IWO JIMA REVISITED.

March 23rd, 2021 marked the 76th anniversary of the end of the battle for Iwo Jima. In 2018 my wife and I made a tour of some of the WWII Pacific War islands – Guam, Saipan, Tinian, Iwo Jima and Peleliu. I share the photo collection of that tour with anyone who is interested. One of the old jarheads that bought my book responded to the photo collection with a small set of his own. His dad, Sgt. Arvel Dinwiddie, was a tank gunner during the Iwo invasion and had his personal camera (probably an old Kodak box type) with him when they went ashore. With the birthday of the Corps and Veterans Day at hand, I thought this was a good time to present these photos, some of which I’m sure have never been published. Sgt Dinwiddie’s photos are time worn and faded, best viewed on a large screen. The rest of the photos are more professional, combat photographer grade, and have stayed sharp. I have added my own photo taken from what looks to be the same approximate area of the Dinwiddie photo of the battle debris with Mt. Suribachi in the background (I attended the 73rd Reunion of Honor on Iwo). The picture of the “invasion fleet” is obviously taken after the battle and after the heavy hitters have departed for their next battle. Also, one of my photos, I’m sure, is of the same Japanese bunker in one of the Dinwiddie photos. All the Dinwiddie photos were taken in the aftermath of the battle, seeing as how he was pretty busy beforehand. Enjoy.
Semper Fi

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30 thoughts on “IWO JIMA REVISITED.”

  1. Unfortunately SgtGrit apparently can’t show all the pictures I submitted (about 20). For anyone interested I will allow SgtGrit to give my email address.
    Semper Fi
    Jim Barber

    Reply

    4. Mr. Barber,
      I have attached my email. I would love to see your pictures. My father was in the South Pacific during WWII in the Navy. He was on the USS Raleigh which was torpedoed. I never knew much about it but while stationed on Guam 1977-1979, Co. C, Marine Spt.Bn, my father told me, “Guam did not look like that when I was there”. Go figure. He never spoke to me about it again. He passed in 2001. Please send me new pictures. Thank you.
      gkeith@columbus.rr.com.

      Reply

    8. My Father-in law was an Iwo Jima Marine. I’m a member of the Marine Corp League here in Omaha and we have an Iwo Jima Marine that is still very active at 96. We lost a Marine in June that was on Guadalcanal, Peleliu and Okinawa. He was a very humble man, rest his soul. I would love to love to see these pictures

      Randall Hawkins
      Sgt USMC
      MCL Paymaster Miguel Keith #609

      Reply

    9. I had a first cousin who died on Iwo Jima, PFC Lowell G. Miller. I’d very much like to see your photos.
      Semper Fidelis
      Sgt. Richard Snyder, USMC 1955 to 1963

      Reply

  2. Re: Jim Barber
    Please forward my email address to Mr. Barber with a request for the pictures of Iwo. I was in from Jan. 66 until Jan. 69. Spent 19 months in Nam. I would love to have a set of his pictures.
    Thank You,
    Ronald Payton

    Reply

    1. Jim, I would love to see the pictures. (Did you make the Iwo Reunion trip in 2012 – I recall someone with the name Barber in our group?)

      Reply

  5. My uncle, Glenn P. Patterson was with the 4 Division on Iwo. Sadly he is no longer with us, but served for 30 years. I was privileged to serve as a Marine from 1959 to 1965.
    Thanks

    Reply

  10. I would love to see your pictures. My father was on I do Jima with the 5th Marines. Because of this service, I served for ten years. Thank you for your service.

    Reply

  11. Re: Jim Barber

    Hi Jim. Would love to buy your book and see any of the photos you have. My old man a Pacific Sailor during WW2, aboard USS Rocky Mount AGC-3. I think beginning of the Amphibious Command Ship class. He had some sea stories about driving landing craft. My email: ajv0317@aol.com
    Thanks much & Semper Fi !

    Al Viti USMC Ret
    ’67 – ’92
    “Huey Guns”

    Reply

  13. Gentlemen,

    I am writing a book on the 1/23rd. My Grandfather was Cpl. Elmer N. Davis, Jr. (Machine Gun Squad Leader). He was on Kwajalein, and fought on Roi, Saipan, Tinian, and Iwo Jima. He live to be 89 with one lung — passed in 2010 just after my grandmother. The last living member of the C-1-23rd passed away in February, so since none of them are left to carry their torch, I have picked it up. I wrote all 80 names of the 1/23rd (who died in WWII, along with all C/1/23rd members names, my grandfathers, and others including friends who have served our country and were either KIA/DOW/or passed on) on rocks. On October 16th, I humped them up Mt. Horno to the crosses and placed them up there to Speak Their Names and let them go to Valhalla. I will be making crosses with plaques to hump up there on April 9th. Until I die and pass the torch on to my children, I will carry the torch for Charlie Company, 1/23rd. Gentlemen, I would deeply appreciate any photos you will allow for me to use for this book I’m writing to honor their sacrifice. As my Grandfather ALWAYS said, Semper Fi.

    Reply

  16. JIM BARBER YOUR BACK SELLING BOOKS. GET A REAL JOB.
    NOW IT’S WW2 WITH PHOTOS. NO PHOTOS WITH YOUR VIETNAM SCAM. GO CLIMB UNDER A BIG ROCK ON A WELL TRAVEL PATH. MAYBE WE WILL GET LUCKY.
    MARINES THINK BEFORE YOU BUY.
    VIETNAM MARINE. 1966–1968. 1ST MAW DANANG VIET.

    Reply

  18. Mr. Barber — My email address: GunnerGaridel@protonmail.com
    I’d like to see the photos AND buy your book!

    Let me digress a bit: my father was US Army Air Corps in the Pacific. ‘C’ Btty, 382nd AAA Bn (semi-mobile – Deuce and a half prime movers) 40mm Bofors Section Chief. New Guinea and the Phillipines.
    The only thing he hated more than the Japanese were, you guessed it, MARINES! He used to say we got all the publicity while the Army did all the fighting. 😉
    He died before I enlisted, so I’ve always wondered how he would have reacted if I had walked in and said: “Hey, Dad, I joined the Marines”! LOLOLOL! 😉

    Semper Fi!
    CWO4 USMCR (Ret)
    17 Feb 1969 – 1 August 2004

    Reply

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