Published in the Leatherneck

                                     Iwo Jima

I was on Iwo Jima in nineteen forty-five;
It's only by God's grace that I'm still alive.

The Japs were dug in and ready to fight.
They would pick you off in the day, and infiltrate at night.

They blew a whistle that sounded like a bird;
We became alert when that was heard.

The sand and dust was an added curse.
The terrain and fortifications made our job worse.

It wasn't a weakness to cry or pray;
It strengthened our resolve for the coming day.

The enemy had orders to kill and hold out to the last man--
To die for the Emperor and their homeland.

A price was paid for each foot we would take.
When the big shells would come in, the whole island would shake.

Thirty-five nights on watch in a hole
Put you in stress right down to your soul.

When our advance to the north came to a close,
How much more we could have taken, only the Lord knows.

When the ships came in to take us away,
I said Semper Fi to those heroes who would stay.

Written by Homer Hendron  USMC (1943-1946)