My great grandfather rests eternally on that island. I hope to go one day, I always have an affinity to anything he was involved with. Many brave man lay there. I'm glad hes with his brothers.
My father was in the 5th amphibious division in the Marine Corps at hit the beaches of Iwo Jima on day 1 of that battle. He’s one of the lucky 20% of the Marines who got off the island without dying or suffering injuries. I was hoping my father and I could go together to Iwo Jima to revisit it one day be he sadly passed 5 years ago at the age of 91. Every time I see a video like this it makes me wonder what my father experienced during his time in battle on Iwo Jima. Thanks for posting this.
For all of those who are wondering. The Island has risen nearly 40 feet since the end of the war. Iwo Jima is an extremely active and volatile volcano.
It regularly ranks at or near the top of "10 most dangerous volcanoes" lists, because of the potential for a catastrophic eruption in our lifetimes. While, fortunately, there aren't any large population centers close, that caldera complex could possibly produce an eruption that would generate large tsunami, which could do bad things to Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Potentially it could be much larger than Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai and Pinatubo.
The USCG had a LORAN station there. I spent three months and two days on the island back in 1976. There were about 40 coast guardsmen and 15-20 Japanese and that was it. I worked one day on and two days off except for resupply day every two weeks and inventory day. There was lots of time to explore. The fishing was amazing too. My stay there was one off the high points of my life.
How did you take this trip. I know there's supposedly one organize trip per year. Definitely number two or three on my bucket list. I would love to do it in 2021. What organization or website can you point me towards
@@stevecleans Thanks for the question. I was stationed in Japan with the Air Force and they selected 20 people to go. As for an organization or website I do not know anything outside of the military unfortunately.
@@stevecleans Hello. There is one non-military trip every year, but each ticket runs somewhere between $5-8k and they can cancel the trip even when you are on approach to Iwo Jima. In the three years I was taking people to Iwo Jima for the USAF, I never once heard of that trip making it to Iwo Jima.
@@thewanderinghistorian what the heck? Why would they cancel it like that? My grandpa was in the 4th marine division and received a Purple Heart on Iwo Jima. I was looking into trying to go but I found out what you said that there is one trip a year, I didn’t read anything about it ever being canceled though.
Guadalcanal was a battle that the US could have lost. It was a very close thing for several months. Americans at the airfield were getting shelled by 14-inch guns from Japanese battleships, among numerous other hazards and hardships. All the battles that came after were hard and bloody but were never really in doubt as to who would prevail. Not Guadalcanal. Amazing story.
In the late 80’s, I was attached to III MEF (USMC) in Okinawa. We took a tour of “Iwo” for GMT (General Military Training). It was an eye-opening experience. In 1995, while I was stationed at Naval Station Treasure Island (San Francisco), we celebrated the 50th anniversary of WWII. I was honored to meet Mr Joe Rosenthal and some of the Navajo Code Talkers who were instrumental in the victory over the Japanese at Iwo Jima and Okinawa
I was at III MEF too and got to come here. Middle of summer, hot as hell and we climbed the mountain in cammies and our backpacks full of water and sand. Some guy got the silver bullet on the C-130 flight back. 😂
My Grandfather was with the 476th Amphibian Truck Company and drove a land-water vehicle known as DUKWs ("Ducks"), specially modified to transport heavy 105mm howitzers to shore. He was on the first wave to land on Iwo Jima.
I went Iwo Jima as staff ride from Yokota AB in 2010. It meant a lot to me. My grandfather was a Japanese Army Field Artillery Captain defended this island while my wife’s uncle was US Marine private landed to take over the island. It was a big family war.
I got to go to Iwo Jima in 1992, the year it was given back to the Japanese. I was a Marine stationed on Okinawa at the time. I collected small bottles of the Black Iwo Sand.....still some of my most prized possessions....
The front door was left wide open for the Japanese to come in and blow up a bunch of out dated ships and planes kill a bunch of people and leave was a let it happen psyop and WW2 was a colossal waste of skill flesh and finance war isca racket and IA sick and tired of being lied to how about them war games and put options of 9/11 no good guys in war not even you Americans
Hallowed Ground to be sure. I have some of that sand, though I was unable to visit myself, I was deployed to Philippines and Korea, a buddy was selected to go and brought me some. Other than my family it is one of my dearest possessions. Nice video! From an old Corpsman
Thank you for your valuable footage. Iwo Jima is a place that even Japanese people cannot go to. And it is known that many Japanese people have ghosts on this island, and it is feared that they will be cursed if they bring back the sand and pebbles of this island. It is said that if you bring something out of this island, you must return it to the island.🙂
Thank you for your service as well. And much appreciate the info. As a side note I was there for the 20th anniversary of the flag raising and they brought Marine Corp band, officials as well as last surviving member from the photo. A memory for life😀Thank you again.
Thanks for sharing my Grandfather was there during WW2.... We lost him a few years back ..... But non the less the stories he had were no joke about his time on that rock....
Jesus, that view from Mount Suribachi. Imagine being a US marine, charging up the beach while getting shot in the flank by japanese from Suribachi. Absolute horror. Brave men in a time of darkness.
My mother's cousin Myron was here. A mortarman in the 4th marine division I believe he was seriously wounded and evacuated.He was 18 or 19. My mother was younger. 8 or 9. Yeah but he lived until 2012. Ran a successful business. But always walked with a limp and a palsied left arm. Great guy
Just started reading Flags of or Fathers and was happy to find this video to show the island. Crazy how something so horrific happened in such a beautiful place.
My great grandfather who passed in 2003 fought in Iwo Jima as a paratrooper. When he came back home and brought 2 katanas and 2 rifles, his personal one and a Japanese Type 99 rifle. My grandma has them to this very day.
Thanks for this video. The War Room just released a video on IJ and the mountain sounded beyond horrible. Really puts into perspective what those Marines went through. I can't imagine having to climb it while being washed with bullets. Then they had to sleep on the damned thing since they couldn't take it day 1. Horrifying.
I am neither Japanese nor American. Just watched some documentary about Iwo Jima battle and wanted to know more about it. Even Korean went through quite a lot of wars, we don't have much of these chances to go see in real. But I'm sure visiting those places and thinking about the war, could definitely make country and veterans more appreciative.
Something else you may find interesting, Korean POWs were found in Berlin during the collapse. They had been prisoners of the Japanese, then the Russians, and then the Germans.
@@matthewrinehart2367 Oh, that! I did not know! In fact, I just had my good German friend visiting Korea last week. I should have a serious conversation over this with her.
Great video.. I would love to visit Iwo Jima. I was stationed in Okinawa back in the 80's, me and a friend used to go "booney stomping" on southern end - which was still pretty much rural - and explored the ridges where the American 10th and Japanese 32nd Armies fought the last stages of the Battle of Okinawa. We found dozens, upon dozens of unexploded ordinance (which we left alone!), as well as of thousands of small arms rounds. We also did the same on Ie Shima, a smaller island just off Okinawa.
I used to scuba dive off of Ie Shima when I was stationed on Oki in the mid 90s. I loved the culture and the people I really enjoyed my 6 months there and even tried to extend, but the Corps needed me elsewhere. I was station at Camp Foster so I got into Naha quite often and it was a fun place. I also get to do some exploration and have some nice photos of the bunkers on the coast near Ie Shima and Shuri castle which was a pivotal part of the Shuri Line.
@@fredgilbert2032 When I was stationed there Shuri Castle was in the process of being rebuilt. After WW2, Okinawa University was built on the site of Shuri Castle. However, it was decided in the early 80's to build a new site for Okinawa University and reconstruct the castle. I also have fond memories of being stationed on Okinawa. I hope to visit once again.
Just think, Lt Gen. Kuribayashi had those beaches sited well in advance of the Marine landings.... when the beaches were packed he opened up on them.... the terror!
they dug ditches in various places and when the marines landed some would dive in thinking they found cover only to find out the spot had been pre-sighted when an accurate artillery round would land right on top of them
On January 6, 1949, Yamakage Kufuku and Matsudo Linsoki, two Imperial Japanese Navy machine gunners, surrendered on Iwo Jima. Imagine how they survived that long.
Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. -Carl Sagan
I was stationed on Iwo Jima back in 1964 to 1965 . The island had no inhabitants except the Coast Guard LORAN Station and the Air Force . What we called isolated duty. . The air base at that time was just a series of Quonset huts no brick buildings. The Coast Guard base at the other end of the island did have concrete block buildings. Just curious what occupies the island now.
George Weber First, thank you for your service! The Japanese own the island now and there’s and airstrip on it. Small barracks and that’s about it. Not much left on the island but it’s still used
I've said this many, many times. The United States Marines & Corpsmen that fought in the Pacific are the Greatest Men to have ever walked the face of this earth.
Great video my friend I'm always astounded to see videos of Iwo Jima it makes me think so much of how it must have been to be fighting on that tiny Island, it was give you an Erie feeling to be on that Island, and it must really feel Erie at night , God bless and thank you
Thankyou Aaron for this, I watch as much content on the battle of iwo jima both old and new as I believe it to be the fiercest battle the American Marines have ever had..I know there is much talk of the battered bastards of Bastogne but this was far worse.To see the beach head right at the start empty I can just picture it been full of those men trying to advance over 70 years ago..
You should do a follow-up, some day, and visit the runways. My father was setting up a 50-caliber water-cooled machine gun along one side of the second runway, digging a hole was very difficult because the runway was packed and rolled coral, when the Japanese defenders dropped a mortar right on his position. He took a fragment in his face, and his buddy was unconscious. He carried his buddy and an M-1 carbine back to the beach, and half-way back he realized he was hemorrhaging from his neck. February 23, 1945 was his 26th birthday!
Iwo Jima was a strategic air base for the Japanese: Zeroes stationed there were able to intercept B-29s en route to Japan, and pick them off. American fighter escorts did not have sufficient range to provide cover all the way to that mainland. By losing control of Iwo Jima, Japan could no longer intercept B-29s that were conducting heavy bombardment of military targets on the mainland of Japan. The Japanese defenders must have realized the consequences of losing that air base: the fighting was fierce and sustained. Even today, I cannot recall that history without tears rolling down my face. I wrote a semi-fictional account, based on snippets that my father would share with me, 5 minutes at a time. That essay is entitled "We Took That Mountain". U.S. Marine HQ in Washington, D.C., contacted me for permission to publish it at their official government website, many years ago. YT is censoring my comments when I post links to our website where that essay is available, for free; so, I hesitate to post that link here. Try limiting a Google search to site: supremelaw [DOT] org .
After securing the first runway, the Marines were positioned and dug-in all around its perimeter. Close to sunset one day, a Japanese Zero pilot had evidently received no word about the loss of that runway, and he flew into final approach to land. The Marines needed no commands: they all knew exactly what they should do, given the massive casualties they had already endured up to that point in time. My father said you could hear everyone locking and loading their weapons. The Zero landed, and taxied near the end of that runway. As if on predetermined cue, at the moment the pilot opened the cockpit canopy, the Marines unloaded several hundred rifle and machine-gun rounds into that plane, and it disintegrated in a matter of seconds. Of course, the pilot died instantly. It was merely small satisfaction, after so much bloodshed, which continued for several more weeks. Almost 7,000 U.S. Marines died during that protracted assault.
This is a little bit from left field but when I was a kid in the 70s I had an Iwo Jima play set. Came with a unique American and Japanese soldiers that didn't fit the standard template of toy soldiers you might see in the grocery store or regular toy shops. Back to the the trip; thanks for sharing. Appreciate seeing what the place looks like now.
You want to visit something odd or sacred ground visit Tarawa.. beautiful place for honeymoon and vacation. My wife was obvious to its history, I wasn't.. there were nights ( I've feld more than one presence) when I could feel energy or non-material forces engulf me with sadness. Never mention to my wife about my experience walking the beach at night. It wasn't until I met this old timer at the V.A. hospital during my volunteer days that he noticed something about my personality was off. He ask me did I feel something strange while I was on vacation. I said yes I did.. I'd explain my experience and he sat there and smiled. I asked him why were you smiling..he took out an old map of Tarawa and this is where I landed, one finger pointing to where my honeymoon shack was (75 years later) and said they were my friends talking to you.He said he lost many friends on Tarawa and probably wanted me to know they were ok..to this day it makes sense to me.
The whole island has risen by about 10ft since WW2. A massive magma dome is developing underneath. Mount Suribachi is deemed to be the most dangerous volcano on the planet. If it erupts violently, the tsunamis could be disastrous
More like 10 meters or over 50 feet. For context, uplift of a few centimeters is a warning sign that a volcanic eruption is possible. Iwo Jima has a history of massive eruptions, and when it happens again, there won't be much left of the island.
That's very awesome sir you seen what those brave marines went thru while they were there place by place and the obstacles that they over came to get victory that was needed to win the war
I seen tons of videos from past visitors to Iwo Jima and i must admit i never seen someone show how loose the volcanic beach was to walk on. No way to dig foxholes or even run on that stuff. I wonder how the ground felt when trying to dig holes. Veterans would say it was hot not to deep down
When I was stationed at Camp Fuji I got permission from the base colonel via power point I made on how I could logistically make this happen for 50 marines for free using military air. I got the green light but instead having a whole day there, due to storms we could only stay for 1 hour! So we RAN TO THE BEACH AND WE RAN UP THAT MOUNTAIN via the nice lil road they have. Of course we flew flags there are so many ant aircraft stations on the island with meted over barrels and bullet hole covering all the rock face of it
Only 77 years ago, there was a fierce battle between the United States and Japan on Iwo Jima. We hated and killed each other as arch-foes,but former enemies are now staunch allies and best friends. I`m sure that today`s US-Japanese relationship is a role model for all countries and peoples who are fighting and antagonizing each other. Both the United State and Japan should enlighten them that today`s arch-enemies could be tomorrow`s best friends.
If everyone comes and takes sand/seashells/etc from these places there will be none left. Shame you both took some and couldn't leave this sacred place as pristine as you found it.
I did beach ops there in 1988 in the marine corps use to be allot of debris on the beach from ww2 looks allot cleaner now. I was all over that island and tunnels.
Do you know _why_ that rock was 10 feet under the water 70 years ago, and is _well_ above the water line now? An inflating magma chamber. That island is inside a submerged caldera from a very large, past caldera-collapse eruption. The volcanic system there may be capable of a high-end VEI-6 eruption, or even larger -- up to, possibly (hopefully not), a Mount Mazama (Crater Lake) or Tambora-scale VEI-7 eruption. If such an eruption occurs, quite severe tsunamis could strike Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. It could conceivably be a "year without a summer"-sized eruption. That would be a far larger eruption than any in the lifetimes of everyone alive today. Historically fascinating, and geologically quite concerning.
Overall a well done video. I was most interested in the sand. Japanese General Tadamichi Kuribayashi counted on that as his first line of defense. He let the Americans fill up your now peaceful beach and the shot off a flare to tell his troops to start firing from their concealed positions. The Americans were in a kill box and the 15 foot high berm and gravely volcanic sand bogged down their equipment. The Japanese started with about 22,000 troops and about 18,500 of them were killed. Only about 216 were captured. Many of them were unconscious. The bushido code of the Japanese meant they died fighting but would not surrender. One of the more effective weapons the Marines had was a flamethrower. It could kill Japanese in their tunnels and caves. Some captured Marines were beheaded and had their penis cut off and stuffed down their mouth. This was a brutal battle and we are fortunate to have won it. 6,800 Marines died in the 36 days of the battle and another 19,200 were wounded. The Japanese wanted among other things to kill as many Americans as possible to have a negotiated peace. The American politicians wisely wanted only unconditional surrender.
You're absolutely right! That sand is no joke, walking down that berm I was boot deep in it...climbing back up was no easy task. When the Marines landed on the beach, there were met with pure silence and wondered where the Japanese were. It was a surreal experience that I was grateful to have. Thanks for watching and the comment!
Going on a trip organized by the WW II museum to Pacific in late March. iwo Jima was on itenerary buy Japan cancelled visit to island due to fear of volcanic activity. So who know when any US citizen will be able to visit the island again.
actually i really want to know where were the artillery hidden in the mountain? from what i read, the whole moutain was sort of caved out to be a massive bunker system and they had their artillery in the mountain able to hit the beach and the entire island. so it also confused me as to why the HQ of the japanese were not set in the mountain and how the mountain got captured relatively quickly...
Monument to gallantry and valor to men who gave their lives in that battle, for both US Marines and Japanese defenders. Can only imagine how the men, boys, marines assaulted that steep volcanic sand under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, defines what is tough, nerves of steel
I guess the apartment is not on Iōtō? Because "Orion" is beer from Okinawa but that's even farther away than mainland Japan. But then I read that currently Iōtō is not open to civilians so... I think they should make it a museum of some sort, but it's so far away you'd have to stay there.
In only 100 years, there’s a large chance this island will no longer exist, and it’s not because of climate change. Most of the island besides mount Suribachi is uplift from a rising caldera. There is a very good chance that this century there will be a colossal volcanic eruption, more likely Tambora sized, I will once again put the island under the water. The Wasatch eruption was an 850 BC. The beach where we landed in 1944 is now 70 m above sea level and that is not because of magma but because of uplift. Almost all scientist agree that the next largest eruption is likely to be at Iwo Jima. If that volcano wrapped we will likely have a volcanic winter similar to the year without a summer in 1815 and tsunami‘s will threat in China Japan and even some large waves may impact the West Coast of the United States but they will not be life-threatening. The largest threat of tonight he will be to the immediate islands near Iwo Jima. Most of the tsunami‘s will be generated because of pyroclastic flows and during the caldera collapse
I was TAD there for 5 weeks from Coast Guard AIRSTA Barbers Point in 1979. Came back with a nice collection of glass balls collected from the beaches. I still remember the sulfur smell that hit you when the C-130 opened the door. Within a very short time, you didn't smell it anymore. At that time there were 26 Coastguardsmen and about 60 on the Japanese Air Base. I wish I had a greater appreciation of history at the age of 20. Good memories. It looks like you were filming near the Japanese barracks. Did you make it to the former LORAN station? I'm curious if it is being used for anything. It was definitely a very surreal place.
Thanks for the video. How were you able to go to the island? I've heard that access to the island is restricted by the Japanese government to military only. Standing in that beach and the summit of suribachi would be a very emotional experience. All the lives lost there, the intense fighting even past the airfiled, it's just a surreal place. I would recommend the movie flags of our fathers. It shows alot of good battle footage and just just really does a good job of showing the battle in a realistic way.
My opinion and opinion only! I would not have returned Iwo Jima back to Japan. The Husbands, the Father's, the brother's, the uncle's & the son's who spirits still roam the island. I've read articles from tourist who claim they seen or heard entities among them.
I don’t believe so, but it’s hard to tell without being there. It actually hindered the marine assault on the beach. It was hard to move vehicles on it, and they couldn’t barricade with it.
My father landed third wave with the Fifth Marines on February 19, 1945. He lasted 10 days when he was evacuated. Dad was still recovering from his wounds when the war ended in August. How do I arrange to visit the island?
Had USDAF 2 week TDY on IWO 1958 . So different todays the images as compared to 1958.. At the time still much damaged equipment to be found .Com wires like a spider web. Half sunk amphibious equipment off the invasion beach. surprised they allowed us unrestricted wandering around since there probably was still unexploded ordinance
I would’ve loved to have seen the view of the whole island from where they raised the flag. All your buddies were standing there filming it, but you didn’t get a chance to go over there.
My great grandfather rests eternally on that island. I hope to go one day, I always have an affinity to anything he was involved with. Many brave man lay there. I'm glad hes with his brothers.
The American dead were reburied at the Punchbowl in Hawaii.
@@matthewrinehart2367 The ones that were found .
but his soul will always rest where he died. you can never remove the soul of those lost in combat. SALUTE
At the end of the day he passed fighting for the county he loved, my great grandfather was lucky and survived the battle, thank you
Respect to your great grandfather man
My father was in the 5th amphibious division in the Marine Corps at hit the beaches of Iwo Jima on day 1 of that battle. He’s one of the lucky 20% of the Marines who got off the island without dying or suffering injuries. I was hoping my father and I could go together to Iwo Jima to revisit it one day be he sadly passed 5 years ago at the age of 91. Every time I see a video like this it makes me wonder what my father experienced during his time in battle on Iwo Jima. Thanks for posting this.
Yoi lie
My father was also there in the 5th Marine division
Did he live in Longmont
For all of those who are wondering. The Island has risen nearly 40 feet since the end of the war. Iwo Jima is an extremely active and
volatile volcano.
Wow
The ‘pacific ring of fire’ which also has San Francisco on it hence the devastating earthquakes.
It regularly ranks at or near the top of "10 most dangerous volcanoes" lists, because of the potential for a catastrophic eruption in our lifetimes. While, fortunately, there aren't any large population centers close, that caldera complex could possibly produce an eruption that would generate large tsunami, which could do bad things to Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Potentially it could be much larger than Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai and Pinatubo.
Nobody wonders or cares
I think it is up to 60.
The USCG had a LORAN station there. I spent three months and two days on the island back in 1976. There were about 40 coast guardsmen and 15-20 Japanese and that was it. I worked one day on and two days off except for resupply day every two weeks and inventory day. There was lots of time to explore. The fishing was amazing too. My stay there was one off the high points of my life.
Omg I can’t believe you got to go !!! What an experience. You stepped on the ground of true heros
owen freed you’re absolutely right! A trip of a lifetime for sure
How did you take this trip. I know there's supposedly one organize trip per year. Definitely number two or three on my bucket list. I would love to do it in 2021. What organization or website can you point me towards
@@stevecleans Thanks for the question. I was stationed in Japan with the Air Force and they selected 20 people to go. As for an organization or website I do not know anything outside of the military unfortunately.
@@stevecleans Hello. There is one non-military trip every year, but each ticket runs somewhere between $5-8k and they can cancel the trip even when you are on approach to Iwo Jima. In the three years I was taking people to Iwo Jima for the USAF, I never once heard of that trip making it to Iwo Jima.
@@thewanderinghistorian what the heck? Why would they cancel it like that? My grandpa was in the 4th marine division and received a Purple Heart on Iwo Jima. I was looking into trying to go but I found out what you said that there is one trip a year, I didn’t read anything about it ever being canceled though.
My father was a forward observer mortar crew first marine division .he fought on this island after peleliu.. Guadalcanal was a long nasty battle .
My grandfather was a B.A.R. , 3rd division. They don't make men like your father and my grandfather any more
This is Iwo Jima. Not Guadalcanal
Guadalcanal was a battle that the US could have lost. It was a very close thing for several months. Americans at the airfield were getting shelled by 14-inch guns from Japanese battleships, among numerous other hazards and hardships. All the battles that came after were hard and bloody but were never really in doubt as to who would prevail. Not Guadalcanal. Amazing story.
Pelileu wow that was another costly battle. Such heroism.
You lying lol this is Iwo Jima
My grandpa shelled the hell out of this island aboard uss Wisconsin.
One of my grandpas drove the landing craft to the shore, and another fought his way off a landing craft. Never knew if they were on the same one.
From a former Marine, well done young man. Semper Fi to my brothers at rest in that sacred ground.
Once a Marine, always a Marine!
Yeah think of how many girlfriends/wives/children were spared from abuse.
@@crazymixture57 Sure whatever you say
@@Joe-es9wf It's what I know.
@@crazymixture57 Are you sure you know nothing but trucks?
In the late 80’s, I was attached to III MEF (USMC) in Okinawa. We took a tour of “Iwo” for GMT (General Military Training). It was an eye-opening experience. In 1995, while I was stationed at Naval Station Treasure Island (San Francisco), we celebrated the 50th anniversary of WWII. I was honored to meet Mr Joe Rosenthal and some of the Navajo Code Talkers who were instrumental in the victory over the Japanese at Iwo Jima and Okinawa
I was at III MEF too and got to come here. Middle of summer, hot as hell and we climbed the mountain in cammies and our backpacks full of water and sand. Some guy got the silver bullet on the C-130 flight back. 😂
That's awesome!
My Grandfather was with the 476th Amphibian Truck Company and drove a land-water vehicle known as DUKWs ("Ducks"), specially modified to transport heavy 105mm howitzers to shore. He was on the first wave to land on Iwo Jima.
I went Iwo Jima as staff ride from Yokota AB in 2010. It meant a lot to me. My grandfather was a Japanese Army Field Artillery Captain defended this island while my wife’s uncle was US Marine private landed to take over the island. It was a big family war.
I got to go to Iwo Jima in 1992, the year it was given back to the Japanese. I was a Marine stationed on Okinawa at the time. I collected small bottles of the Black Iwo Sand.....still some of my most prized possessions....
The front door was left wide open for the Japanese to come in and blow up a bunch of out dated ships and planes kill a bunch of people and leave was a let it happen psyop and WW2 was a colossal waste of skill flesh and finance war isca racket and IA sick and tired of being lied to how about them war games and put options of 9/11 no good guys in war not even you Americans
I visited Saipan a few years ago. There’s still a couple of Sherman tanks sitting on the reef. A very surreal visit.
Hallowed Ground to be sure. I have some of that sand, though I was unable to visit myself, I was deployed to Philippines and Korea, a buddy was selected to go and brought me some. Other than my family it is one of my dearest possessions. Nice video!
From an old Corpsman
Thank you for your reply, it was definitely an amazing experience. Cheers!
I was stationed in South Korea. 2nd ID
Thank you for your valuable footage. Iwo Jima is a place that even Japanese people cannot go to. And it is known that many Japanese people have ghosts on this island, and it is feared that they will be cursed if they bring back the sand and pebbles of this island. It is said that if you bring something out of this island, you must return it to the island.🙂
They have the same tradition in Hawaii. On the other hand, the Italians didn't care if I took lava rock from Mt. Etna home with me.
Thank you for your service as well. And much appreciate the info. As a side note I was there for the 20th anniversary of the flag raising and they brought Marine Corp band, officials as well as last surviving member from the photo. A memory for life😀Thank you again.
Thanks for sharing my Grandfather was there during WW2.... We lost him a few years back ..... But non the less the stories he had were no joke about his time on that rock....
Your grandfather was a true hero. I hope that the video provided you a way to connect his stories.
I couldn't imagine walking on that beach, it would be surreal. Like you were prolly standing somewhere where someone died and/or blown up
Jesus, that view from Mount Suribachi. Imagine being a US marine, charging up the beach while getting shot in the flank by japanese from Suribachi. Absolute horror. Brave men in a time of darkness.
My mother's cousin Myron was here. A mortarman in the 4th marine division
I believe he was seriously wounded and evacuated.He was 18 or 19. My mother was younger. 8 or 9. Yeah but he lived until 2012. Ran a successful business. But always walked with a limp and a palsied left arm. Great guy
Just started reading Flags of or Fathers and was happy to find this video to show the island. Crazy how something so horrific happened in such a beautiful place.
My great grandfather who passed in 2003 fought in Iwo Jima as a paratrooper. When he came back home and brought 2 katanas and 2 rifles, his personal one and a Japanese Type 99 rifle. My grandma has them to this very day.
Thanks for this video. The War Room just released a video on IJ and the mountain sounded beyond horrible. Really puts into perspective what those Marines went through. I can't imagine having to climb it while being washed with bullets. Then they had to sleep on the damned thing since they couldn't take it day 1. Horrifying.
I am neither Japanese nor American. Just watched some documentary about Iwo Jima battle and wanted to know more about it.
Even Korean went through quite a lot of wars, we don't have much of these chances to go see in real.
But I'm sure visiting those places and thinking about the war, could definitely make country and veterans more appreciative.
When I served with the USCG on Iwo I was told there were Korean prisoners on Kangoku Rock.
@@matthewrinehart2367 I might have to look that up! Thank you! :)
Something else you may find interesting, Korean POWs were found in Berlin during the collapse. They had been prisoners of the Japanese, then the Russians, and then the Germans.
@@matthewrinehart2367 Oh, that! I did not know! In fact, I just had my good German friend visiting Korea last week. I should have a serious conversation over this with her.
@@cavis35 Truly says something about the value of the Korean work ethic!
From a battlefield to small lovely beach...
Wonderful:)
Great video.. I would love to visit Iwo Jima. I was stationed in Okinawa back in the 80's, me and a friend used to go "booney stomping" on southern end - which was still pretty much rural - and explored the ridges where the American 10th and Japanese 32nd Armies fought the last stages of the Battle of Okinawa. We found dozens, upon dozens of unexploded ordinance (which we left alone!), as well as of thousands of small arms rounds. We also did the same on Ie Shima, a smaller island just off Okinawa.
I used to scuba dive off of Ie Shima when I was stationed on Oki in the mid 90s. I loved the culture and the people I really enjoyed my 6 months there and even tried to extend, but the Corps needed me elsewhere. I was station at Camp Foster so I got into Naha quite often and it was a fun place. I also get to do some exploration and have some nice photos of the bunkers on the coast near Ie Shima and Shuri castle which was a pivotal part of the Shuri Line.
@@fredgilbert2032 When I was stationed there Shuri Castle was in the process of being rebuilt. After WW2, Okinawa University was built on the site of Shuri Castle. However, it was decided in the early 80's to build a new site for Okinawa University and reconstruct the castle. I also have fond memories of being stationed on Okinawa. I hope to visit once again.
Just think, Lt Gen. Kuribayashi had those beaches sited well in advance of the Marine landings.... when the beaches were packed he opened up on them.... the terror!
they dug ditches in various places and when the marines landed some would dive in thinking they found cover only to find out the spot had been pre-sighted when an accurate artillery round would land right on top of them
Took my dad back there a few years ago. Went through HISTORICAL MILITARY TOURS a travel company. A very spiritual trip!
Just imagine staying over night within the old tunnels of mnt surabachi . I would be shit scared . Great idea for a movie script too .
On January 6, 1949, Yamakage Kufuku and Matsudo Linsoki, two Imperial Japanese Navy machine gunners, surrendered on Iwo Jima. Imagine how they survived that long.
So incredibly beautiful much like Omaha Beach. It’s very hard to believe that places like them were absolute hell holes at one point in history.
What an amazing experience. It’s great that you appreciate the history, not everyone does.
It was definitely an experience that I will never forget!
Those trinket things hanging on the stand looked like dogs tags. Maybe M.I.A s?? Many brave souls lost there. May they rest in peace. 👋 🇦🇺
I've read some vets who return to IJ leave their dog tags behind.
Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that, in glory and triumph, they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot.
-Carl Sagan
Thanks. Did this tour in March of 1992 when attached to Marine Arty unit out of Okinawa. Memories
In video game adaptations (and maybe movies too) it always felt more tropical. Meanwhile i can't even see a palm tree in real life videos.
Yeah, it was quite barren. Had a large sulfur smell too so perhaps that has something to do with the little vegetation.
There were some trees back then but they always hid in and around the trees or any structure and the navy reconstructed it.
I was stationed on Iwo Jima back in 1964 to 1965 . The island had no inhabitants except the Coast Guard LORAN Station and the Air Force . What we called isolated duty. . The air base at that time was just a series of Quonset huts no brick buildings. The Coast Guard base at the other end of the island did have concrete block buildings. Just curious what occupies the island now.
George Weber First, thank you for your service! The Japanese own the island now and there’s and airstrip on it. Small barracks and that’s about it. Not much left on the island but it’s still used
I've said this many, many times. The United States Marines & Corpsmen that fought in the Pacific are the Greatest Men to have ever walked the face of this earth.
Wow !
Congratulations. I would love to go.
Have to admit, I didn’t expect so much greenery. I pictured it more barren and ashy.
Great video my friend I'm always astounded to see videos of Iwo Jima it makes me think so much of how it must have been to be fighting on that tiny Island, it was give you an Erie feeling to be on that Island, and it must really feel Erie at night , God bless and thank you
Shame so many soldiers died from both sides. The usa had no choice the other army would die .no surrender was thier message.sad.
Thankyou Aaron for this, I watch as much content on the battle of iwo jima both old and new as I believe it to be the fiercest battle the American Marines have ever had..I know there is much talk of the battered bastards of Bastogne but this was far worse.To see the beach head right at the start empty I can just picture it been full of those men trying to advance over 70 years ago..
You should do a follow-up, some day, and visit the runways. My father was setting up a 50-caliber water-cooled machine gun along one side of the second runway, digging a hole was very difficult because the runway was packed and rolled coral, when the Japanese defenders dropped a mortar right on his position. He took a fragment in his face, and his buddy was unconscious. He carried his buddy and an M-1 carbine back to the beach, and half-way back he realized he was hemorrhaging from his neck. February 23, 1945 was his 26th birthday!
Iwo Jima was a strategic air base for the Japanese: Zeroes stationed there were able to intercept B-29s en route to Japan, and pick them off. American fighter escorts did not have sufficient range to provide cover all the way to that mainland. By losing control of Iwo Jima, Japan could no longer intercept B-29s that were conducting heavy bombardment of military targets on the mainland of Japan. The Japanese defenders must have realized the consequences of losing that air base: the fighting was fierce and sustained. Even today, I cannot recall that history without tears rolling down my face. I wrote a semi-fictional account, based on snippets that my father would share with me, 5 minutes at a time. That essay is entitled "We Took That Mountain". U.S. Marine HQ in Washington, D.C., contacted me for permission to publish it at their official government website, many years ago. YT is censoring my comments when I post links to our website where that essay is available, for free; so, I hesitate to post that link here. Try limiting a Google search to site: supremelaw [DOT] org .
After securing the first runway, the Marines were positioned and dug-in all around its perimeter. Close to sunset one day, a Japanese Zero pilot had evidently received no word about the loss of that runway, and he flew into final approach to land. The Marines needed no commands: they all knew exactly what they should do, given the massive casualties they had already endured up to that point in time. My father said you could hear everyone locking and loading their weapons. The Zero landed, and taxied near the end of that runway. As if on predetermined cue, at the moment the pilot opened the cockpit canopy, the Marines unloaded several hundred rifle and machine-gun rounds into that plane, and it disintegrated in a matter of seconds. Of course, the pilot died instantly. It was merely small satisfaction, after so much bloodshed, which continued for several more weeks. Almost 7,000 U.S. Marines died during that protracted assault.
I thank you for your trip picture.. BLESS GOD FOR NAMELESS SOLIDER!
They are NOT nameless.
www.recordsofwar.com/iwo/dead/dead.htm
This is a little bit from left field but when I was a kid in the 70s I had an Iwo Jima play set. Came with a unique American and Japanese soldiers that didn't fit the standard template of toy soldiers you might see in the grocery store or regular toy shops. Back to the the trip; thanks for sharing. Appreciate seeing what the place looks like now.
May the brave hero’s rest there in peace.
Loved the video man keep up the great work. I wanna see a vlog happen.
Thank you very much for sharing, appreciate it a lot.
Greets from the Netherlands 🌷, T.
Awesome, thanks a lot for sharing!
I dream of visiting somehow someday. Really enjoyed your video.
What an awesome trip you got to take. You will look back one day and have such a great memory of this trip.
You want to visit something odd or sacred ground visit Tarawa.. beautiful place for honeymoon and vacation. My wife was obvious to its history, I wasn't.. there were nights ( I've feld more than one presence) when I could feel energy or non-material forces engulf me with sadness. Never mention to my wife about my experience walking the beach at night. It wasn't until I met this old timer at the V.A. hospital during my volunteer days that he noticed something about my personality was off. He ask me did I feel something strange while I was on vacation. I said yes I did.. I'd explain my experience and he sat there and smiled. I asked him why were you smiling..he took out an old map of Tarawa and this is where I landed, one finger pointing to where my honeymoon shack was (75 years later) and said they were my friends talking to you.He said he lost many friends on Tarawa and probably wanted me to know they were ok..to this day it makes sense to me.
Heading to Iwo next month for about three weeks. Looking forward to the experience.
The whole island has risen by about 10ft since WW2. A massive magma dome is developing underneath. Mount Suribachi is deemed to be the most dangerous volcano on the planet. If it erupts violently, the tsunamis could be disastrous
More like 10 meters or over 50 feet. For context, uplift of a few centimeters is a warning sign that a volcanic eruption is possible. Iwo Jima has a history of massive eruptions, and when it happens again, there won't be much left of the island.
Didn't know today there are paved roads, buildings and parking lots there. They somehow seem out of place.
Yeah. The paved road up to Mt. Suribachi suprised me. Apparently a lot of work was done after the war on that island
Not to mention the Airport...
I was there when americans invaded the island, we lost but we fought bravely, lost many brothers there, i hope they are in peace
That's very awesome sir you seen what those brave marines went thru while they were there place by place and the obstacles that they over came to get victory that was needed to win the war
I seen tons of videos from past visitors to Iwo Jima and i must admit i never seen someone show how loose the volcanic beach was to walk on. No way to dig foxholes or even run on that stuff. I wonder how the ground felt when trying to dig holes. Veterans would say it was hot not to deep down
Interesting. I enjoyed this. It helped my understand Iwo Jima more.
When I was stationed at Camp Fuji I got permission from the base colonel via power point I made on how I could logistically make this happen for 50 marines for free using military air. I got the green light but instead having a whole day there, due to storms we could only stay for 1 hour! So we RAN TO THE BEACH AND WE RAN UP THAT MOUNTAIN via the nice lil road they have. Of course we flew flags there are so many ant aircraft stations on the island with meted over barrels and bullet hole covering all the rock face of it
Only 77 years ago, there was a fierce battle between the United States and Japan on Iwo Jima. We hated and killed each other as arch-foes,but former enemies are now staunch allies and best friends. I`m sure that today`s US-Japanese relationship is a role model for all countries and peoples who are fighting and antagonizing each other. Both the United State and Japan should enlighten them that today`s arch-enemies could be tomorrow`s best friends.
If everyone comes and takes sand/seashells/etc from these places there will be none left. Shame you both took some and couldn't leave this sacred place as pristine as you found it.
Was wondering if they have identified General Kuribayashi’s Headquarters location and if you were able to visit that part of the island?
I don't believe we went to that location. Thanks for watching!
His HQ is located South of the Coast Guard base.
I did beach ops there in 1988 in the marine corps use to be allot of debris on the beach from ww2 looks allot cleaner now. I was all over that island and tunnels.
Honor and respect from Chile for all US Marines and Japanese military fallen on duty fighting for their own countries 🇺🇸🇯🇵🇨🇱
Had the privilege of attending a promotion ceremony at the monument on top of the mountain about 20 years ago.
The Marines had no cover when they landed - a truely heroic act to come ashore . Lest We Forget. ❤️❤️❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
True hero's, I can't even begin to imagine the hell that happened.
Do you know _why_ that rock was 10 feet under the water 70 years ago, and is _well_ above the water line now? An inflating magma chamber. That island is inside a submerged caldera from a very large, past caldera-collapse eruption. The volcanic system there may be capable of a high-end VEI-6 eruption, or even larger -- up to, possibly (hopefully not), a Mount Mazama (Crater Lake) or Tambora-scale VEI-7 eruption.
If such an eruption occurs, quite severe tsunamis could strike Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. It could conceivably be a "year without a summer"-sized eruption. That would be a far larger eruption than any in the lifetimes of everyone alive today.
Historically fascinating, and geologically quite concerning.
Overall a well done video. I was most interested in the sand. Japanese General Tadamichi Kuribayashi counted on that as his first line of defense. He let the Americans fill up your now peaceful beach and the shot off a flare to tell his troops to start firing from their concealed positions. The Americans were in a kill box and the 15 foot high berm and gravely volcanic sand bogged down their equipment. The Japanese started with about 22,000 troops and about 18,500 of them were killed. Only about 216 were captured. Many of them were unconscious. The bushido code of the Japanese meant they died fighting but would not surrender. One of the more effective weapons the Marines had was a flamethrower. It could kill Japanese in their tunnels and caves. Some captured Marines were beheaded and had their penis cut off and stuffed down their mouth. This was a brutal battle and we are fortunate to have won it. 6,800 Marines died in the 36 days of the battle and another 19,200 were wounded. The Japanese wanted among other things to kill as many Americans as possible to have a negotiated peace. The American politicians wisely wanted only unconditional surrender.
You're absolutely right! That sand is no joke, walking down that berm I was boot deep in it...climbing back up was no easy task. When the Marines landed on the beach, there were met with pure silence and wondered where the Japanese were. It was a surreal experience that I was grateful to have. Thanks for watching and the comment!
Going on a trip organized by the WW II museum to Pacific in late March. iwo Jima was on itenerary buy Japan cancelled visit to island due to fear of volcanic activity. So who know when any US citizen will be able to visit the island again.
Very interesting. You should DEFINITELY keep them coming.
Looks like there's no much interest in conservatión of the tremendous historic reliques in the island....
Man amazing vid!!!, so much history
This former Marine approves of your work. Nice job.
Appreciate that, thank you for your service!
We are always a Marine never former. Semper Fi Brother.
Good video, thanks.
Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing. Don’t worry about the audio!
Mantappp...pulau penuh sejarah yg kelam dan seraammm
actually i really want to know where were the artillery hidden in the mountain? from what i read, the whole moutain was sort of caved out to be a massive bunker system and they had their artillery in the mountain able to hit the beach and the entire island. so it also confused me as to why the HQ of the japanese were not set in the mountain and how the mountain got captured relatively quickly...
I really want to walk on Iwo Jima and look around the island and the things left from the battle.
I think I heard that we were still fighting Japanese soldiers on Iwo Jima in the 1950's.
Thank you for sharing. Lest we forget.
thanks for the video my dad was offshore watching all of the battle on the uss Shoshone aka65
Monument to gallantry and valor to men who gave their lives in that battle, for both US Marines and Japanese defenders. Can only imagine how the men, boys, marines assaulted that steep volcanic sand under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, defines what is tough, nerves of steel
I guess the apartment is not on Iōtō? Because "Orion" is beer from Okinawa but that's even farther away than mainland Japan. But then I read that currently Iōtō is not open to civilians so... I think they should make it a museum of some sort, but it's so far away you'd have to stay there.
In only 100 years, there’s a large chance this island will no longer exist, and it’s not because of climate change. Most of the island besides mount Suribachi is uplift from a rising caldera. There is a very good chance that this century there will be a colossal volcanic eruption, more likely Tambora sized, I will once again put the island under the water. The Wasatch eruption was an 850 BC. The beach where we landed in 1944 is now 70 m above sea level and that is not because of magma but because of uplift. Almost all scientist agree that the next largest eruption is likely to be at Iwo Jima. If that volcano wrapped we will likely have a volcanic winter similar to the year without a summer in 1815 and tsunami‘s will threat in China Japan and even some large waves may impact the West Coast of the United States but they will not be life-threatening. The largest threat of tonight he will be to the immediate islands near Iwo Jima. Most of the tsunami‘s will be generated because of pyroclastic flows and during the caldera collapse
One day I will DEFINITELY come here.
Did you see the underground tunnels? Or the entrances to them?
Thank You... From Philippine Islands 🌳🌴🙂
I was TAD there for 5 weeks from Coast Guard AIRSTA Barbers Point in 1979. Came back with a nice collection of glass balls collected from the beaches. I still remember the sulfur smell that hit you when the C-130 opened the door. Within a very short time, you didn't smell it anymore. At that time there were 26 Coastguardsmen and about 60 on the Japanese Air Base. I wish I had a greater appreciation of history at the age of 20. Good memories. It looks like you were filming near the Japanese barracks. Did you make it to the former LORAN station? I'm curious if it is being used for anything. It was definitely a very surreal place.
it looks smaller than i had imagined. must have been hell in the war
Thanks for the video. How were you able to go to the island? I've heard that access to the island is restricted by the Japanese government to military only. Standing in that beach and the summit of suribachi would be a very emotional experience. All the lives lost there, the intense fighting even past the airfiled, it's just a surreal place. I would recommend the movie flags of our fathers. It shows alot of good battle footage and just just really does a good job of showing the battle in a realistic way.
Amazing footage! How much does something like this cost?
My opinion and opinion only! I would not have returned Iwo Jima back to Japan. The Husbands, the Father's, the brother's, the uncle's & the son's who spirits still roam the island. I've read articles from tourist who claim they seen or heard entities among them.
do you think the sand on the beach being so soft could have helped absorb some of the impact from mortars and bombs?
I don’t believe so, but it’s hard to tell without being there. It actually hindered the marine assault on the beach. It was hard to move vehicles on it, and they couldn’t barricade with it.
I've seen a report about it. It was said that the soft ash stopped shrapnel just a little bit.
I would love to go there. How do you arrange a trip like that and what is the approximate cost?
I did it through the military
@@MrBajabug65 Thank you for your service.
@@mustlovedogs272 It only costs you a four year obligation!
How did you got there ??? I want to visit Iwo too.
I was stationed on Okinawa, and the opportunity came up.
My father landed third wave with the Fifth Marines on February 19, 1945. He lasted 10 days when he was evacuated. Dad was still recovering from his wounds when the war ended in August.
How do I arrange to visit the island?
That’s an amazing story. Unfortunately it’s extremely difficult to get on the island and you need special permission from the Japanese Government
@@MrBajabug65 Are you a descendant of a veteran who served on Iwo Jima?
@@stevenjbeto No sir, just someone who was stationed on Okinawa and got the chance of a lifetime to see history.
Had USDAF 2 week TDY on IWO 1958 . So different todays the images as compared to 1958.. At the time still much damaged equipment to be found .Com wires like a spider web. Half sunk amphibious equipment off the invasion beach. surprised they allowed us unrestricted wandering around since there probably was still unexploded ordinance
How did you get to go on this trip? Was it with an organization?
I was stationed on Okinawa with the USAF.
Nice I have two cousins that are Marines they got to go visit their Semper Fi.
I beached there when I was in the Navy back in the late 80s.
I would’ve loved to have seen the view of the whole island from where they raised the flag. All your buddies were standing there filming it, but you didn’t get a chance to go over there.