NEW YORK—Three books are now available about the men who survived some of the most intense combat the Marine Corps has ever seen. Iwo Jima, a mountainous island surrounded by black sand, was the only thing between invading American bombers and Tokyo at the end of World War II.
The first book, “Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue”, by Hal Buell, tells the story of Joe Rosenthal, the photographer who shot the famous picture of four Marines raising the American flag over Mt. Suribachi. According to the author, there was actually a flag flying before the photo was taken, but it wasn't big enough for the marine commander's liking.
In his book, Buell recounts how for safety's sake Rosenthal waited for the third wave of Americans to go ashore before going himself. Yet, unknown to him, the Japanese commander, Tadamichi Kuribayashi, had ordered his troops to hold their fire until the third wave landed.
In his book, Buell quotes Rosenthal as saying, “Being on that beach was like being in a rain shower and not getting wet.”
The book also tells the story of what the Marines in the famous photo went through after Iwo Jima. It also tells the story of the photographer's camera, which eventually was used for photography classes in Japan. The camera is still in working condition and is in the United States.
Maj. Gen. Fred Haynes (U.S. Marine Corps, retired) authored a second book, “The Lions of Iwo Jima” to tell the story of Combat Team 28, the unit that raised the flag in the Mt. Suribachi photo. The book follows their story from training to the bloody conclusion of the battle, which was fought in hand-to-hand combat on the north side of the island. It presents the battle from a gritty ground-level perspective.
The third book, “Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific”, by historian Larry Smith, has first hand accounts of soldiers who survived. It includes testimonies of B-29 aviators who flew a battered aircraft from a mission over Tokyo, minus two engines, only to have to circle the island and wait for other damaged bombers to land. It also includes the story of a retired Marine Corps general who lost seventy percent of his 4,500 man fighting unit in just four days.
The books are currently available through major bookstores.
“Iwo Jima:World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific”
By Larry Smith
“The Lions of Iwo Jima”
By Fred Haynes
“Uncommon Valor, Common Virtue”
By Hal Buell
Some Facts about the Battle of Iwo Jima
• The battle of Iwo Jima took place in an eight square mile area.
• The battle lasted four weeks.
• Americans fought the majority of the conflict in hand-to-hand combat with flame throwers, hand grenades, and flame throwing tanks.
• 21,179 American soldiers were wounded and 6,821 killed.
• 216 Japanese were captured alive and 20,703 were killed or committed suicide.
