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IWO JIMA, Japan (12/16/2011) - Marines and sailors of Marine Wing
Headquarters Squadron 1 visited here to conduct a study of the
famous Battle of Iwo Jima as part of the unit's professional
military education program Dec. 16.
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Marines and sailors of Marine Wing Headquarters Squadron 1 begin
their hike from Mount Suribachi after conducting a study of the
famous Battle of Iwo Jima as part of the unit's professional
military education program Dec. 16, 2011. During the visit, more
than 120 Marines from the squadron hiked more than four miles from
Iwoto Field to the top of Mount Suribachi. MWHS-1 is part of 1st
Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force. Photo by USMC
Gunnery Sgt. J. L. Wright Jr.
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During the visit, more than 120 Marines from the squadron hiked
from Iwoto Field to the top of Mount Suribachi.
Before
stepping off on the 4-mile trek, the squadron's commanding officer,
Lt. Col. Joseph Rupp, explained his intent behind the visit.
“Not only are you going to learn about this magnificent battle,” he
said. “We will conduct a relief-and-appointment ceremony for our
sergeant major; and, we will conduct a funeral service for a Marine
who fought on Iwo Jima.”
The Battle of Iwo Jima, which took
place between Feb. 19 and March 26, 1945, is among the most famous
in the Corps' history and was made famous worldwide by Joe
Rosenthal's Pulitzer-prize winning photograph of the flag-raising at
Mount Suribachi.
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A sailor holds the remains of Earl E.
Hendricksen while a short prayer is given atop Mount Suribachi here
Dec. 16, 2011. Hendricksen was a retired Marine colonel who fought
on Iwo Jima and died early this year. Photo by USMC Gunnery Sgt. J.
L. Wright Jr.
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According to one Marine, visiting the island is an experience of
a lifetime.
“This is every Marine's dream,” said Gunnery Sgt.
Christopher Brewer, a Dover, Del., native and embarkation chief for
MWHS-1, 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
“It's a surreal feeling to be here given the history of what this
island means to all Marines and sailors.”
After climbing the
more than 550-foot mountain, the Marines and sailors grounded their
packs and gathered for a brief class highlighting the details of the
amphibious assault and the attack up the mountain.
“You read
about this island in the history books,” said Brewer. “It's one
thing to read about it – it's another to see firsthand.”
Before welcoming the squadron's new senior enlisted Marine with a
sword-passing ceremony, the squadron's chaplain led a funeral
service for retired Col. Earl E. Hendricksen, who passed away early
this year.
“It was awesome to have the honor of spreading the
ashes of the colonel here,” said Lt. Cmdr. Clifford Stuart, an
Anaheim, Calif., native and former Marine. “We put the ashes atop
Mount Suribachi facing the landing beach where he landed on Iwo Jima
67 years ago.”
Hendricksen was one of 30,000 Marines from
the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions who were responsible for
securing the beachhead and securing this vital piece of terrain
during World War II.
“We are not even coming close to
scratching the surface of what those men did here,” said Brewer. “It
is a very humbling experience to be here ... being able to come here
and put boots on the same ground those men did back in 1945 really
puts things into perspective.” |
By USMC Gunnery Sgt. J. L. Wright Jr.
III Marine Expeditionary
Force / Marine Corps Installations Pacific
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2011
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