Volume 10, Issue 1 Spring 2019 PUBLISHED BY THE IWO JIMA ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, Inc (IJAA) 2019 Reunion and Symposium The 2019 IJAA Reunion and Symposium was held and symposium program included a day-long visit to 13-16 February at the Hyatt Regency in Arlington, the National Museum of the Marine Corps, where Virginia and proved the attendees re- to be a wonderful viewed the latest addi- event for all those tions and its collec- attending. We tions. President and were honored to CEO of the Marine have seven Iwo Ji- Corps Heritage Foun- ma Veterans dation, Major General attending along James E. Kessler, with several family USMC (Ret) met the members of those group and briefed who fought in the battle. The reunion Iwo Jima Veterans, (L-R) Ivan Hammond, Joe Rodgers, See, Reunion and Sym- John Lauriello, Bud Hampton, Mahlon Fink posium, page 3 IJAA Gets New President In This Issue President’s Message…………..Page 2 Major General David F. Bice, to division. Board of Director’s Minutes..Page 5 USMC (Ret) was elected Presi- He served as John Lauriello Story.. .. ..Page 8 dent, Iwo Jima Association of a rifle platoon Hiawassee, GA Ceremony….Page 10 America, during the Board of Di- commander Reunion Of Honor Photos….Page 11 rectors meeting on 14 February with 3rd Bn, Membership Application…...Page12 2019. He retired from the Ma- 1st Marines rine Corps for the second time in in Vietnam. Contact Us 2007 after being recalled to be He led companies in 1st Bn, 4th Executive Director: LtCol “Art” Sifuentes Inspector General of the Marine Marines; 3rd Bn, 7th Marines; 13198 Centerpointe Way Woodbridge, VA 22193-1292 Corps. He has commanded Ma- and 1st Tank Bn. He commanded [email protected] rines at every level from platoon See New President, Page 3 703-212-8128 IWO JIMA ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC (IJAA) BLACK SANDS SPRING 2019 FOUNDER EMERITUS MajGen Fred Haynes, USMC** CHAIRMEN EMERTI President’s LtGen Larry Snowden, USMC** LtGen H.C. “Hank” Stackpole, USMC CHAIRMAN Message LtGen Norman “Norm” Smith, USMC PRESIDENT MajGen David Bice, USMC Greetings! derful hosts to all of our guests SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT Mrs. Bonnie Haynes I am delighted to become and attendees. The Board of HONORARY CHAIRMEN President of the Iwo Jima Asso- Directors’ meeting minutes are Col Dave Severance, USMC ciation of America. This historic displayed in this issue. Mr. Arnold Shapiro CWO J. “Woody” Williams, USMC, MOH organization has been well I want to thank everyone who Col Bill Rockey, USMC known throughout the Marine assisted and supported the re- Mr. Gene Bell Corps and its fraternal organiza- union and symposium; especial- Mr. John Butler Mr. Ivan Hammond tions as one of the best in the ly our Executive Director, LtCol Mr. Ira Rigger business of promoting the his- Art Sifuentes; Special Events EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT tory of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Coordinator Shayne Jarosz and Col Warren Wiedhahn, USMC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR supporting the Veterans of the all the wonderful volunteers LtCol Raul “Art” Sifuentes, USMC campaign, and educating Amer- who came out to assist. A spe- DIRECTOR, SPECIAL EVENTS ica on the significance of that cial thanks goes to all the Mr. Shayne Jarosz ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT horrific struggle. I got to know speakers, the hotel staff and Kerrigan Patterson the organization’s founder, the the police officers who provid- HISTORIAN late Major General Fred ing our Iwo Jima Veterans a po- Dr. Charles R. Neimeyer, Ph.D. CHAPLAIN Haynes several years ago when lice escort. Rev. William M. Krulak, Col, USMCR we worked a project together. As I wrote this message, we EDITOR “BLACK SANDS” I am proud to support his lega- were making final preparations Ms. Heather Briley-Schmidt FEATURED CORRESPONDENT, “BLACK SANDS” cy. for the 2019 Reunion of Honor Ms. Lisa Simorelli We have just completed the trip to Iwo Jima. We will have a 2019 Reunion and Symposium, full story on the event in our BOARD OF DIRECTORS Mr. Gene Colabatistto which is described in this issue. next Black Sands issue. We are Mr. David Fields The reunion and symposium also looking ahead for the 75th Mr. Kevin Jarvis was a wonderful event, and I Anniversary of the battle of Iwo Mr. Christopher Johnson Mrs. Laura Leppert am honored to have met so Jima in 2020 and ways to recog- Mr. David Scott many Iwo Jima veterans, family nize and honor those who members of those who served fought there. BOARD OF ADVISORS Col Dick Camp, USMC on Iwo Jima, Marine veterans, I am honored to be a part of Scott “Bull” Durham and students of history. Our IJAA and I look forward to serv- Ray Elliott Board Chairman, Lieutenant ing you. Doug Meny Dan King General Norman Smith, USMC Semper Fidelis, Noreen Korsak (Ret) and other members of the David Bice James Oelke Board of Directors were won- MajGen USMC (Ret) Col Steve Snowden, USMC 2 IWO JIMA ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC (IJAA) BLACK SANDS SPRING 2019 Reunion and them on plans for new exhibits and Staff Non-Commissioned Officers, and Non- Symposium, displays. Following a trip back to Commissioned Officers.Brigadier General William J. from Page 1 the hotel, the group enjoyed a well Bowers, USMC, President, Marine Corps University at -stocked hospitality room with many stories and ex- Quantico, VA addressed the group about the historic periences being shared. Thank you Wanda Stump! importance of the Battle of Iwo Jima in context of not We were delighted to see that John Beele brought only what it meant for the World War II effort, but its along his flag that significance on the Marine Corps now and in the fu- depicted the flag ture. Following lunch at the Barracks, the group raising at Mt. Suri- toured the World War II Memorial on the Mall in bachi, which in- Washington and went on to the U.S. Marine Corps cluded signatures War Memorial where IJAA Chairman, Lieutenant from scores of Iwo General Norman Smith, USMC (Ret) accompanied Jima veterans. the Iwo Jima Veterans in laying a wreath at the me- Some of our Iwo Jima veterans attending the reun- ion and symposium got to sign the flag as well. John, of course, is well known for leading Joe Rodgers Marines in singing the Marine Hymn—all 3 verses. Iwo Jima Veterans, (L-R) Rhinehart, Mahlon Fink, Lt Gen Norm Smith, On Friday, the group was given a police escort by the John Sofedes, Bud Hampton, Joe Rodgers, Ivan Hammond Arlington County Police Department to Marine Bar- morial. The Marine Corps League Detachment from racks, 8th and I in Washington. While at “The Oldest Reading, PA also accompanied their Iwo Jima Veteran Post in the Corps”, the attendees were welcomed by in placing a wreath at the memorial. the Barracks Executive Officer and got a chance to See, Reunion and Symposium, Page 4 meet and talk to several of the Barracks’ officers, New President, from Page 1 Division on Okinawa, Japan; CG, Marine Corps Base Hawaii; Director Marine Corps Staff; Deputy Com- 3D Battalion, 8th Marines and the 9th Marine Regi- mander Marine Forces, Europe in Stuttgart, Germany; ment. His assignments outside the operating forces Deputy Commander, NATO South Central in Larissa, have included Series Commander, MCRD Parris Is- Greece and CG, Marine Corps Base, Camp Pendleton, land; Enlisted Promotions Plans Officer, Manpower CA where he initially retired in 2004. Following active Dept, HQMC; Exchange Officer with the Royal Ma- duty, he has been an international defense consultant rines, where he graduated from the royal Marines and has supported many veterans organizations in- Commando Course; and Chief European Division, J-5, cluding serving as past President, Third Marine Divi- the Joint Staff. sion Association. As a General Officer, he served as CG, 3D Marine 3 IWO JIMA ASSOCIATION OF AMERICA, INC (IJAA) BLACK SANDS SPRING 2019 the U.S. Marine Corps Color Guard. Our banquet Reunion and Symposium, from Page 3 Guest of Honor was Lieutenant General David H. Saturday was a full day of educational talks and dis- Berger, USMC, CG, Marine Corps Combat Develop- cussions by well known experts of the Iwo Jima ment Command at Quantico. General Berger re- battle. Author and historian Col Richard Camp Jr., counted the diary notes and letters of three lesser USMC (Ret) gave an informative briefing on the pre- know Marines who fought on Iwo Jima and the inspi- invasion operations of the battle. Many were rational messages they provide for today’s Marines. shocked to learn of the limited fire support actually Following dinner, the attendees enjoyed dancing to provided to the Marines before, during, and after the the music of the Radio King Orchestra, which is al- landing. Noted Iwo Jima tour leader, James Oelke- ways a crowd pleaser for these events. As always, Farley presented a well researched talk on the Ma- the real VIPs for the banquet were the Iwo Jima Vet- rine operations ashore. Jim’s photos and map depic- erans who were in constant demand for autographs tions dramatically showed the difficult battles and and pictures. skirmishers all three Marine divisions endured throughout the 36 day campaign. IJAA Historian and noted author, Dr. Charles Neimeyer, LtCol, USMC (Ret) gave a delightful and informative briefing on th men who raised both flags on Iwo Jima. He went into great detail as to how Navy Corpsman John Bradley was mis-identified as one of the flag raisers in the iconic Joe Rosenthal photograph and that PFC Har- old Schultz was the actual flag raiser who had origi- nally been thought to be John Bradley.