNITARIES by Franz Liszt COMMITTEES DINNER & MUSIC: SALAD II. NARRATOR: JUDENARITA ENTREE Monologue of Mother and Daughter DESSERT relating to Relocation Camps GUEST SPEAKERS: HY SHISHINO III. VOCALIST: YOSHIKO GOLDEN (SHIOSAKI) MARY THOMAS (GOVERNOR OF GILA INDIAN RESERVATIONS) "Three Little Sisters" "I Only Have Eyes For You" IRENE HIRANO (PRES . OF JAPANESE/AMERICAN NAT. MUSEUM) IV. PIANO: SUZIE OCHI (T AMlJRA) GEORGE TAKEI (ACTOR and AUTHOR) "Fantasia" by Chopin ''Bumble Boogie" Boogie ENTERTAINMENT: V. VOCALIST: SUE TAKIMOTO OKABE ACCOMPANIST LISA MIDORI JOE CLOSING REMARKS: HARRY Y ASUMOTO "I've Heard That Song Before" "The More I See You" ANNOUNCEMENTS: J HY SHISHINO "Stardust" CLOSING GROUP SONG: AULD LANG SYNE GUEST ARTIST John Fuyuume, originated from Pasadena, went to school at Butte, Class of 43 is a concert pianist. Jude Narita, is a Sansei, writer/producer and performer in a1l phases of the theater. She was a winner of L.A. Drama Critics' circle award, L.A. Times Critics' award plus many other theatrical awards. Jude has performed throughout many countries of the world including, Poland, Paris, France, Singapore, and various major colleges of the United States. She will do a monologue of a Nisei Mother and her daughter pertaining to a relocation camp. Yoshiko Golden (Shiosaki) , in her early days of Camp Life, Y oshiro sang at talent shows in Tulare Assemble Center and later with a dance band with Todd Yamamoto at various mess halls and recreation barracks where dances were held.
    [Show full text]
  • Marine Corps War Memorial
    THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS WAR MEMORIAL 44*i & ft \ \ \ ra into 108 pieces and trucked to the Bedi- THE UNITED STATES Rassy Art Foundry, Brooklyn, N. Y., for casting in bronze. The casting process, which required the work of ex;xrienced MARINE CORPS artisans, took nearly 3 years. After the parts had been cast, cleaned, WAR MEMORIAL finished, and chased, they were reas- sembled into approximately a dozen pieces-the largest weighing more than 20 tons-and brought back to Washington by a three-truck convoy. Here, they were bolted and welded together and the statue was oeated with preservatives. Erection of the memorial was begun in September L9t4, and it was officially This memorial is a symbol of a grate- dedicated by President Dwight D. Eisen- ful nation's esteem for the honored dead hower on November L0, L954, the 179th of the United States Nlarine Corps. anniversary of the United States Nlarine Although rhe statue depicts one of the Corps. most famous incidents of World War II, the memorial is dedicated to all Nlarines who have given their lives in the defense of the United States since 1775. Charac- MEMORIAL STATISTICS teristic of the Marine Corps rhroughout The figures on the statue are 32 teet the years has been its "uncommon high, They are erecting a bronze flag- valor" as exhibited on NIount Suribachi. pole 60 feet in length from which a cloth flag flies. The figures are placed on a rock slope rising approximately 6 feet CREATION OF THE MEMORIAL The inspiring action photograph of the Marines raising the llag on Mount o Orlglnol phorogroph Suribachi was taken by newsphotograPher by Joc Roscnthol Joe Rosenthal.
    [Show full text]