Presidents Message
FEBRUARY UPDATE
Gathering at new Montrose Veterans Memorial site: Remembering Iwo Jima
Special to The Mirror
Reportedly 75,000 U.S. marines landed on the small Japanese island of Iwo Jima Feb. 19 through Mar. 26, 1945 in what was called Operational Detachment. Last Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the first wave, and area veterans from several military services gathered at the new memorial site near The Montrose Pavilion and Montrose Botanic Gardens, 1800 Pavilion Dr., to remember the historic event.
The Montrose Veterans Memorial is not yet built.
Regardless, the local veterans showed up to pay their respects.
Gathering at new Montrose Veterans Memorial site: Remembering Iwo Jima
Special to The Mirror
Reportedly 75,000 U.S. marines landed on the small Japanese island of Iwo Jima Feb. 19 through Mar. 26, 1945 in what was called Operational Detachment. Last Wednesday marked the 80th anniversary of the first wave, and area veterans from several military services gathered at the new memorial site near The Montrose Pavilion and Montrose Botanic Gardens, 1800 Pavilion Dr., to remember the historic event.
The Montrose Veterans Memorial is not yet built.
Regardless, the local veterans showed up to pay their respects.
At the new memorial site veterans representing their services, from left : Scott Attwood , Rick Bresett and J. Bob Brueske, Army; Les Williams and Joe Kusar, Marines; and Dave Powers, Army, stand tall. The banner, located south of the pavilion, displays the design , team and partners in the memorial including MVMC, City of Montrose, Mountrose County, Del-Mont Consultants and Big Horn Consulting (Commercial Contractor Stryker and Company also attended Feb 12 Montrose Veterans Memorial team workshop and the Welcome Home Alliance for Veteans provides meeting space and support) Phot by Brett Weiser, Sons of the American Legion
“On Aug. 1, 1945, Iwo Jima was declared secure,” Les Williams, president of the Montrose Veterans Memorial Coalition, said to the small group at the event, “A total of 6,871 KIA (killed in action) and 19,217 wounded in action were reported in the first 36 days.
“There were medals of honor awarded to 14 marines and five Navy personnel,” he said, “14 of them posthumously.”
A key event of the operation was the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi, Williams said. It took place just five days after the first landing, on Feb. 23, and was little noticed. But a second flag raising was captured by photographer Joe Rosenthal and has become the most iconic image of World War II.
“There were medals of honor awarded to 14 marines and five Navy personnel,” he said, “14 of them posthumously.”
A key event of the operation was the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi, Williams said. It took place just five days after the first landing, on Feb. 23, and was little noticed. But a second flag raising was captured by photographer Joe Rosenthal and has become the most iconic image of World War II.
Williams, citing sources from the National WWII Museum in New Orleans, went on to say that about 22,000 Japanese troops were killed, and 216 failed to surrender until Aug. 1. There are thousands of stories surrounding the operation, Williams said, but he found one particularly interesting and heartwarming.
“Jack Lucas was a young boy who enlisted in the marines at age 14, and was found out about a year later. He was stationed in Hawaii, but because he was unwilling to stay in the rear, he later on hid in a Navy ship bound for Iwo Jima.”
According to museum documents, Lucas impressed his 26th Marines shipmates and they took him ashore. The second day on Iwo Jima found him in a Japanese counter attack when two grenades landed near him and others in his platoon. He rolled on top of one of the grenades and pulled the other one under him, saving the platoon but resulting in massive injuries. After 26 surgeries, endless physical therapy and recovery, he lived on to later join the Army, where he was a paratrooper. One jump his parachute failed to open and he “plummeted” to the earth. Yet he survived. He was the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor, and he lived until 2008.
Williams said there are stories to tell about Montrose area veterans, and the Montrose Veterans Memorial will be a place where the storytelling will take place. Stories about local WWII veteran Louis “Babe” Faussone and Betty Hayes, who is Montrose’s own Rosie the Riveter.
J. Bob Brueske, MVMC chairman, said, “We need to remember these stories and pass them on to future generations,” and the Montrose Veterans Memorial will be a central point for that to happen. The memorial team, consisting of representatives of the MVMC, City of Montrose and Montrose County, meet frequently, Brueske said, and design modifications are being made at this time by Motley Architecture & Design.
Williams said the team will meet for a work session again Mar. 4 at the Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans Warrior Center. The MVMC continues to raise funds for the memorial and has placed a large down payment on the engraved black granite panels that will bring U.S. military history to life.
“We were hoping for bids on the memorial construction to go out the first of the year,” Williams said, but there have been delays. He says the city has not committed to a time when bids will be sent out.
Donations continue to come in, he said, particularly for the granite panels and also tribute bricks through their website at montrosevmc.us. Donations also can be dropped off at the Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans Warrior Center, 4 Hillcrest Plaza Way, Montrose Co 81401. Call 970-765-2210 for information or email Les Williams at [email protected].
THANK YOU!
LES WILLIAMS
“Jack Lucas was a young boy who enlisted in the marines at age 14, and was found out about a year later. He was stationed in Hawaii, but because he was unwilling to stay in the rear, he later on hid in a Navy ship bound for Iwo Jima.”
According to museum documents, Lucas impressed his 26th Marines shipmates and they took him ashore. The second day on Iwo Jima found him in a Japanese counter attack when two grenades landed near him and others in his platoon. He rolled on top of one of the grenades and pulled the other one under him, saving the platoon but resulting in massive injuries. After 26 surgeries, endless physical therapy and recovery, he lived on to later join the Army, where he was a paratrooper. One jump his parachute failed to open and he “plummeted” to the earth. Yet he survived. He was the youngest recipient of the Medal of Honor, and he lived until 2008.
Williams said there are stories to tell about Montrose area veterans, and the Montrose Veterans Memorial will be a place where the storytelling will take place. Stories about local WWII veteran Louis “Babe” Faussone and Betty Hayes, who is Montrose’s own Rosie the Riveter.
J. Bob Brueske, MVMC chairman, said, “We need to remember these stories and pass them on to future generations,” and the Montrose Veterans Memorial will be a central point for that to happen. The memorial team, consisting of representatives of the MVMC, City of Montrose and Montrose County, meet frequently, Brueske said, and design modifications are being made at this time by Motley Architecture & Design.
Williams said the team will meet for a work session again Mar. 4 at the Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans Warrior Center. The MVMC continues to raise funds for the memorial and has placed a large down payment on the engraved black granite panels that will bring U.S. military history to life.
“We were hoping for bids on the memorial construction to go out the first of the year,” Williams said, but there have been delays. He says the city has not committed to a time when bids will be sent out.
Donations continue to come in, he said, particularly for the granite panels and also tribute bricks through their website at montrosevmc.us. Donations also can be dropped off at the Welcome Home Alliance for Veterans Warrior Center, 4 Hillcrest Plaza Way, Montrose Co 81401. Call 970-765-2210 for information or email Les Williams at [email protected].
THANK YOU!
LES WILLIAMS