Political Quotes

“I rise today to remind Americans of one of the costliest battles of World War II, and the sacrifices made by the men of the United States Marine Corps. This Sunday will be the 50th anniversary of the Marine Corps landing on Iwo Jima, a place where, as Admiral Nimitz said ``Uncommon valor was a common virtue.'' After 36 days of fighting and at a cost of 6,821 Americans killed and 19,217 wounded, the island was captured. The cost to the Japanese defenders was over 22,000 lives. Only about 1,000 Japanese survived the battle. The Japanese had long prepared for the February 19, 1945, invasion. After the battle was over, it was revealed that the enemy had constructed 642 blockhouses, pillboxes, and other gun positions. The marines landing on Iwo Jima were certainly stepping into the very jaws of the enemy--and I might say, the very jaws of hell. At 9 o'clock in the morning, the massive assault wave of the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions hit the beach at Iwo Jima.”