Quick thread on what #IwoJima75 means to me as a Marine.
In the Marine Corps our dogma is battles. Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Chosin, Khe Sanh, Hue City. It’s not victory we venerate, it’s the fight.
Iwo stands alone.
In the Marine Corps our dogma is battles. Guadalcanal, Okinawa, Chosin, Khe Sanh, Hue City. It’s not victory we venerate, it’s the fight.
Iwo stands alone.
While we’re getting smoked at boot camp the Drill Instructors dismissively snarl “this isn’t Iwo Jima.”
When your struggling in training senior Marines mock you “this isn’t Iwo Jima.”
New color video of the battle is here ⬇️boingboing.net/2020/02/19/pow…
When your struggling in training senior Marines mock you “this isn’t Iwo Jima.”
New color video of the battle is here ⬇️boingboing.net/2020/02/19/pow…
Iwo Jima is the Marine Corps.
It wasn’t a fight to liberate a city. It was a fight over a rock.
The Japanese Army wanted it. They fortified it. We took it.
In 36 days around 7,000 Americans were killed.
The flag raising(s) at Mt. Suribachi is our iconic moment.
It wasn’t a fight to liberate a city. It was a fight over a rock.
The Japanese Army wanted it. They fortified it. We took it.
In 36 days around 7,000 Americans were killed.
The flag raising(s) at Mt. Suribachi is our iconic moment.
I was always proud to serve in a unit (24th Marines) that fought on Iwo.
At one point Charlie Company (my future unit in Fallujah) took so many casualties it was disbanded.
Of the 215 Marines that landed on Iwo with Charlie Co. only these 31 made it to the end.
At one point Charlie Company (my future unit in Fallujah) took so many casualties it was disbanded.
Of the 215 Marines that landed on Iwo with Charlie Co. only these 31 made it to the end.
In combat suddenly the narrative shifts. Iwo, our battles, are no longer myths that minimize your suffering. Our history becomes our strength.
The legacy of Marines on Iwo becomes our superpower.
The legacy of Marines on Iwo becomes our superpower.
Briefing my squad for a raid on a car bomb factory I reassure them “this isn’t Iwo.” They nod.
Alone with your thoughts at night in ambush you whisper to yourself “this isn’t Iwo.” You hold it together.
Exhausted after patrol you grunt “it’s not fucking Iwo.” You keep going.
Alone with your thoughts at night in ambush you whisper to yourself “this isn’t Iwo.” You hold it together.
Exhausted after patrol you grunt “it’s not fucking Iwo.” You keep going.
This is the genius of the Corps. This is the magic & importance of history.
History gives us the strength to endure & inspires us to be our best.
The battles of Marines past got me through tough times.
I’m grateful for their legacy & honor their memory 🙏 #WeAreIwo
History gives us the strength to endure & inspires us to be our best.
The battles of Marines past got me through tough times.
I’m grateful for their legacy & honor their memory 🙏 #WeAreIwo
