[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 29 (Tuesday, February 14, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2596-S2597]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                IWO JIMA

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, on this date 50 years ago, a formidable 
American armada moved even closer to another objective in the Pacific. 
While that was going on, long-range bombers 
 [[Page S2597]] were in the air and continued to bombard an 8-mile 
square chunk of volcanic rock and ash known as Iwo Jima. The Japanese 
high command was acutely aware of the island's strategic and 
psychological importance and their forces on Iwo Jima constructed 
elaborate defenses that would be the toughest encountered by forces of 
the United States, in particular the United States Marine Corps, during 
the war of the Pacific.
  Our Army, Navy, and air forces subjected Iwo Jima to the longest and 
most intensive preparation given any objective in the Pacific during 
World War II. Beginning June 15, 1944, American air attacks continued 
steadily through the summer and the fall, culminating in a 74-day round 
of continuous strikes by Saipan-based bombers. These air attacks, plus 
heavy naval gunfire 3 days before the assault, destroyed everything, or 
almost everything, above ground on Iwo Jima. But most of the Japanese 
underground guns and defenses were relatively untouched.
  Against Iwo's rocky terrain and caves, naval gunfire could do only so 
much and victory or defeat would rest with the fighting spirit of 
70,000 men of the 5th Air and Amphibious Corps, under the command of 
Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt. This force included the 3d, 4th, and 5th 
Marine Divisions, many of whose members were battle-hardened veterans 
of earlier Pacific assaults.
  Facing them on Iwo was a force of around 20,000 dedicated Japanese 
soldiers, every one of whom was under orders to make it his duty to 
take 10 of the enemy before dying. In a matter of days, the opposing 
forces would clash in a struggle that would prove decisive in the war 
in the Pacific. It was here on this island atop Mt. Suribachi, where 
the most famous of all photos was taken from the Pacific--the raising 
of the flag. It has been a symbol of American gallantry, the symbol of 
pride and dedication of the U.S. Marine Corps, and all of those who 
shared in that pride with that uniform. And I, not being one of those 
that went on Iwo, have I shared that uniform.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  Mrs. BOXER addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.

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