Went to Iwo Jima (Iwo To) which means Sulfur Island, there are some sulfur springs and the smell of sulfur.

The Japanase are on the Island.

Mount Suribachi

 

There was an old tank and areas where they were still finding remains and mass graves.

 

The Japanese had several monuments on the top of Mount Suribachi. This had a map of Japan, each square was from a prefecture within Japan. At the base was a rusted Ariska.

 

One of the monuments at the top was just for all the kamakazes that died.

Incredible! I will do this trip one day!

 

LF

The US memorial near the spot of the flag raising had many items the Marines would place there. There was also a memorial to the Soldier who filled the flag raising. He died shortly after he filmed the event.

Yes he was killed in one of the caves while they were inspecting it, they sealed up the cave and his body has never been recovered.

At the spot of the flag raising I wore a WWII Chaplain's stole, read from a WWII metal plated Bible and said a prayer.

A view of the beach from the spot too.

The view from the beach and gun emplacement.

General Tadamichi Kuribayashi's office and cave. From here he led his final assault.

There is a shrine there now.

 

 

 

 

Years later, the Marines etched this into the sand stone.

Never Forgotten.

Some extremely moving imagery there Chap. Thank you for posting.

Wow...beautiful. Such a small island at such a large cost.

Amazing.

 

-Nick

Again thanks for the pictures. Your prays were a class act. The island looks so peaceful now. How did you manage the trip?

Nice pictures! Looks like a great experience to see where significant history took place-then to make it more significant by Scripture reading and prayer! Hooah!

Thank you for sharing.....very moving- truely hallowed ground.

John G.

Thank you for the great photos of this hallowed ground. Semper Fi........Bobgee

Chap, thanks so much for posting these very moving pictures of this storied and hallowed island. Hard to believe that such a small piece of land cost so much in blood, sweat, and tears.

One of my life's goals is to visit. Not sure if it will ever come to pass, so thanks for sharing the photos!

Excellent.....thanks for posting this.

I was surprised at how small the island was. When they say that they could see the flag from almost everywhere on the island, you actually could.

That the Japanese had 22,000 soldiers on the island and the logistics (water) must have been a challenge.

The beach still have metal pieces everywhere. Still, I was not allowed to take anything.

For some Japanese, the implements of war are very sacred. Even old pieces still cary the spirit of the warrior. There is an effort the preserve what happened there. Almost every Japanese soldier there died.

The Japanese Self Defense Force screen all those who visit the island. No tourists are allowed.

Thank`s for the pictures. I think you had a great trip on historic ground.

Great pic.s, Very moving....thanks.

John G.

How can one get to iwo? Iwo and betio would be on my bucket list.

How can one get to iwo? Iwo and betio would be on my bucket list.

 

Most often it's a military unit that stops there on float, during UDP, etc