[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 502 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]
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116th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. RES. 502
Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the
Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the
flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
February 13, 2020
Mr. Young (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Coons, Mr. Kaine, Mr. Paul, Mr.
Sullivan, Mr. Tillis, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Moran, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Boozman,
Mr. Blumenthal, Ms. McSally, Mr. Manchin, Ms. Duckworth, Mrs. Shaheen,
Mr. Romney, Mr. Burr, Mrs. Loeffler, Mr. Hawley, Mr. Cruz, Mr. Jones,
Mr. Cardin, Mr. Van Hollen, Ms. Warren, Mr. Rubio, Mr. Gardner, Mr.
Udall, Mr. Barrasso, Ms. Ernst, Mr. Portman, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Brown, Mr.
Scott of Florida, Mr. King, Mr. Braun, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Reed, Ms.
Klobuchar, and Mr. Roberts) submitted the following resolution; which
was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations
June 3, 2020
Reported by Mr. Risch, without amendment
June 16, 2020
Considered and agreed to
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the
Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the
flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi.
Whereas, following the surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941,
at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the United States formally declared war on the
Imperial Government of Japan on December 8, 1941;
Whereas, during the 4 years that followed the attack, the United States and
allied forces fought a prolonged counterattack against Japanese advances
across the Pacific region;
Whereas the tactic of attacking, defeating, and controlling Japanese-held
outposts through the use of amphibious assault landings against
Japanese-held islands and territories (referred to in this preamble as
``island hopping'') became crucial to successfully countering Japanese
advances throughout the Pacific region;
Whereas the goal of island hopping was to secure airfields and supply bases--
(1) in order to launch aerial bombardment attacks against the mainland
of Japan using the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress; and
(2) in preparation for, and in anticipation of, a United States
invasion of Japan;
Whereas, by early 1945, the United States and allied forces bravely fought and
advanced to the island of Iwo Jima, an 8-square-mile volcanic island
with 3 strategic airfields, located between the Mariana Islands and
Japan;
Whereas Iwo Jima was--
(1) a strategic island with airfields to support bombers of the United
States with fighter escorts; and
(2) an essential base for emergency, refueling, and diversionary
landings for B-29 bombers;
Whereas, under the command of Japanese Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi,
Iwo Jima was a heavily fortified island with nearly 11 miles of
underground and networked tunnels, rooms, bunkers, artillery
emplacements, ammunition dumps, and pillboxes supporting more than
21,000 Japanese soldiers;
Whereas, on February 19, 1945, under the leadership of United States Navy 5th
Fleet Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, United States Marine Corps V
Amphibious Corps Major General Harry Schmidt, 3rd Division Major General
Graves B. Erskine, 4th Division Major General Clifton Cates, and 5th
Division Major General Keller E. Rockey, the United States launched an
amphibious landing and assault on Iwo Jima that culminated with the
engagement of more than 70,000 members of the United States Marine
Corps, buttressed by thousands of members of the United States Navy and
the United States Army serving as assault, garrison, and support forces
(referred to in this preamble as the ``Battle of Iwo Jima'');
Whereas the members of the United States Marine Corps who fought in the Battle
of Iwo Jima overcame numerous disadvantages in the 36-day battle that
included treacherous terrain, unfavorable weather conditions, and heavy
enemy fire from an embedded, determined, and fierce Japanese fighting
force in places immortalized by members of the United States Marine
Corps, including the ``Meat Grinder'' and ``Bloody Gorge'';
Whereas, on February 23, 1945, only 5 days into the Battle of Iwo Jima, members
of the United States Marine Corps ascended the highest point on the
island, Mount Suribachi, and raised the flag of the United States 2
times, the second of which resulted in the iconic, Pulitzer Prize-
winning image that--
(1) was captured on film by photographer Joe Rosenthal;
(2) has become a recognized symbol of determination, perseverance, and
struggle; and
(3) has been memorialized as the United States Marine Corps War
Memorial in Arlington, Virginia;
Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles in the history of
the United States Marine Corps, resulted in more than 26,000 casualties
of the United States, more than 6,800 of whom were killed;
Whereas most of the more than 20,000 estimated Japanese soldiers who fought in
the Battle of Iwo Jima were killed, with only 1,083 Japanese soldiers
surviving at the conclusion of the campaign;
Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima led to 22 members of the United States Marine
Corps and 5 members of the United States Navy receiving the Medal of
Honor, representing--
(1) the most members of the United States Marine Corps ever to receive
the highest military decoration in the United States for a single battle;
and
(2) more than \1/4\ of all members of the United States Marine Corps to
receive the decoration during World War II;
Whereas the secured airfields on Iwo Jima became emergency landing locations for
2,400 B-29 Bombers, saving the lives of an estimated 24,000 flight
crewmen;
Whereas, 160 days after the end and victory of the pivotal Battle of Iwo Jima,
the United States received the unconditional surrender of Japan on
September 2, 1945;
Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the members of the United States
Marine Corps who selflessly led the fight for the strategic island of
Iwo Jima in the middle of the Pacific theater; and
Whereas, on March 28, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima will
be marked by commemorative events on the island of Iwo Jima organized by
the people of the United States and Japan: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the amphibious
landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima that began on
February 19, 1945, and ended on March 26, 1945;
(2) commemorates the iconic and historic raisings of the
flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi that occurred on
February 23, 1945;
(3) honors the marines, sailors, soldiers, army air crew,
and coast guardsmen who fought bravely on Iwo Jima, including
the thousands of Japanese soldiers who defended the island;
(4) remembers and venerates the service members who gave
their last full measure of devotion on the battlefield;
(5) recognizes the Allied victory in the Battle of Iwo
Jima, which--
(A) was led by the United States Marine Corps; and
(B) made the defeat of the Empire of Japan in World
War II possible;
(6) affirms the immortal words of Admiral Chester Nimitz,
who stated that ``uncommon valor was a common virtue'' among
the service members of the United States who fought on Iwo
Jima;
(7) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between the United
States and Japan;
(8) encourages the people of the United States to honor the
veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima with appropriate programs,
ceremonies, and activities; and
(9) honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women
who serve the United States today, carrying on the proud
tradition of the individuals who came before them.
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