Happy President's Day

Happy President's Day! Did you know that the SC Department of Archives and History is a great resource for Presidential history? Not only do the collections have items relating to elections and government, there are more than 20 Presidential signatures. Here is a great example of these wonderful collection items: Return of the Presidential Electors Casting Their Vote for George Washington, 1789.

Iwo Jima's Legacy by Caleb Miller

On February 19th, 1945, Americans landed on an island named Iwo Jima that would become one of the largest battles in the Pacific. It lasted from that day until March 16th in the same year. This island is quite close to Japan and was thus a promising base. Iwo Jima has an area of 21 square kilometers (approximately 8 square miles) total. A dormant volcano named Mount Suribachi is the highest feature, rising 161 meters into the air. Fierce fighting ensued between the two forces for days. Casualties were huge: the Americans had 6,822 killed/missing and 19,217 wounded while the Japanese had between 17,845 and 18,375 killed /missing and 216 captured. This battle is perhaps best known for the famous "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" photograph taken there. The photograph has inspired a statue, book and movie in its image. This battle gave the Allies a place to launch and refuel B-29 bombers that would bomb Japan. Notably, this is the only battle were US casualties exceeded Japanese casualties. It was one of the biggest battles in the Pacific campaigns of World War II and should be remembered well. There are still people alive who fought on that ash covered island so remember Iwo Jima and the great victory. Their service, and the continued service of our armed forces, is an inspiration.


Blogger's Note:

Parris Island Marine Corp. Recruit Depot near Beaufort, SC has been in training recruits since 1915. The Depot has trained enlisted marines (male and female) for every major conflict in the 20th and 21st centuries including over 200,000 during WWII. The base is open to the public. They have a vistor's center, museum, and an Iwo Jima monument commemorating the raising of the flag on Mount Suribachi. The statue, sculpted by Felix del Weldon, was actually the prototype he created for the world famous Iwo Jima Memorial in Washington D.C. For more information on the MCRD Parris Island click here http://www.mcrdpi.usmc.mil/index.asp

Remembering Guadalcanal by Caleb Miller

February 9th does not seem like an important day in our calendar. However, it is the day that one of the early, bloody campaigns of World War II came to a close. The Guadalcanal Campaign lasted from August 7, 1942 through February 9, 1943. It took place on an island called Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. This island is the biggest i the Solomon Islands and was therefore strategically important to both the Americans and the Japanese. Americans landed on August 7th and a seven month-long fight ensued in which 7,100 Americans and 31,000 Japanese died. Several aerial and water battles erupted as well around the island. The Americans lost 29 ships and 615 aircraft, while the Japanese lost 38 ships and between 683 and 880 aicraft. This battle was the second major offensive by Allied forces against Japan and a key strategic move. Japan had gone from offensive to defensive fighting at this point so this battle marked the starting point of Allied offensive operations against Japan that would help bring its downfall. Conclusively, February 9th is a special date to remember.

Blogger Note: Thanks to all our WWII veterans! For more information on Guadalcanal and the seven month battle waged there, check out the U.S. Army Center of Military History webpage http://www.history.army.mil/

The image included in this post is courtesy of the Library of Congress Photographic Collection