by King, Dan
King is the son of the late Virginia King, who was an avid reader and patriot, and Marvin King whose B-29 was shot down by Russian-piloted Mig-15 fighter jets on April 12, 1951. Marvin King spent 2-1/2 years in a North Korean concentration camp. Although tortured by his horrific experiences, the former POW embraced his Christian faith and chose the path of forgiveness.
The author survived his own brush with death when he was diagnosed with stage IV Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma cancer in December 2005. Initially, an oncologist suggested terminal hospice care, but the stubborn patient refused to even consider it. So began a 2-1/2 year struggle that included chemotherapy, radiation,and a stem cell transplant at UCLA. More than once a doctor told him, "God must be watching out for you."
The author is in full remission and enjoys bonsai, traveling, and diving on WWII ships and aircraft wrecks. The author and his wife reside with their squad of rescued cats in Southern California.
End Notes
1. Access to this active Japanese military base is strictly regulated.
2. Task Force 56 Intelligence Report, 4.
3. Kantōgun Jōhō Buchō
4. The lyrics to Japanese Taps, "Shinpei san kawaiso da ne, mata nete nakuno ka yo." (Sad recruit, are you crying yourself to sleep again tonight?)
5. Shinpei Shushin Sankōshō, Kaigun Shō Kyoiuku Kyoku, (WWII Ministry of the Navy Education Division manual, 1921).
6. John Miller, Jr., Guadalcanal: The First Offensive (Washington, D.C., U.S. Dept. of the Army, Historical Division, 1949), p 310-311
7. U.S. Office of the Chief of Military History, "The Provost Marshal's Office: Campaign of the Pacific, 1941-1947," chap. 6, mimeographed manuscript, OCMH, file 1 (C), 8-6.
8. Office of the Chief of Military History, "Administrative History, Chief Provost Marshal, United States Army Forces in the Pacific, 6 April 1945 to 31 December 1946" (mimeographed manuscript, OCMH), p. 14, 8-5. 1.
9. Until November 1942, the Japanese Navy had four ranks for enlisted men. From Seaman 4th, 3rd, 2nd and up to Seaman 1st Class. This was changed in November 1942. The ranks were then called (from low to high) Seaman 2nd Class, Seaman 1st Class, Senior Seaman and Leading Seaman. Akikusa began under the old rank system and transitioned to the revised rank system. The petty officer ranks were changed as well. In the original ranks there were PO 3/c, PO 2/c and PO 1/c. It was revised to PO2/c, PO1/c, and Chief Petty Officer.
10. Futsūka Denshin Gijitsu Rensei or 第６４期普通科電信技術練生 (64th Cycle, Basic Electronic Technical Communication Trainee)
11. Mutsuai is located about 1 mile from where the author spent his summer as an exchange student in 1981.
12. Iwo Jima Imada Gyokusai Sezu, (Iwo Jima has Not Yet Fallen), by Fuyuko Kamisaka, WAC Bunko, 2006. P. 40
13. Tsunezō Wachi's memoir, Two Remorse Episodes Behind Bars at Sugamo Tōkyō, June 1977.
14. Iwo Jima Imada Gyokusai Sezu, (Iwo Jima has Not Yet Fallen), by Fuyuko Kamisaka, WAC Bunko, Dec 2006, P. 41
15. Personal correspondence with Capt Wachi's daughter, Rosa Ogawa.
16. 父島要塞守備隊 (Chichi Jima Yōsai Shubi Tai)
17. http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~surplus/tokushu5.htm (Japanese language WWII research website)
18. Rose Ogawa's translation of Wachi's memoir entitled, The August Virtue of His Imperial Majesty.
19. So Sad to Fall in Battle, Kumiko Kakehashi, p. 29 (The author met Ms. Kakehashi on the island of Iwo Jima in 2009 after the joint US-Japan Reunion of Honor ceremony.)
20. Japanese documentary interview. It is not clear exactly which unit he was serving under. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyBhjQsX3ew
21. Iōtō Gyokusai Kaigun Gakutōhei Dōkoku no Kiroku, by Minoru Tada, Asashi Shimbun Publications, 2008, p. 38
22. Ibid., p. 45
23. Ibid., p. 48
24. Ibid., p. 50
25. Japanese documentary interview, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyBhjQsX3ew
26. The Last Zero Fighter, by Dan King, Pacific Press, 2012. P. 171
27. USN Overseas Aircraft Loss List June 1944, http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/USN/LLJun44.htm. The American losses over Iwo Jima and Chichi Jima include: F6F-3 Hellcat x 10, Sb2C-1c Helldiver x 5, TBF-1C Avenger x 4, TMB-1C Avenger x 2.
28. Death in the Afternoon, by Chris Marks, article, September 2012 issue, WWII History magazine.
29. Shūra no Tsubasa, by Lt(jg) Kazuo Tsunoda, p. 308-311, NF Bunk Publishing, 2008.
30. Author's direct translation of Ensign Tada's report as it appeared in: Iōtō Gyokusai Kaigun Gakutōhei Dōkoku no Kiroku, by Minoru Tada, Asashi Shinbun Publications, 2008, , p. 95
31. Akikusa believes it took two days to reach Kanoya, he recalled spending the night in a newsstand vendor's hut because the men could find nowhere to sleep.
32. http://www.combinedfleet.com/W-27_t.htm (Sokaitei report)
33. From a Japanese language report supplied by the Iwo Jima Association of Japan, "Rikugun Butai no Sentō Shiryō" p-85-87
34. Chūbu Taiheiyō Rikugun Sakusen 2, by Bōeichō Kenkyūshō Senshi Shitsu, 1966. (Army Strategy in the Central Pacific No.2, Japanese National Institute for Defense Studies, NDIS)
35. Nihongun Chūsensha, Ground Power Magazine, April 2004
36. Reference: The Cobia's Toughest Battle, Legge, Larry L. West Virginia Historical Society Quarterly, Volume XXI, Number 3: July 2007.
37. Shūji Ishii's firsthand accounts come from his Japanese language book, Iōjima ni Ikiru, (To Live on Iwo Jima) first published in 1946, then again in 1982 by Kokushō Kankōkai Corp., Ltd. In order to get a clearer picture of the Iwo Jima experience, the author read Ishii's book in the original Japanese text.
38. Genji Hattori wrote a book in Japanese, Ah, Iwo Jima, in which he shared his brother's letters from Iwo Jima.
39. Hattori's family believed that he went to Chichi Jima aboard a light cruiser, but Japanese records show that that Major Matsushita's Independent 10th Anti-Tank Battalion was aboard the converted passenger liner Noto Maru. Reference: Chūbu Taiheiyō Rikugun Sakusen 2, by Bōeichō Kenkyūshō Senshi Shitsu, 1966. (Army Strategy in the Central Pacific No.2, National Institute for Defense Studies (NDIS), published in 1966) Noto Maru was later sunk in Oromoc Bay, Phillippines on November 2, 1944. Source: Nihon Yusen Senji Senshi, by Nihon Yusenji Senshi Hensan I'inkai (Japanese transport Vessels during Wartime, by the Japanese Vessels During Wartime Editing and Compilation Committee, p.20 and pp. 29-30, published in 1974.)
40. 2nd Lt Yasuhiko Murai's statements come from a series of four articles he wrote for the Iwo Jima Association of Japan's Newsletter, Kaiso no Iwoto, in March, April, May and July of 1988. Murai's recollections cover 37 pages and span the time he was selected for Iwo Jima until he was returned to Japan after the war. The articles, in Japanese, were supplied to the author by Tom McLeod, author of Always Ready, the Story of the US 147th Infantry Regiment. The author translated the articles and used portions to illustrate and support 1st Lt Hattori's experience.
41. Iwo Jima Yusen Sakusen to Chichi Jima: Dai 4804 Sendan no Muko Jima oki hogekisen wo megutte, (Examining the Naval artillery against Transport Convoy No. 4804 at Muko Jima Island, and Iwo Jima transport plans) by Akihiko Kamishino, Tokyo Metropolitan University Institutional Repository. May 2011, p. 37 http://www.repository.lib.tmu.ac.jp/dspace/bitstream/10748/4215/1/20002-34-004.pdf
42. Cpl Torao Miyazaki's son Makoto assembled his father's letters sent from Iwo Jima into a book called Inochi wa doko ni arimasuka? (Where is Life?), Bungeisha Publishing, March 2014.
43. The author and GySgt Quay Terry met Colonel David Severance in his home to hear of his firsthand accounts.
44. http://scc.lexum.org/en/1941/1941scr0-230/1941scr0-230.html, Website accessed Oct 16, 2012.
45. Wartime Log of the 11th Raisentai commander, December 1, 1943
thru May 31, 1945. Japan Center for Historical Asian Records, National Archives of Japan. Reference code:C08030127100 (Japanese language)
46. Imperial General Navy Headquarters, Combined Fleet (6), by Asagumo Shinbunsha, 1971. Page 67, pages 378-379. Army Strategy in the Central Pacific No.2, National Institute for Defense Studies (NDIS),
47. Wartime history of 4th destroyer Fleet July 1 – July 31, 1944. JACAR, Ref.C08030145900 (Japanese language)
48. Ogasawara Retto Iō Jima no Rekishi to Genjō, by Tatsuya Akano, pdf accessed 10/18/2012 (The history of The Ogasawara Islands and Iwo Jima)
49. Official Chronology of the US Navy WWII, by Robert Cressman
50. Wartime Report of the Chichi Jima Special Base Defense Force. 父島方面特別根拠地隊戦闘詳報
51. Excerpt from letter from Rosa Ogawa (Wachi's daughter) to Charles Tatum. http://www.marineswwii.com/pdfs/captain_watchi.pdf
52. Iwo Jima Mada Gyokusai Sezu, by Fuyuko Kamisaka, p. 49
53. Documentary video, "Return to Iwo Jima" (Homevision Studio released June, 2000)
54. Pacificwrecks.com, American Missions Against Iwo Jima, accessed Oct 27, 2012, July 4, 1944 - February 27, 1945
55. Much of the information on Ichimaru were gathered from the Japanese language reference "Iwo Jima to Baron Nishi," Bijinesusha publishing, 2006, Japan.
56. 第３期航空術学生 Dai Sanki Kōkūjitsu Gakusei (Third Cycle, Air Technical Trainee)
57. 1) Nanpō Shotō Naval Air Group was a non-flying Otsu (B type) Kōkutai unit charged with air base management for Iwo Jima, Chichi Jima and Marcus Island. This Naval Ground Defense unit (Keibitai) was a ground force that manned machine guns, Anti-Aircraft guns, infantry guns and large casemated naval guns.
2) Kantō Naval Air Group (Kisarazu Air Base), a non-flying Otsu (B type) Kōkutai tasked with air base defense in the home islands.
3) 131st Air Group (Katori Air Base), 1 Nakajima C6N "Myrt" Reconn Squadron and 2 Nakajima J1N "Irving" Night Fighter Squarons. In November 1944 the Reconn Squadron was reassigned to the 752nd Bomber Group and both Night fighter squadrons reassigned to the Hokuto Naval Air Group , a non-flying Otsu (B type) unit in Hokkaido.
4) 801st Air Group (Oita Air Base), 2 Squadrons of Type-1 "Betty" Bombers, and 2 Squadrons of Kawanishi Type-2 "Emily" Flying Boats for night reconn missions.
5) 252nd Air Group (Iwo Jima), 3 Squadrons of Zero Fighters dispatched from Atsugi Air Base to Iwo Jima June 1944 for operation A-Go, better known as "The Mariana Turkey Shoot." The survivors including aces such as Saburō Sakai, Kaneyoshi Muto and Isamu Miyazaki were reorganized for use in the Philippines.
6) 752nd Air Group (Iwo Jima, then Kisarazu). 1 Squadron of Type 1 "Betty" Bombers, 1 Squadron of "Irving" and Yokosuka D4Y "Comet" Night fighters, 1 Squadron of Yokosuka P1Y "Frances" attack bombers, and 2 Squadrons of "Myrt" recon aircraft. They were sent to Iwo Jima in June 1944 and decimated in the Mariana Turkey Shoot.
58. This is a quote from another interview he did for the book, Eiyu Naki: Iwo Jima Sen Ikinokori Moto Kaigun Chui no Shōgen by Shinobu Hisayama, Sankei Shinbun, 2008. King's interview with Ōmagari precedes this book by 2 years. Part of King's 2006 interview with Ōmagari seems to have been given to Hisayama by a Japanese film crewman that had taped King's interview.
59. Eiyū Naki: Iwo Jima Sen Ikinokori Moto Kaigun Chui no Shogen by Shinobu Hisayama, Sankei Shinbun, 2008. P. 54-56
60. Chapter 3 and 4 of The Last Zero Fighter, (Pacific Press 2012), by Dan King.
61. Shūra no Tsubasa, by Kazuo Tsunoda, NF Bunko, p. 336 (2008)
62. Eiyū Naki: Iwo Jima Sen Ikinokori Moto Kaigun Chui no Shogen by Satoru Ōmagari and Shinobu Hisayama, Sankei Shinbun, 2008. P. 56-57
63. Ibid P. 25-56
64. Major Yoshitaka Horie also refers to contentious nature of such meetings in The Memoirs of Fighting Spirit, Major Yoshitaka Horie and the Battle of Iwo Jima, edited and annotated by Robert D. Eldridge and Charles W. Tatum, printed by Naval Institute Press, 2011
65. So Sad to Fall in Battle, by Kumiko Kakehashi, p. 62
66. Iwo Jima, by Richard Newcomb, p. 307
67. So Sad to Fall in Battle, by Kumiko Kakehashi p. 50-60. The author met Ms. Kakehashi on the island of Iwo Jima in 2010. She presented him with a signed copy of her book.
68. Diary of Ensign Tamotsu Yoshino, 13th Naval Reserve, 1023rd Naval Air Group is referenced several times in Iōtō Gyokusai Kaigun Gakutōhei Dōkoku no Kiroku, by Minoru Tada, Asashi Shinbun Publications, 2008, p. 175
69. Color of the bombs confirmed on p. 39 of report, Headquarters, Expeditionary Troops, Task Force 56, G-2 Report of Intelligence, Iwo Jima Operation, 1 April 1945.
70. From video interview of Teruo Sasamine, NHK Senso Shogen (Testimony to War) series. http://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/shogenarchives/shogen/movie.cgi?das_id=D0001100621_00000
71. Toshio Koshimura's firsthand account, Iwo Jima no Heitai, (The Soldiers of Iwo Jima) edited by his daughter Professor Kiyomi Yoshikawa, Published by Asahi Shimbunsha, Dec 2006. Originally published in 1973 as Iō Jima Shubitai (Iwo Jima Defense Force) by Gendaishi Shuppan Kaisha.
72. Earthquakes on December 7, 1944, and January 13, 1945, killed 200 civilians in Handa City. From a report, Damage from December 7 1944 Tokai Earthquake, by Aichi Prefecture Bosai Kaigi.
73. This was also stated by Seiji Ozawa in Iwo Jima Haisenki (The loss of the battle of Iwo Jima), that appeared in the 102 issue of Asakaze.
74. Original Japanese language obtained on April 12, 2013 from Japan Policy Institute Website http://www.seisaku-center.net/modules/wordpress/index.php?p=390
75. Kuribayashi's original "Oath of Combat" in Japanese:
一、我等は全力を奮って本島を守り抜かん。
一、我等は爆薬を擁きて敵の戦車にぶつかりこれを粉砕せん。
一、我等は挺身敵中に斬込み敵を鏖殺せん。
一、我等は一発必中の射撃に依って敵を撃ち斃さん。
一、我等は各自敵十人をたおさざれば死すとも死せず。
一、我等は最後の一人となるも「ゲリラ」によって敵を悩まさん。
76. Information from Mr. Takizawa's website. http://www3.plala.or.jp/takihome/artillery.htm
77. Iwao Yamada was interviewed for a docu-drama about this event called "Iwo Jima Senjo no Yubin Haitatsu" 硫黄島～戦場の郵便配達. It first aired in Japan in December 2006.
78. The Last Zero Fighter, by Dan King (Pacific Press, 2012)
79. The shipment of green bamboo poles was confirmed in the separate interview with Iwao Yamada.
80. http://home.earthlink.net/~atdouble/~318thFighterGroup.Saipan.html. Accessed August 12, 2013.
81. All correspondence from PFC Eric Ojerholm provided courtesy of his younger brother David who clearly remembered the day that "the dreaded telegram" arrived to inform the family of Eric's death. Eric and David's father, Eric Ojerholm Sr. was a Marine Corps Major who was recalled during WWII. Twelve years after Eric's death on Iwo Jima, his younger brother David Ojerholm enlisted in the Marines and served as a First Lieutenant from 1958-1961. Ironically, Eric's battalion commander on Iwo Jima, Major John Antonelli, would become David's brigade commander while David was serving at Marine Air Station Kanehoe Bay, Ohau.
82. US Air Force Museum, Dayton Ohio.
83. Nihon Kaigun no Sensuikan, (Submarines of the Japanese Navy) by Tatsuya Katsume, Dainippon Kaiga Press, 2010, isbn 978-4-499-23033-9
84. Iwo Jima Recon The US Navy at War, February 17, 1945 by Dick Camp, The At War Series, 2007.
85. Iwo Jima Recon The US Navy at War, February 17, 1945 by Dick Camp, The At War Series, p. 109, 2007
86. According to Col Dick Camp's book, Iwo Jima Recon: The U.S. Navy at War, February 17, 1945, these UDT frogmen used grease to insulate themselves against the cold.
88. Morrson. Chapter 2, Preliminary Poundings. http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/USN-Ops-XIV/USN-XIV-2.html
89. Medal of Honor Recipients, US Army Center of Military History, http://www.history.army.mil/moh/index.html
90. Footage of the spraying of DDT can be seen in the documentary by Scott Freund called, "Iwo Jima."
91. Iwo Jima Recon The US Navy at War, February 17, 1945 by Dick Camp, The At War Series, 2007
92. Eiyū Naki Shima by Satoru Ōmagari and Shinobu Hisayama 2008, Sankei Shinbun Publishing, p. 68 - 69
93. Ibid p. 82-83
94. The author accompanied John McKenzie, and his son Jon, to Iwo Jima in March 2014.
95. Iwo Jima Legacy of Valor, by Bill Ross, Vintage Books Random House NY, 1986, p.72
96. Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima, by Colonel Joseph H. Alexander
97. Ah, Iwo Jima. The story of Genichi Hattori edited and compiled by his younger brother Genji Hattori, pp.104-110
98. Lawrence Snowden rose to the rank of Lieutenant General. He served in WWII, Korea, Vietnam, and then as Chief of Staff in Japan, and Chief of Staff at Marine Corps Headquarters. He also served in the American business community in Japan. He received awards and commendations from the Government of Japan and even one from the Emperor; the Sacred Treasure 2nd Class. His US military awards and decorations are too many to list here.
99. From the author's conversations with LtGen Lawrence Snowden on Guam and Iwo Jima in March 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014.