The WWII veterans who left the island of Iwo Jima are heroes today. It has been 80 years since the Battle of Iwo Jima began on February 19, 1945. Three Marine divisions with over 80,000 men went to conquer the small island.
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Their first initiative was to take Mount Suribachi, a 556-foot mountain with a strategic advantage. It took the Marines five grueling days of battle, but they reached the summit and raised the American flag. Photographer Joe Rosenthal took a photo that people recognize around the world.
The entire Battle of Iwo Jima took a total of 36 days. The island, at approximately eight square miles, was costly. More than 6,400 US military members lost their lives, and 18,000 were left wounded. However, taking the island of Iwo Jima was a turning point for the Allied forces.
The island is not known for its beauty; it has been dubbed the ugliest on Earth. Natural vegetation blankets the island’s surface in shades of brown, black, gray, and gray-green. If you guessed that those colors are the same as the camoflage uniforms worn by WWII veterans, you would win a kewpie doll, but we’re fresh out. Gordy would have known that reference without looking it up.
WWII Veterans Celebrating 80 Years Since Iwo Jima
Very few of the men who left the island are still alive. These WWII veterans are at least 98 years old. That brings us to Gordy, who turned 20 on February 19, 1945. For his 20th birthday, the US military awarded Gordy an all-expenses-paid trip to the volcanic island of Iwo Jima. Gordy turned 100 on his most recent birthday on February 19, 2025.
Gordy was on a flight, sitting in row one of a commercial airplane. We have no clue where he is going or where he is coming from, but he is still flying at 100! He is traveling with his granddaughter, Kaitsy Baker, from Minnesota. A little birdie tipped off the flight crew, who got word to the pilot. One of the opening announcements introduced Gordy and spoke of and honored his service.
The heartfelt message spoke of Gordy’s service and his survival. Gordy became an instant celebrity. He raised his Iwo Jima WWII veteran hat. When you think you’re safe from competing with Niagara Falls, as we watch, Gordy reaches up and wipes a tear from his eye. Great, now we’re all crying. Does anyone have tissues in their carry-on bag?
Another survivor, Mississippian E.J. Hayes, wrote a book about surviving Iwo Jima. He named the 16-page book “Memories of Hell.” Whether you were there or have just read about the Battle of Iwo Jima, it can be overwhelming. The Japanese were firmly entrenched on the island. As experienced guerrilla fighters, they decimated American service members. But our soldiers fought on… and we won.
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