Photo By Chief Petty Officer Michael Gomez | 151228-N-YG415-038 IWO JIMA, Japan (Dec. 28, 2015) Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile...... read more read more
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IWO JIMA, Japan – Seabees assigned to Naval Mobile Construction Battalion (NMCB) 3 paid a visit to the volcanic island of Iwo Jima, Dec. 28.
The 60 Seabees conducted a four-hour tour to the major interest points of the island to familiarize themselves with the historical and current significance of the island to Japan and the U.S.
U.S. Army Capt. Ryan J. Kim, NMCB 3, future operations officer, coordinated, and led the tour for the Seabees. He conducted research before going to Iwo Jima and placed together a pamphlet of information and historical events for the group.
Members of the NMCB 3 climbed Mount Suribachi to look down upon the landscape of one of the most storied battles of World War II. Several Seabees took photos upon the famous sands of Iwo Jima, atop the legendary flag-raising mount.
“I felt overwhelmed,” said Equipment Operator 2nd Class Erik W. Dornback. “I was standing in the same spot that the most iconic photo in World War II was taken.”
The Seabees walked down to the black sand beach where one of the great and tragic battles in history took place.
“I was sitting on the beach, looking towards Mount Suribachi and the other way towards the north end of the island, just imagining what has happen years ago, I was at awe,” said Dornback.
“The trip was amazing,” said Kim. “When I actually started walking on the battle field [beach], it started to coming to life for me.”
Iwo Jima was the largest sustained aerial offensive of the Pacific War. The United States sent more than 110,000 Marines in 880 ships in what became the largest invasion force of the Pacific campaign. Additionally, 60,000 Marines and 10,000 Navy Seabees were involved in the assault on the beaches of Iwo Jima. It took 36 days of fighting and more than 25,000 U.S. casualties to bring the island under American control.
NMCB 3 is homeported in Port Hueneme, California, and is currently deployed to Okinawa, Japan. The mission of NMCB 3 is to support Navy and joint forces throughout the U.S. Pacific Command (PACOM) Area of Responsibility (AOR) through construction projects and humanitarian missions in more than 14 different geographical locations.
| Date Taken: | 12.28.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 01.05.2016 03:42 |
| Story ID: | 185636 |
| Location: | IWO JIMA, JP |
| Web Views: | 208 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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