[Congressional Bills 116th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 502 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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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, and Mr. Barrasso) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               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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