Within my searching of reports,
websites, books, and other resources, I've gathered a big list of interesting
facts. These facts are either cool, funny, or just really bizzare.
All are true, so dig in.
-Killed
by mortar
General Mike
Strank was the one who was given the orders to climb Mount Suribachi, and
raise the flag. Mike exclaimed to the other flag raisers that the
flag had to be raised so that "every marine on this cruddy island can see
it." Saddly, he was later killed on March 1, 1945 by a mortar as
he was drawing out a plan for his soldiers in the sand.
-Logistics
The logistic report to the Fifth
Fleet during the Iwo Jima campaign totaled approximately:
-
12,600,000 gallons fuel oil - 34 fleet
oilers
employed.
-
7,000,000 gallons aviated gas.
-
4,410,000 gallons diesel oil.
-
250 new aircrafts.
-
65 new replacement pilots.
-110,000 Man
Island
The battle
was unique in its setting. One hundred thousand men fighting on a tiny
island one-third the size of Manhattan. for 36 days Iwo Jima was one of
the most populated 7.5 miles on earth.
-Communications
With hundreds of ships in the area
and 30,000 Marines on the beaches, voice radio communications tended to
be a bit frusturating. One ship's skipper in bewailing this problem
reported:
We were taking orders from at
least seven commands including the Marine Officer who said he had 'higher
authority' than his actual rank. Often these orders were contradictory.
In this regard, I can't help but relate just a bit of dialogue heard via
voice radio coming from the Marine tanks in battle on shore.
The voice calls here used are fictitious:
Casper, this is Soapbox One - 'Move
over the left flank'
Casper, this is Soapbox Seven -
'Close in to the right'
Casper, this is Soapbox - 'Stay
where you are'
Casper was heard to remark - 'Yes,
by God, that's what I'm going to do, until I find out whom I'm supposed
to take orders from.'
-Suicide
Planes
During the attack on Iwo Jima, many
U.S. ships were attacked by Japanese Suicide Planes called Kamakazis.
One of the many ships damaged was the Saratoga. It took so many hits,
it returned to the Navy Yards for repairs.
-Counter-Attack
After being defeated, the Japanese
tried the last Japanese "Banzai" charge against the occupying troops on
the island, Iwo Jima. 867 additional Japanese were catured and 1,602
killed by garrison forces on Iwo Jima.
-Debris
The unloading phase on Iwo Jima was
considered dangerous, due to wreckage of other ships/tanks and general
debris such as nets, metal, etc. Also weather, and beach conditions
contributed to the difficulties of unloading.
-A sad story
 This
is a picture of Ralph Ignatowski. Ralph was tortured to death on
Iwo Jima. He was pulled into an underground cave and endured three days
of slow torture. His body was tossed out and found by his buddies
on March 8, 1945.
Ralph could have avoided military
service. When he enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1943 he flunked
the physical. Later he brought a friend's urine in as his own so
he could fight for his country.
Ralph Ignatowski was a best friend
of Flag Raiser John Bradley. He is buried in the Rock Island, IL.
National Military Cemetery.
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