Brought me to tears reading this, wanting to go wake up my little Gunny at 1 a.m. to read this!
She got a very special picture sent to her by a very special Sgt Coon, it is a signed photo of Mr. Lindberg and she treasures it.
She has been able to become friends with 2 Iwo Jima veterans, both from the 5th division.
Thank you for this story Taco, thank you very much!
Wow.
Not only a chance to visit holy ground, during such an event, but the opportunity to visit with true heroes.
Not only that (as if that was some small thing), but the personal stories and momentos... wow.
I'm a bit envious, plenty humbled, and more than a little bit touched.
Good to know that there's always one to help attempt to impart the deep respect and honor we have for all of those vets.
Dang Taco
Its hard to read thru the cascade of tears.
Another place that is special is Saipan. I lived there for a couple of years and would "hit" on the Vets and their wives as I deadheaded back to the Island after a Medivac to Hi.
The stories they and the locals told made one so humble. I loved inviting them to dinner- always served spam simmered in brn sugar and pineapple juice as an appetizer- that started the stories flowing- the sad thing is we are loosing these grand folks at 1000/day.
Hooah
Maxie
Taco,
Our country is blessed to have you to help remind the world of sacrifices made long ago.
Perhaps fans of Sandgram and Anysoldier should send notes about this article to legislators and Presidential candidates. I think they keep needing reality checks from those not employed by special interest groups.
Janet
Pretty amazing Taco. I wanted to reenlist there, but have been unable to get on one of the trips yet. I've got three more years to try and make my way there; here's to hoping that I can walk those beaches as well.
Oh Taco.....
I too am brought to tears... What a beautiful story. Thank you so much.
Those Marines made it possible for us to be here today. As a kid during WWII I always loved the Marines. Now more than ever I know why.
I know a WWII Marine here in So. Cal.
Tom Evans who said when he landed on Iwo Jima he was a young scared kid and became a man that same day..
God Bless them all..
Well for once you've made me speechless. Nothing I could possible say that would be worthy of these men and these events.
Thank you for writing such a great post and sharing all of the history and personal events with us Taco.
Truly blessed, and the smarts to know it. Thank you for sharing this treasure with us all!
I'm catching up on some of your posts on SG today & I see this great Iwo story. Wow, I was wondering, could you use a Korean War issue M-1 lackey to carry your helmet bag & pilots bag on your adventures like Iwo? You could call me Ol' Broke Down Hound. I even know how to spit shine shoes, thanks to my USMC Sgt. Dad.
Anyway, I'm privileged to have a bag of black sand from Iwo & a small rock from Mt. Tapochau where an uncle of mine (A-1-
died on 6/29/1944. They are HOLY RELICS. I look @ the sand, especially, & wonder whose blood it absorbed in 1945. Heavy....
A veteran of Iwo Jima lives across the back alley from my rowhome & even @ 80Something he takes part in his Legion post's colorguard & attends every important event in Baltimore & DC area w/it. He will not talk about Iwo at all, other than to tell me he was with the 24th (25th?) Marines there. It is his privilege & he saw things there no human should but my Tarawa vet dad has spoken extensively about it & his 3 other battles. He says it helps him cope to talk about it.Every Marine who has faced combat in war doesn't have to justify his speech or silence-ever.
wow.
I had Col. Mitchener in Jr HS and he was scary but he was great teacher and I had huge respect for him and another WWII vet that was a teacher. Has Mr. Mitchener passed? If not I'd love to get in touch with him, but if he is gone I'd love to know where he is buried. If it is at Arlington Cemetary I will go pay my respects.
I need to read your whole site, I just did a google on Mr. Michener and this was the first thing that popped up. From the couple paragraphs I read I was already in tears so I will have to save the rest for this evening.
WOnderful site...
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