U.S. Marines Mark Iwo Jima 65th Anniversary

Department of Defense Photo Essay

  • Retired U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Larry Snowden, chairman of the Iwo Jima Assoc. of America, left, presents U.S. Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James T. Conway with a war document that he carried home from the Battle of Iwo Jima, The National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. The men spoke at the 65th anniversary commemoration of the battle. DoD photo by Lisa Daniel
  • George Alden, of Fort Worth, Texas, attends the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima ceremony at The National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. Alden was a 20-year-old Marine Corps sergeant in the first wave of the battle. DoD photo by Lisa Daniel
  • Retired Marine Corps Gen. Jim Jones, national security advisor to President Barack Obama and a former commandant of the Marine Corps, left, and former U.S. Sen. Mark Warner, of Virginia, a World War II veteran and former undersecretary of the Navy, speak at the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima ceremony, Feb. 19, 2010, at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va. DoD photo by Lisa Daniel
  • U.S. Marine Corps Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, speaks during a ceremony marking the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at The National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by Lisa Daniel
  • Retired Marine Corps Gen. Jim Jones, national security advisor to President Barack Obama and a former commandant of the Marine Corps, speaks at the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima ceremony, Feb. 19, 2010, at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va. DoD photo by Lisa Daniel
  • Iwo Jima veterans tour the National Museum of the Marine Corps following a ceremony commemorating the epic battle of Iwo Jima, Feb. 19, 2010. On Feb. 19, 1945, the United States launched its first assault against the Japanese, resulting in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. Sixty-five years later, Iwo Jima veterans and their families gathered to honor those who fought. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Priscilla Sneden
  • Retired Lt. Gen. Larry Snowden, Chairman of the Iwo Jima Association of America, Inc., prepares to give Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, the original, top secret orders for his unit’s participation in the Battle of Iwo Jima. On Feb. 19, 1945, the United States launched its first assault against the Japanese on the island, resulting in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. On Feb. 19, 2010, 65 years later, Iwo Jima veterans and their families gathered to honor those who fought, in a ceremony commemorating the epic battle at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Quantico, Va. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Priscilla Sneden
  • George Cattelon, an 85-year-old Iwo Jima veteran, takes a moment to reflect on his participation in World War II. The Raleigh, N.C., native served as a forward observer for Battery L, 4th Battalion, 13th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. On Feb. 19, 1945, the United States launched its first assault against the Japanese on the island of Iwo Jima, resulting in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. On Feb. 19, 2010, 65 years later, Iwo Jima veterans and their families gathered to honor those who fought, in a ceremony commemorating the epic battle at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Benjamin Harris
  • Frank G. Willetto, an 84-year-old Navajo Code Talker, renders honors during the playing of the national anthem at a ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. In February 1945 the United States launched its first assault against the Japanese at Iwo Jima, resulting in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Scott Schmidt
  • Frank G. Willetto, an 84-year-old Navajo Code Talker, reflects on World War II with a fellow veteran at a ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. In February 1945, the United States launched its first assault against the Japanese at Iwo Jima, resulting in some of the fiercest fighting of the war. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Scott Schmidt
  • Bill Toledo, Frank G. Willetto and Keith Little, Navajo Code Talkers, were among the Iwo Jima veterans honored Feb. 19, 2010, at a ceremony commemorating the 65th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Va. On Feb. 19, 1945, the United States launched its first assault against the Japanese at Iwo Jima, resulting in some of the fiercest fighting of World War II. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Scott Schmidt
  • William Connell a U.S. Marine veteran points to a map to the exact location where he and his fellow Marines landed on Iwo Jima during the ceremony commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by William D. Moss
  • Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Reserve Affairs Barney Barnum faces the United States Flag during opening ceremonies commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, VA, Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by William D. Moss
  • Three former Marines, Kenneth Fisk (right) stands with his son-in-law w Chuck Lukus (center) during prayer as Chuck reaches out to another Marine veteran Charles Smith (left) during the ceremonies commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, VA, Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by William D. Moss
  • Greg "Doc" Emery points to a photo hanging in which he is shown giving aid to a wounded Marine on the beaches of Iwo Jima during the ceremony commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, VA, Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by William D. Moss
  • A guidon displaying 5th MARDIV, Marine Division, 28th Marines is displayed in the foreground. The U.S. Flag incased in the background was the first flag raised by U.S. Marines on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945. The National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, VA, Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by William D. Moss
  • Ron “Rondo” Scharfe, right, a veteran of the Battle of Iwo Jima, talks with a U.S. Marine Corps journalist during the 65th anniversary commemoration of the battle at The National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, Va., Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by Lisa Daniel
  • Photos on display with a quote above that reads, "Among those who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue." - Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz. during the ceremony commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at the National Museum of the Marine Corps, Triangle, VA, Feb. 19, 2010. DoD photo by William D. Moss