We Were in the First Waves of Steel Amtracs Who Landed on Iwo Jima

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This book is based on my personal experiences. I havealways felt that what I did was just my job and what was requiredof me to do as a Marine following orders. It became apparent tome when I visited the island of Okinawa for a month in 1997. I washonored by Marines, young and old, who were stationed there atthe time. They wanted to hear of my experiences, to meet me andshake my hand. I started writing this book late in my life and I amnot a professional writer. For a long time after Iwo Jima, I found ithard to talk about my experiences. I was able to do some talks atprivate clubs and at the Marine Corps Training Center in Okinawaand from these talks; I was encouraged to write this book.What really made me decide to try and write was after mytalk at the Marine Crops Training Center in Okinawa. There was agroup of Marines waiting for me and one of the Marines steppedup and asked, Sir, we would like to ask you some questions. Isaid sure. He then asked Is our training anywhere near the realthing? That caught me for a second. I said yes, your body hadbeen conditioned to be strong and is ready to handle any kind ofunknown rough terrain and still have the strength to take out anyenemy gun position; youre going to need it. But the mind couldnever be fully ready. It cant be. It has to happen fi rst. Youve beentold what to expect, but it is diff erent when you see it for real rightin front of your own eyes. You have to swallow hard and just keepgoing. Youre training has given you a healthy mind and this willget you through.That question made me realize these young men need to betold what its like out there. I owe it to the men and the Corps.I have come to realize that these personal experiences arealso a very important time and a piece of history that will go withme if I fail to share them here. Memories and sights that only afew have experienced and all should have the opportunity to learnabout if they so choose. This book is not intended to be abrasive,insultive, discriminatory, or grotesque in nature as is more to captureand recollect the vivid memoirs of a Marine who fought onthe front lines in the battle of Iwo Jima. To defend the freedomsand this great Country for which I have never taken for granted.

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