[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 31 (Thursday, February 16, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2774-S2775]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                     THE DEADLY BATTLE ON IWO JIMA

  Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise today to remind Americans of one of 
the costliest battles of World War II, and the sacrifices made by the 
men of the United States Marine Corps. This Sunday will be the 50th 
anniversary of the Marine Corps landing on Iwo Jima, a place where, as 
Admiral Nimitz said ``Uncommon valor was a common virtue.''
  After 36 days of fighting and at a cost of 6,821 Americans killed and 
19,217 wounded, the island was captured. The cost to the Japanese 
defenders was over 22,000 lives. Only about 1,000 Japanese survived the 
battle.
  The Japanese had long prepared for the February 19, 1945, invasion. 
After the battle was over, it was revealed that the enemy had 
constructed 642 blockhouses, pillboxes, and other gun positions. The 
marines landing on Iwo Jima were certainly stepping into the very jaws 
of the enemy--and I might say, the very jaws of hell.
  At 9 o'clock in the morning, the massive assault wave of the 4th and 
5th Marine Divisions hit the beach at Iwo Jima. A Japanese observer 
watching the drama unfold from a cave on the slopes of Mount Suribachi 
reported: ``At 9 in the morning, several hundred landing crafts with 
amphibious tanks in the lead rushed ashore like an enormous tidal 
wave.'' Within minutes, 6,000 marines were ashore, and initial 
casualties were lighter than expected.
  Then the pounding started as the Japanese commander unleashed 
hundreds of heavy artillery pieces, giant mortars, rockets, and 
antitank weapons that had been carefully arranged around the landing 
beaches now clogged with troops and materials. The ensuing bombardment 
was as deadly and terrifying as the marines had ever experienced. 
Casualties mounted appallingly on what would become the costliest 
single day in the U.S. Marine Corps history. By the day's end, nearly 
2,500 Marines were killed or wounded.
  Typical of the marine heroism and sacrifice of that first day on Iwo 
Jima, and not unlike what I had witnessed while serving in the Marine 
Corps with the 9th Regiment in the Pacific, were the actions of 
legendary Marine Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone. ``Manila John,'' as he 
was fondly called by his fellow marines, had been awarded the 
[[Page S2775]] Congressional Medal of Honor in recognition of his 
outstanding heroism at Guadalcanal. On Iwo Jima, Basilone single-
handedly destroyed a Japanese blockhouse while braving the deadly 
assault of enemy heavy caliber fire. For his exploits he was 
posthumously awarded the Navy cross.
  The battle for Iwo Jima raged for 36 long days, and on many days the 
advances of the American forces could be measured in yards. Though I 
was not there because I was recovering from a wound I received during 
the battle of Guam, my outfit, the 3rd Division, served as the floating 
reserve for this battle.
  Entering the fray on February 21, when the fighting was at its worst, 
the soldiers of the 3rd Marine Division were tasked with clearing the 
central plateau of the island. This area held many prepared enemy 
defensive positions, but very little cover for the advancing Marines. 
By the time the plateau was taken, the regimental casualties exceeded 
50 percent. Some companies suffered casualty rates in excess of 200 
percent, including my old company, A Company, of the 9th Regiment.
  Considering the magnitude of these casualties, one may wonder what 
drove these men to carry on. From my own experience, I would say these 
men drew their strength from the support of their fellow marines, an 
esprit de corps that is unique in military history, and the knowledge 
that taking this island was important to the war effort. Most 
important, however, they fought because they knew they had to fight. 
They had to take that hill, that they had to take that island. The 
Commander in Chief had said it, and these men knew it in their hearts, 
victory was the only way home.
  On March 26, 1945, finally, the Japanese were defeated and the island 
was ours.
  On Sunday, the 50th anniversary of the landing on Iwo Jima, 
approximately 5,000 survivors of the battle will gather at the Iwo Jima 
Memorial here in Washington to remember and to pay reverence to those 
who gave their lives.
  Mount Suribachi, and the flag raising on that mount, stands as a 
symbol of the courage of the U.S. Marine Corps. Mount Suribachi was 556 
feet high. It bristled with over 200 guns, and 21 blockhouses. It had 
to be taken, because it was delivering devastating fire on the beaches 
and to the marines that were below. The marines assigned were willing 
to risk their lives for the sake of their comrades and their country. 
So, through personal courage and esprit de corps, on February 23 the 
Japanese defending Mount Suribachi were overcome and the Stars and 
Stripes were raised.
  And as the flag was raised on that mount, it gave additional strength 
to the marines below to move forward, on to victory. We salute the 
survivors of Iwo Jima and wish them well as they commemorate that very 
important battle of World War II.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Inhofe). The Democratic leader.

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