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Raymond Jacobs | Raymond Jacobs USMC Ray Jacobs joined the Marines in May 1943 in Los Angeles, CA, at the age of 17. After boot camp in San Diego, he was trained as a radio operator and assigned to the Raider Training Battalion, F/2/8. During Iwo Jima operations, on February 23rd 1945, he was temporarily assigned to Company E, 2nd Company, 28th Marines, on the combat patrol which secured the top of Mount Suribachi. Ray Jacobs appears in Lou Lowerys photo of the first flag raising as a radioman. At the time of writing, he is one of only two surviving Marines who appear in either of the Iwo Jima flag raising photos. He received the Purple Heart on 10th March 1945. After WWII he again saw service in 1950-51 in the Infantry Training Regiment and completed service as a Sergeant. In his civilian life, he embarked on a 44 year career in television as an operations and editorial director in Albuquerque, Fresno and Oakland, CA.. Today Ray resides in the beautiful area of Lak Tahoe, California. |
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Iwo Jima - A Hard Won Haven by John D Shaw. Only 660 miles from Tokyo, the small volcanic island of Iwo Jima was recognized as early as 1943 as being a vital location to secure an airbase for allied aircraft, in order to achieve victory in the Pacific. Forseeing this goal, the Japanese began extensive fortifications early, preparing for the eventual onslaught. Within Iwo Jimas myriad tunnels, both underground and within the extinct volcano known as mt Suribachi, enemy forces were able to remain virtually unscathed during the 72 day heavy bombardment in late 1944, which preceded the American landings. In mid Ferbuary 1945, the invasion landing forces arrived, and so began one of the bloodiest and most bitter battles of World War II. Over the course of the next 36 days, the United States Marine Corps would experience many of its most horrific hours, but certainly their finest as well. Marine photographer Joe Rosenthals shot of Old Glory being hoisted aloft atop Suribachi came to be recognized as possibly the most famous photo in history. During the first week of March, the first B-29 to make an emergency landing at Iwo touched down. With its nose art bearing the name Dinah Might, this Superfortress and its crew were hastily repaired, aided and again took to the air within half an hour. Many others soon would follow. Shown here, a B-29 of 34th Bomb Group limps in to Iwos runway number one as emergency crews prepare for more incoming planes, some of which would inevitably have to ditch in the water offshore to avoid an explosive pileup. It is estimated that nearly 25,000 airmen lives would ultimately be spared as a result of being able to make emergency landings there. Nearly 7000 Marines died taking Iwo, with many thousands awarded, the largest number during any single campaign. Of the 23000 Japanese troops defending Iwo, only 1083 were taken prisoner. By the beginning of April, Iwo Jima was secure enough to base P-51 Mustangs to escort the B-29s to Japan, as allies prepared for the frightful prospect of a land invasion on Japans mainland, which historians speculate would likely have cost potentially millions more lives. At this time, more than 60 years after the battle, only a small remnant remains of those who participated first hand in this epic battle. Forever a sympbol of freedom, Iwo Jima remains truly sacred ground. |
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