Rita Sherlock et al - August 1983 (audio)

Welcome to Jerry’s Story. This is Steve Sherlock. I am the first of the 6 children Gerald and Rita Sherlock brought into this world. 

This podcast episode shares some original oral history recorded in August of 1983 by Helen Geoffroy and made available by her son Eric.  Helen was one of the younger sisters of Rita. Rita was the oldest of 10.

Helen apparently visited Rita with Mémère and recorded this conversation. Patty is also a part of the discussion. 

Mémère (Ernestine Joyal) was the mother of both Rita and Helene. Patty is the youngest of the 6 “Sherlock kids”.

Frank Moody comes in for a visit. 

Rita left us all in November 1983, Mémère in December of the same year but both voices sound vibrant in this recording.

My special thanks to cousin Eric for allowing me to share this recording and to my brother Bob for instigating the search for it.

Audio link ->  https://jerry-sherlocks-story.captivate.fm/episode/gs-008-rita-sherlock-et-al-august-1983/

For additional info visit Jerry’s Story at https://jerrysherlockstory.blogspot.com/

The music for the intro and exit comes from “Through Golden Fields” by Dee Yan-Key licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike License.

IWO JIMA (video)

This is a video form Warner Brothers and United Artists.  Filmed by Combat cameraman of the USMC, NAVY and THE USCG.

This is a little of what it was like for Jerry and other MARINES.

80 Years ago.

Video link -> https://youtu.be/jeEGGi2lhO0?si=hAIw-NU26VHrqR-i

The Naval Guns prepared for the landing on Iwo Jima, Feb 19, 1944 (video)

It has been sometime since posting.

Today on 17 February 2025 it is 80 years ago today that Naval Bombardment was hammering the shores installations of Iwo Jima. 

20,000 Japanes soldiers and naval infantry were on the Island.

Civilians had long been removed.

Iwo Shima was considered the Japanese Homeland.

The Pacific Campaign was to take Island that were strategically important to the war effort.

The goal was to get air bases close to Japan to launch aerial bomber attacks to strike at Japan.

Saipan and Tinian had been taken in June of 1944.

The Fourth Marine Division had been training and refitting in Maui to take Iwo. Seizing Iwo Jima would allow B-17 and B-29 bombers to launch and recover. Iwo Jima would also allow fighter Escorts to defend the Bombers.

A concentrated effort had begun to destroy casemates and block houses at the shoreline.

The USMC Generals called for ten days of shelling. The Navy went with three days.

Below is a link to a Classified film produced by the War Department and The Navy on the Naval Gun Fire on Iwo Jima.

https://youtu.be/9WMqGYBOn9A?si=x5RUQ1rWFSaickJb