Jump to content
SASS Wire Forum

Feb 19 1945 Iwo Jima


PowderRiverCowboy

Recommended Posts

Battle of Iwo Jima: On the fifth day of the fighting, as the national colors broke out on Mount Suribachi and the Marines cheered, Navy Chaplain Father Charles F. Suver, a 39 year old Jesuit Priest, and his assistant reached the top and promptly celebrated Mass while other Marines were still clearing nearby caves of diehard Japanese defenders. A board propped across two empty fuel drums was Father Suver’s altar, and his vestments were khaki.  

 

Days before, a young Marine officer promised to hoist an American flag on the peak of Mount Suribachi. Chaplain Suver said “You get it up there and I’ll say Mass under it.” Father Suver kept his promise.  

 

Father Suver went to his final rest on Easter Sunday, 1993.

 

https://aleteia.org/2020/06/01/military-chaplains-served-the-ones-who-served/

 

 

FB_IMG_1676921199323.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Credit must also be given to Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn, a Jewish chaplain who ministered to Marines, without regard to religion, race or color on Iwo Jima. Division Chaplain Warren Cuthriell, a Protestant minister asked Rabbi Gittelsohn to deliver the memorial sermon at a combined religious service dedicating the Marine Cemetary. Cuthriell wanted all the fallen Marines (black, white, Protestant, Catholic and Jewish) honored in a single, non-denominational ceremony.  Sadly, a majority of the other chaplains refused to participate, and to save Cuthriell embarrasment, Gittelsohn presided over the Jewish ceremony, delivering the powerful eulogy he originally wrote for the combine service.  Three Protestant chaplains were so upset with their colleagues that they boycotted their own services and attended Gittelsohn's instead.  

 

Nor should we forget the Four Chaplains of the U.S.S. Dorchester, one Jew, two Protestants and one Catholic, who gave their life preservers to troops on board and went down arm-in-arm!

RIP Marines of Iwo Jima! :FlagAm:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

i knew a marine that was there once a long time ago , it saddens me to know he is gone , but he did tell a little of what he experienced in the times we spent together back in the ninetys 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.