Operation Detachment

I am Corporal Eddie Macncheese from Sacramento, California and this is my

perspective of Operation Detachment, the battle of Iwo Jima. I was brought up with
two brothers. They were always the type that would be ready to go to war - always
prepared. Me, I was more interested in avoiding going to war at all costs. My dream
job was to own a photography business. Transitioning to today, I am recollecting on
how I, of all people, joined the Marines during World War II. Back home was a
photographer; I’m just trying to make a living taking photos. It wasn’t entirely my
decision to join the marines. I’m not the strongest candidate for a soldier. My
brothers just got drafted and I’m wondering what’s going to happen to me. They’re
strong and athletic but I’m never going to be able to fight like they do. If I get
drafted in the World War II draft they could put me in the front lines in a combat
position. I didn’t know what I was going to do. Then I thought of my talent,
photography, and signed up for to be a marine photographer. This is my account of
the war through my camera lens.

When I started the war I knew that if I could get one powerful photo my
career would be jumpstarted. I feel like, am I in this for myself? I have people
fighting around me but all I want to do is take photographs. I am with the 5th Marine
Division’s 28th Marines. I was told my General why we were fighting here. First of all
strategically the island of Iwo Jima was crucial to continue B-29 raid on mainland
Japan. The island contained 3 airstrips that the Japanese had been using for their
Kamikaze attacks. With this island captured the Kamikazes would have to operate
from Okinawa or Kyushu. The airfields would provide a base for escort planes on
their raids with the B29s. Lastly, Iwo Jima would provide an emergency landing strip
half way from Marianas island to mainland Japan. Our specific mission starting the
war was to isolate Mount Suribachi.

February 19, 1945: We landed on Iwo Jima at 8:59A.M. This comes after 10
weeks of bombing from carrier based planes. The preliminary bombardment had
been the heaviest up to that point in the war. A total of 70,000 U.S. Marines were
available for the invasion… against 27,000 Japanese.

February 20, 1945: We started our advance south to Mt. Suribachi and north
to the airfields today. From my long range camera lens I saw it all. This was some of
the most intense battle during the entire war. Japanese soldiers entrenched in the
mountain and would have to be taken out by flame throwers and satchel charges.
Close air support our pilots and some Navy pilots were sometimes only a few
hundred yards from the Marines on the front line advancing up the mountain.
Marines even had to resort to setting fire to the ravines with gasoline to force out
Japanese.

February 21, 1945: Today, intense Kamikaze attacks striked our U.S. naval
invasion ships. The carrier Bismark Sea is sunk and carrier Saratoga was also
damaged. Fighting on the island is now a bitter frontal attack reminiscent of the
trench warfare of World War I. Daily gains are measured in yards with long bitter
fighting for each objective. Tomorrow, on 2/22 the marines finally have Mt. Suribachi
surrounded and begin to move up the face of the mountain.

February 23, 1945: The first units of Marines now are at the top of Mt.
Suribachi after caustic fighting. The patrol was led by Lt. Harold Schreir who raises a
small flag on top of Mt. Suribachi. at 10:20 A.M. Advancements to north have now
have advanced to the second airfield which is located in the center of the island.
Three hours later another patrol was dispatched to raise another, larger flag. We
went up the mountain almost in the middle so consequently we sent patrols around
to the right and left to take care of any Japs that might come out. When we got
there I was with the group that swung to the left and immediately the Lieutenant
sent a man around to look for a piece of staff that we could put the American flag
on. The Japs had some old pipes that were lying around there; they used these
pipes to run water down below the mountain. We used a pipe to attach the
American flag and we put it up. When I saw this moment I knew that this would go
down in history. This is one of the biggest moments in American history, I thought to
myself. I encapsulated this historic flag rising atop Suribachi with my camera. My
photo which you can see in the forward was seen around the world as a symbol of
American values.

February 24, 1945: The 4th and 5th Marines attacked today after a 76 minute
naval bombardment. They were followed by airstrike and supporting artillery. It
would be the tanks that led the way for both divisions. The Japanese were able to
soon stop the tanks with anti-tank guns and mines. By the end of the day the 5th
had only gained 500 yards. 3rd Marine division called in to lead the attack on the
center of the Japanese line.
 February 25, 1945: 2/25 The 3rd Marine division begins attack on the center
of the Japanese line at 9:30 A.M. This area was the strongest point of the Japanese
defenses. Flame throwing tanks brought in to burn out the Japanese defenders in
their pillboxes. At high casualties the movement forward by the Marines was very
slow.

February 28, 1945: The marines and we finally occupied the high ground
over looking airfield #3. The objectives had been achieved but a number of hills
around airfield #3 were still occupied by Japanese.

February 31, 1945: The next day, we began to attack hills 382 and 362A. My
sergeant told me that both hills were much smaller than Mt. Suribachi. He said the
size was very misleading. The hills had both been hollowed out and turned into
huge blockhouses. They contained pillboxes, antitank guns and concealed artillery.
My company gave the smaller hills besides the two in this area nicknames like the
Turkey Knob, Meat Grinder and the Amphitheater. Some of the most intense fighting
was fought to capture hill 382.

March 1, 1945: We finally take hill 382 now move on to capture 362A On
March 2nd, for the attack on hill 362A we decided on a night attack. The tactics did
surprise the Japanese but fierce fighting and difficult terrain delayed the hills
capture until March 8th. Even with the Marines occupying the strategic points on the
island the Japanese still continued to fight in smaller pockets. We are worried at this
point about what the outcome of this fighting will be. Would we ever win? What
would happen if we lost? Would I survive to take another photograph?

March 4, 1945: Now we have successfully damaged B29 lands in Iwo Jima
while fighting continues all around the island.

March 6, 1945: The first P-51 begins arriving on the capture airfields to
provide air support for the Marines. This also relieves Task Force 58 to begin
preparations for Okinawa on April 1st.

March 8, 1945: The Japanese attempted to launch a counter attack between

two Marine regiments (23rd and 24th) The attack was stopped because the
Japanese were without artillery support and were caught in the open by the U.S.
Marine artillery. The Japanese lost 650 men in that attack alone.
 March 15, 1945: Military resistance from Japan continued in many small
pockets located on the island. Many Japanese are infiltrating behind the U.S. lines to
disrupt communication and attack headquarters.

March 25, 1945: The last pocket of Japanese resistance was just secured at
Kitano Point. Tonight over 200 Japanese infiltrate behind U.S. lines. Legend says that
the Japanese commander of the island led the attack. The next morning over 250
Japanese lay dead around the Marines lines. That was the end of the resistance and
the island was declared secure on 3/26.

April 7, 1945: The battle is over. 100 P51's are now stationed on the island
and are escorting B29's on raids to Japan.

My photo, which has been seen around the world as a symbol of American
values, has went down in history. I’ve received the 1945 Pulitzer Prize. Over the
years, the flag rising has come to symbolize the spirit of the Corps to all Marines. On
Nov. 19, 1954, a bronze monument of the flag raising, sculpted by Felix de Weldon
and located near Arlington National Cemetery, was dedicated to all Marines who
have given their lives in defense of their country. This has been one experience that
has changed my life. Today I have my own photography business. Business is
booming, people know me as the “guy who took the flag photo”. Without my work in
the Marines I may have never achieved my dreams. I owe it all to my brothers and
the men who fought in the front lines to realize my dream.

THE END