Zephyr Net

I would highly recommend this book by Bradley. It tells of the heroic and costly battle for Iwo Jima in WWII. 70,000 US Marines wrestled a volcanic island away from 22,000 Japanese defenders, who turned the island into a fortress of underground tunnels, gun postions and surface pill boxes. The island was taken by Marines at great cost. 27 Medals of Honor were earned by Marines there , one third of all they were awarded in the Pacific.

It follows the lives of the six who raised the American flag, the second flag raising in the famous photo.The author writes about his father, Joe Bradley, A Navy Corpsman who helped in the flag raising. It is a good read and I enjoyed it. Pick up a copy.

Regards,
Pappy

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Tally Ho Pappy's In!

CAG

Thanks for the picture!! It is what the post needed to honor the Marines.

Regards,
Pappy

_________________
Tally Ho Pappy's In!

This is also a movie which I expect will be much better than Flyboys.

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Fighting for justice with brains of steel

Let your anger be like the monkey which hides inside the piniata.

CAG

I don't have the book, lent it to a friend. I do remember it took 22 transports to carry the Marines for the invasion and it only took 8 to take them off the island according to the book. There were alot less tha 200 prisoners the Marines captured. The Marines on the surface heard grenade blasts of Japanese killing themselves instead of surrendering. Many were found blown up that way by thier own hand. They fought to the death, because Iwo was the first home island attacked. A few Banzi charges occurred, but they ended in defeat.

Regards,
Pappy

_________________
Tally Ho Pappy's In!

Kaptor

Ironic, the author of Flags is wrote Flyboys.

Regards,
Pappy

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Tally Ho Pappy's In!

CAG
About 200 surrendered, but most were Korean loabors, only about 20 Japanese soliders surrendered. In 1949, two more surrendered.
Iwo was also important as an air base to provide P52 fighter escorts for the B29's. After two of the three air fields had been secured, a crippled B29 made the first bomber landing, saving the crew and aircraft.

Regards,
Pappy

_________________
Tally Ho Pappy's In!

CAG

Those darn typos P51

Regards,
Pappy

_________________
Tally Ho Pappy's In!

Gentlemen,

after having read that Pappy's nice introduction, I will seek for this book in our stores... I bet that sooner or later it will be translated in my language also.

This Thursday 10-19 at 10PM Central time, there will be a show about Flags Of Our Fathers on the History Channel. This should be an inspirational show honoring all who fought on Iwo Jima. Hope you will be watching.

Regards,
Pappy

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Tally Ho Pappy's In!