STEVE INSKEEP, HOST:
The Marine Corps was founded 250 years ago today. Colorado Public Radio’s Bente Birkeland met a veteran who witnessed a famous moment in Marine history.
BENTE BIRKELAND, BYLINE: In 1945, the tiny Pacific island of Iwo Jima was critical in the Allies’ fight against Japan.
(SOUNDBITE OF DOCUMENTARY, “TO THE SHORES OF IWO JIMA”)
UNIDENTIFIED PERSON: When this flag drops, our landing craft will head for the beach.
BIRKELAND: This Navy documentary recounts the battle. Military leaders thought it would be a quick victory, but it stretched for a grueling 36 days. Nearly 7,000 Marines were killed, and 20,000 more were wounded, the deadliest battle in Marine Corps history. Jim Blane survived.
JIM BLANE: When they raised that flag, we didn’t know it was going to become as famous as it was, but I understand why it did (ph).
BIRKELAND: Now 100 years old, Blane lives in Denver.
BLANE: Some of the guys went into tears, and I got choked up over it myself.
BIRKELAND: Blane was just 20 years old when he saw the six Marines together push the flagpole up on the summit of Mount Suribachi. Three of the six were killed before Iwo Jima fell about a month later. Twenty-thousand Japanese soldiers died trying to hold the island.
BLANE: I did what I had to do, is to try to kill more Japanese people. And my buddies and I did it whether we liked it or not.
BIRKELAND: At one point, a bullet grazed Blane’s helmet. Later, he was shot through the foot.
BLANE: I could still walk on it. It got worse later on, but I never seen a doctor until we had finished taking Iwo Jima.
BIRKELAND: He was awarded a Purple Heart.
BLANE: The Marine Corps was chosen to finish that war. We did what we were told to do, and we went ahead and finished it up the island. We lost more of our guys, but we did secure the island and the Japanese surrendered.
BIRKELAND: When I was getting ready to say goodbye to Blane, I thanked him for his service.
BLANE: Supposed to say, thank you for my freedom.
BIRKELAND: Oh.
BLANE: Say that.
BIRKELAND: Thank you for my freedom.
BLANE: There it is.
BIRKELAND: For NPR News, I’m Bente Birkeland in Denver. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.
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