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

Remembering Feb 19

February 19, 1945 ... The day Jerry landed on Iwo Jima as a young Marine and was fortunate to walk off later in March when the battle was truly won.

February 19, 2012 ... The day Jerry left us to rejoin Rita and other members of his family and friends.

February 19, 2020 ... no pun intended but hindsight is really 2020 - hard to believe that it has been eight years .. I still have the urge, from time to time, to make the mental note to 'tell Dad', or 'ask Dad', and then I remember.

Remembering Feb 19

Remembering

So glad we were able to take Dad/Jerry to Washington, DC to view the memorials there in 2007.

Bob, Steve, Jerry, Mike and Mark at the Iwo Jima Monument in Washington, DC, Dec 2007

Jerry left us on Feb 19, 2012. The anniversary of his landing on Iwo Jima!


You can view other photos from the trip here
https://www.flickr.com/photos/steve_sherlock/albums/72157603425059658/with/2101769159/

Iwo Jima - Red Blood/Black Sand (video)

Settle in for a long viewing of this documentary, just about 90 minutes.



Found via the Support our Surviors of Iwo Jima group on Facebook

National Iwo Jima Memorial - part 3

Across from the medical and chaplain corp and along the fence, is the eternal flame. Sections of the fence are marked along the way with flags.

the eternal flame

flag line

detail on the monument to honor the first flag raisers

detail on the monument showing the battle plan

National Iwo Jima Memorial - part 2

The incredible attention to detail is shown with the small area to the side of the main monument where the medical and chaplain corp are honored for their service. The black stone is so polished that the snow surrounding the area is reflected.

Medical Corp to the left, Chaplain Corp to the right

Medical Corp detail

Chaplain Corp detail

The reflecting snow creates an eerie image.

National Iwo Jima Memorial - 2/23/14

After many attempts, my schedule finally worked out and I got to the National Iwo Jima Memorial in CT for the annual flag raising ceremony. The monument is wonderful. The attention to detail is incredible. Over the next several posts, I'll share the photos I took of the monument and of the ceremony.

The monument depicts the familiar and more famous second flag raising on Iwo Jima.

National Iwo Jima Memorial, CT - side view

National Iwo Jima Monument, CT

National Iwo Jima Memorial, CT - looking from the rear

National Iwo Jima Memorial, CT - hazy sunshine

If you get a chance to stop by sometime, it is a fitting memorial to a great battle.




My thanks to the Support our Survivors of Iwo Jima organization for putting this together.   http://www.sosiwojima.com/  very well done!

Remembering Iwo Jima, remembering Jerry

Feb 19 is a special day in US history. It was the day that the Battle of Iwo Jima started in 1945. The flag raising on Mt Suribachi is quite well known. That the battle fought for many days after the flag raising is less so. Jerry landed on Iwo Jima and was among the lucky ones to walk off in March. It may not be a coincidence that Jerry left his world on Feb 19, 2012.

Jerry's coffin at the funeral home in 2012

You can listen to Jerry tell of his work in the Joint Assault Signal Company
http://jerrysherlockstory.blogspot.com/2007/09/jerry-story-joint-assault-signal.html

• If you see a veteran, thank them for their service.
• If you find a World War II veteran, listen to a story if they'll tell it. We are all losing too many of those these days.

Flag Raising Ceremony at the Iwo Jima Memorial in CT

February 23, 2014 we are holding our 69th Anniversary of the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Iwo Jima Memorial in CT. It will be held rain or shine. Weather permitting, we will have military displays and refreshments available. The ceremony starts at 10 a.m. Dress warm and come early to get parking.

69th Anniversary of the Iwo Jima Flag Raising

For more information, visit the webpage here  http://sosiwojima.com/ 
or on Facebook here https://www.facebook.com/events/711205985565098/?source=1

Veterans Day Ceremony

Veterans Day Ceremony

Please help us spread the word about this Veterans Day, November 11.  We will be at the Iwo Jima Memorial all day (weather permitting).  We will have some displays and memorabilia along with information.  We will have a large sign for visitors to sign which will then be given to the Veterans Hospital.  Ceremony by the Marine Corps League set to begin at 12:15 pm.

The new flag plaques have been installed.  Come toll the bell for your veterans when his name is called.

Call us if you have any questions, Gary at 860-291-9666.

Thank you to all our Veterans for our FREEDOM!

5th Annual VJ Day Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance

The Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc. will be holding the 5th Annual VJ Day Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance on Saturday, August 17th.  The public is invited to attend this FREE event and participate in this solemn ceremony by remembering a deceased loved one who served at any time in the U. S. Armed Forces.

 

The ceremony will remember and honor ALL of America's Veterans who served at ANY time in the Armed Forces and who have since passed away or who were KIA/MIA/POW.  Among those being remembered are the 100 Connecticut servicemen who were killed in action during the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. The public is invited to participate by remembering any special veterans in their lives who has passed away. The ceremony will include singers, bagpipes, invocation, speakers, taps, rifle salute, riderless horse and the lighting of candles. The public is invited to call the name of a loved one and toll the bell for each. Everyone is invited to bring a photo of the veteran they would like to remember and place it on the "Wall of Honor" or email it to us for inclusion on a digital photo frame.  This Foundation event has been designated as the National Hub for the “Spirit of ‘45” events in Connecticut which celebrates the “can do” attitude of the Greatest Generation.

 

The Newington Memorial Funeral Home is once again generously co-sponsoring this event and assisting in the ceremony.  The ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home located at 20 Bonair Ave, Newington.  The brief ceremony will be followed by an escorted procession to the National Iwo Jima Memorial where the second part will take place.  Parking at the memorial is extremely limited and will be reserved for elderly, handicap, presenters and motorcycles.  Those wishing to attend are strongly urged to first go to the Funeral Home where a bus to the Memorial will be provided.  In case of rain, the entire ceremony will take place at the Funeral Home.

 

The Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to maintain the National Iwo Jima Memorial, educate others about the history of the Battle for Iwo Jima and to perpetuate the memory of those who fought and died there.

 

Sponsors and Volunteers are needed to help with this event. For more information, please contact Gary Roy at (860) 291-9666 or email SOSIwoJima@yahoo.com. You may also visit the Iwo Jima Survivors website or Facebook page at www.SOSIwoJima.com where more information will be posted as it develops.

23 FEB 1945 - 2 Flags on Mt Suribachi

The National Colors were raised on Mt. Suribachi  on the island of IWO JIMA not once but twice.
 There is much back story to the Flag Raising.  It is complex and confusing.

However the simple fact is that the United States Flag was planted on Japanese soil by US MARINES.

Jerry was always adamant that there were in fact two flag raising's.  As usual he was right.

Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal went ashore with General Holland "Howlin' Mad" Smith that morning and when they landed the second flag had just been raised.  It was much larger and more visible.

SECNAV Forrestal was ecstatic by all accounts upon seeing the Flag. He turned to Gen. Smith and said, "Holland, the raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years"

68 years ago toady the marked an emotional turning point in the battle.  It didn't change the tempo of the combat.  Members of the first and second flag raisers would be killed in combat on Iwo Jima.

6,000 Americans would be killed in 38 days of what is considered one of the fiercest battles in MARINE CORPS history.

Marines today say that the benchmark has always been Iwo Jima.   MARINE Veterans of Korea, Viet Nam, Kuwait, Iraq and Afghanistan have all pointed to the MARINES of IWO as the truly serious Gunfighters.

Hard to look at Jerry in his later years as anything but a happy go lucky guy from Pawtucket.  Who was proud of his family.   I saw the grim determination in his face and the set of his jaw in his last days.  The face of a MARINE Gunfighter who didn't have the word defeat in his vocabulary.

Tonight a special toast will be given by his friends from the MARINE CORPS and Family at the Whiskey Republic.  

Semper FI.

1st Anniversary - Feb 19, 2013

Two things for today.

One: 68 years ago, the Marines landed on Iwo Jima. Among them Jerry charged ashore as part of the 1st Joint Assault Signal Company in the 4th Division. He was lucky to walk off the island when it was all over. When asked about his time there, most of the time he said: "the real heroes did not come home."


Two: 67 years after he had landed and was lucky to walk off the island, Jerry took his last walk from us. I still think there was something about that connection.

Deep in the archives, there are recordings of Jerry talking of his life. I was fortunate to capture from his earliest memory up to the beginning of the 1950's. Unfortunately, I did not get more than that. His health problems started intervening. A couple of times when we did sit to record turned out to be TIA incidents where we rushed off to the hospital. I got a little gun shy after those incidents.

What we have we can listen to again and again. And treasure for the guidance and example he did set!

-----------

This is a brief recording where Jerry recalls his earliest memory and how there were two "Henry's".

Time: 4 minutes, 8 seconds

Iwo Jima - 68 years ago - Feb 19

On Feb 19th, it will be 68 years since the flag was raised on Iwo Jima and one year since Jerry left us. Special commemorative events will be held in CT on Sat and Sun, Feb 23, and Feb 24.



The poster for the event to commemorate this important date:




Additional information can be found on the Support our Survivors webpage http://www.sosiwojima.com/


This day will be one of prayers for those who fought with Jerry on Iwo Jima. He always said that the real heroes did not come home.


An anniversary Mass for Jerry will be held 10:30 AM on Sunday, Mar 2 at St Michael's Church in Smithfield, RI.

Wreaths Across America Day December 15 To Honor Veterans At National Iwo Jima Monument

All are welcome to attend the first annual Wreaths Across America Day ceremony to be held at the National Iwo Jima Monument on Saturday December 15, 2012 starting at 12 noon.

Seven ceremonial wreaths will be placed to remember all soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines who served, honor their sacrifices, and teach our younger generations about the high cost of our freedoms. The monument is...located on the Newington/New Britain town line on Ella Grasso Boulevard at the corner of Barbour Road.

Specially designated wreaths for the Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and POW/MIA will be placed on memorials during...a ceremony that will be coordinated simultaneously at over 750 participating locations all across the Country, including Arlington National Cemetery.

The Worcester Wreath Company from Harrington, Maine donates the wreaths to be placed on the headstones of our Nation’s fallen heroes. Recognition of the service and sacrifice of our veterans, and their families, is especially poignant during the traditional holiday season. In 2012 it is projected that over 400,000 wreaths will be placed nationwide, by over 150,000 volunteers as part of the Wreaths Across America mission to Remember, Honor, and Teach. Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve including their families who sacrifice, and Teach our children the cost of the freedoms we enjoy each day.

Wreaths Across America's website can be found by visiting www.wreathsacrossamerica.org

Gary Roy, President
Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation

Andy's Story

Steve,

I love getting the updates on "Jerry's Story".

One of my favorite times with your Dad is one of my favorite stories to tell. My brothers Richard and Ray and I took your Dad to see the movie "Letters from Iwo Jima". We felt so honored to be sitting with a survivor of that famous battle, especially since our dad Del also fought there.

When the movie was over, we all commented on how "realistic" it was.

Jerry very soft spokenly said it brought back a lot of memories and that the makers of the film had done a great job recreating the scenes of Iwo Jima. As far as realistic, Jerry said it wasn't very realistic. The only way to recreate the realism of the day would be to have live ammunition fire flying by you from all sides and know that at any moment you could be dead!!!

He said this with such calm and authority that it has stayed with me every since. Only those who have lived through combat can really know the "realistic" fears and feelings that come with it.

Hope all is well with you and your family.

I miss your Dad and feel blessed that I got to know him the last few years of his life.

Sincerely,

Andy Brouillard



Andy,

Thank you for sharing this. And thank you for taking Dad to the movie. I know he talked of it frequently.

Steve

4th Annual VJ Day Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance

4th Annual VJ Day Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance to be held Sunday, August 12

The Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc. will be holding their 4th Annual VJ Day Candlelight
Ceremony of Remembrance at the National Iwo Jima Memorial Monument on Sunday, August 12, 2012.
The public is invited to attend and participate in this ceremony by remembering a deceased loved one who
served at any time in the U. S. Armed Forces. This event is part of the National Spirit of '45 Day Campaign.

The 4th Annual VJ Day Candlelight Ceremony of Remembrance will remember and honor ALL of America's Veterans who served at any time in the Armed Forces of the United States and who have since passed away or who were KIA/MIA. Among those are the 100 Connecticut servicemen who were killed in action during the World War II Battle of Iwo Jima. The names of those men are inscribed on the black granite panels of the monument. The ceremony also remembers those who survived the battle but who have since passed away. 


The public is invited to attend this Free event and participate by remembering any special veteran in their lives who is no longer with us. The ceremony will include bagpipes, invocation, speakers, taps, rifle salute, riderless horse and the lighting of candles. The public is invited to call the name of a loved one to be remembered and toll the bell for each. Relatives or friends of the 100 men KIA who are listed on the monument or survivors of the battle who have passed away are asked to contact us.

Those wishing to attend are asked to first gather at 5:30 p.m. at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home
located at 20 Bonair Ave. in the center of Newington. There will be a brief ceremony which will include the
folding of an American flag which represents all veterans who have passed away. Everyone is invited to
bring a photo of the veteran they would like to remember and place it on the Wall of Honor.

Due to limited parking at the Monument, a bus will be provided to transport visitors to the National Iwo Jima Memorial. This bus will be part of a formal escorted procession to the National Iwo Jima Memorial where services will begin at 6:30 p.m. In case of rain, the entire ceremony will take place at the Newington Memorial Funeral Home.

The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought February 19th through March 26th, 1945. It was the bloodiest battle in
Marine history, resulting in the deaths of 6,821 American servicemen and wounded over 19,000 more. The
Iwo Jima Memorial Historical Foundation, Inc. is a non-profit 501 (c)(3) organization whose mission is to
maintain the National Iwo Jima Memorial, educate others about the history of the Battle for Iwo Jima and to
perpetuate the memory of those who fought and died there.

We are seeking Sponsors and Volunteers to help with this event. For more information, please contact Gary
at (860) 291-9666 or email SOSIwoJima@yahoo.com. You may also visit the Iwo Jima Survivors website or Facebook page at www.SOSIwoJima.com for more information and directions to the Newington Memorial Funeral Home or National Iwo Jima Memorial Monument.

Iwo Jima (video)

Some vintage video of the assault on Iwo Jima

Iwo Jima - Reunion of Honor

Iwo Jima Survivor Veterans recently made a trip back to Iwo Jima for the Reunion of Honor held this March 2012.