Iwo Jima -65 Years Ago Today -Conclusion
February 22, 2010
 

The previous four part notes are from various sources:

The Marine Archives on-line,
Flags of Our Fathers, by James Bradley,
Various television documentaries on Iwo Jima,
Letters from Mansfield historian Roger Thayer,
Correspondence with relatives of the Mansfield boys.

My interest in Iwo Jima probably began when I was just 7 or 8.
I recall seeing this photo in my father's scrap book.
My father was flipping through the pages while we were in the attic and I saw him pause, look down and say......."Now they were heroes.."

I found it rather odd to think my father had a hero.
It was different than how he talked about the Great DiMaggio.
These guys were obviously his friends.

Maybe it was the funny sounding name.....Iwo Jima..
or just a boys fascination with soldiers, big boats and loud guns...

But I read everything I could about Iwo Jima.....and the war in the Pacific.

When I was older, I began to appreciate more the sacrifice....and the honor...

and later how there truly are ...Sacred Places...