“Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue”
—Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, USN

In a pensive mood, I slowly walked the half mile or so north from John F. Kennedy’s grave to the Marine Corps War Memorial. Like many people, I had seen many reproductions of maybe the most famous photograph of World War Two: the raising of the American flag on the summit of Mt. Suribachi on the 5th day of the ferocious 36-day battle by the United States Marines to capture the tiny but massively fortified Japanese volcanic island Iwo Jima.

My father had participated as a Marine in the battle for Okinawa which followed the American victory on Iwo Jima. This gave the Marine Corps War Memorial sculptural depiction of the flag-raising on Iwo Jima additional significance. To figuratively touch a special moment in the history of the Marine Corps.

As I approached the 32-foot-tall bronze sculpture of the 6 men raising an American flag then as now waving the breeze, the photograph was a pale representation of that world famous moment. The towering sculpture anchored atop a base of black granite stopped me in my tracks.

As I stood in front of the memorial, I read the quote from Fleet Admiral Chest W. Nimitz, the naval officer who ran the entire Pacific War. “Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue.” At the base of the quote is the Marine Corps motto: Semper Fidelis – Always Faithful.

Above the quote, running around the rim of the black granite base is a chronological list of the Marine Corps’ major battles and actions since its founding November 10, 1775. As I read the list, many names were familiar to me, it led me around to back of the memorial where I discovered a second quote: “In Honor of the Men of the United States Marine Corps Who Have Given Their Lives to Their Country Since 10 November 1775.”

As I continued reading of the inscribed battles and actions, I reflected upon that second quote. What does it mean to give your life for your country? The chiseled inscriptions came to World War II 1941-1946. Below the heading, the first action was Pearl Harbor. As I read down the World War II list, I came to Guadalcanal. I had heard of that one. I had seen the movies. A battle that dragged on for months. The Marines fighting for their very lives against an overwhelming Japanese force.

The second to the last name under the World War II heading was Iwo Jima – the site of the flag raising depicted by this memorial. Iwo Jima was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history. 6,821 Marines were killed during the 5-week battle and 19,217 Marines were wounded. Of the 21,000 Japanese soldiers defending Iwo Jima, only 216 surrendered.

Iwo Jima is located roughly half-way between Tinian Island where B-29 bombers took off from to bomb Japan and Tokyo 1,500 miles away. Iwo Jima provided a place for B-29’s damaged while bombing Japan to land. It also provided a base of P-51 Mustangs to provide fighter escort for B-29’s on the last leg of the flight as they approached Japan.

The last name on the list under the World War II heading was Okinawa. My father participated in the battle of Okinawa as a Marine communications officer. He did not take part in combat. Of course, in any battle or war, less that 10% of the forces actually fight.  The other 90% provide support. My father provided support.

The last 2 inscriptions chiseled into the black granite bases were: Korea – 1950 and Lebanon – 1958.

 As I absorbed the Marine Corps War Memorial, knowing I had already volunteered for the Marine Corps infantry, I had lots to think about. I was scheduled to fly to MCRD San Diego (Marine Recruit Depot San Diego) on December 31, 1964. I would start the new year in Marine Corps bootcamp: 13 weeks of Marine Drill Instructors honing you into a United States Marine.

At this point in time, I had only a vague, mostly intellectual idea what the Marine Corps War Memorial really embodies or stands for. Being an idealist, I could imagine some glorious adventures. But I had no real idea how hard it would be or what price I might pay for the “adventure."

But the Marine Corps War Memorial was magnificent. I wanted to piece of that glory and I wanted to find out if I had the courage to join that honored tradition. Only time would tell.

All I knew was intellectual  — like the vast majority of people, I had no idea of the ferocious violence of actual combat.

As I walked back to my car, I wondered if I would have what it took to perform my duty in the midst of deadly violence?

Would I rise to the occasion and earn a small place in the magnificent history of the United States Marine Corps?

Would I ever be part of the names of famous battles and wars on the base of this memorial?

I stood there 20 years old in Arlington cemetery in the fall of 1964 humbled and yet inspired at the foot of this magnificent memorial that embodied the best of America – courage, selflessness, risking one’s very life for the honor of America’s contribution to freedom and democracy in the world.

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Joe