Category: World War II

Iwo Jima Ka Bar

Iwo Jima Ka Bar

Sgt Grit,

I just ordered the Iwo Jima Anniversary Ka-Bar and other items from your company and I wanted to share some photos and story of my father with you.

My father John F. Jarvis served on Iwo Jima as a Master Sergeant with the 2nd Separate Engineer Battalion attached to the 5th Amphibious Corps (patch on his right shoulder in photo). He joined the Marine Corps on December 8th, 1941 and sailed for the Pacific in October 1942. He was promoted to Sergeant aboard ship and then participated in the occupation and defense of Guadalcanal from January 1943 to July 1944 where he was promoted to Staff Sergeant on February 1, 1943 and then to Supply Sergeant (Gunny) on December 1, 1943. read more

Iwo Jima Cemetery

Iwo Jima Cemetery

Hello,

Don’t forget Friday night, October 20th will be the opening of “Flags of Our Fathers” at a theater near you. For those of you in Oxford, MS I don’t know for sure if it will be at the MALCO Cinema or the new ScreenWorks Cinema. I will send another email after I find out Monday. In Oxford we will have 2 Iwo Jima Veterans, Mr.. Paul Sharrer from Oxford for sure and one possible from Pontotoc. I don’t want to give out his name until I am sure he is going to participate. You should see a couple of announcements in the Oxford Eagle about this event later in the week. We will honor these heroes along with the rest of our World War II heroes prior to the movie beginning. The attached picture was provided by Paul Sharrer and it shows the cemetery at Iwo Jima prior to it’s completion. Marines of the 4th MarDiv are buried on the left and Marines of the 3rd MarDiv are buried on the right. It is a sober reminder of the sacrifice our fellow Marines made for all of us. I hope you will plan on attending this movie wherever you are. It would be outstanding if Marines and veterans from across our country would plan on attending this monumental event. This motion picture will be a blockbuster event at a time when our enemies perceive us to be weak. If you and all of our veterans can make a show of force in attending this movie, wearing your hats, uniforms and pins, we can show everyone around the world that we support our Corps, Country and fellow Veterans. Please pass this email to as many as you can and I hope to read a headline the next week that reads something like this: “Veterans from across the United States attend the opening of Flags of Our Fathers in a show of support for our troops, veterans and Country.” read more

Homecoming

Homecoming

I first met Jim at one of the monthly Marine Parent lunches that Karen and I regular attend. I got to sit next to Jim and we spoke almost the whole two hours we were there. Jim served in the Marines during WWII. He was there in the Marshall Islands, he was there on Saipan, and he was there at Iwo Jima. A PFC when he landed on Iwo, he left the Marine Corp as a Corporal. A couple of things struck me about Jim as we spoke; he enjoys the interaction with people and he has a good sense of humor. I kept thinking I wish my Dad was still with us so he could meet Jim too. read more

Great Iwo Jima Power Point Presentation

Great Iwo Jima Power Point Presentation

From a Marine on the USS Blue Ridge during a recent WestPac pump. This morning the Marines onboard the USS Blue Ridge had an opportunity to get a helo ride around Iwo Jima. One of the Marine officers was smart enough to take his digital camera with him. I have taken the best photos and put them into the attached power point show (I’m becoming a better staff officer). September marks my 17th anniversary in the Marine Corps and this was the best experiences I have had to date. read more

Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima

Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima

A nearly 60 year struggle to prove that Gerald D. Ziehme was in the “Gung Ho” photo by Joe Rosenthal on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima.
It has taken years, many attorneys, two photo identification experts, but finally Jerry (A corpsman on Iwo Jima) has been recognized as the 8th man from the left in the famous picture of l8 men gathered around the flag shortly after the famous candid picture that resulted in this monument was taken. read more

Marine in Camp Gloucester, New Britain

Marine in Camp Gloucester, New Britain

Hi, Sgt.Grit, I’m the youngest son of Wilfred Magnan. He enlisted in the Marines on 11-15-41, which was 3 weeks before the Pearl Harbor Attack..he heard about it in boot camp in San Diego. He went to New Zealand & Australia, was in the amphibious landings at Cape Gloucester,New Britain on 12-26-43, Tahnamerah,Dutch New Guinea on 4-22-44, and Peleliu on 9-15-44. He survived fierce combat at Peleliu, and left there on 10-20-44. He was honorably discharged 11-28-45. Corporal Wilfred Magnan was in the 1st Marine Division, 1st Tank Battalion, Companies A & D. He was shell loader in Tank no.9. He also carried a backpack radio. He is still alive,and sharp; his wife of 60 years recently passed away. I’ve enclosed a pic, which shows my Dad sitting in the tank turret as the barrel is swabbed) read more

“Old Corps” TBF on Guadalcanal

“Old Corps” TBF on Guadalcanal

Sgt. Grit,
As the son of a WWII Marine Aviator and nephew of a Korean War Marine Tank Driver, I have always been fiercely proud of “the Corps” and my family’s participation.

Recently my father dug out an old photo and asked if I could “repair” it on the computer. The picture is of my Dad’s TBF torpedo bomber squadron on Guadalcanal in the early part of WWII when the outcome was no sure thing. I look at all those young heros and feel nothing but pride. As I look at pictures of today’s Marines, the only thing that has changed is the technology. They are still a bunch of young (and not so young) heros doing what is needed to keep our country safe and our freedoms intact. read more