Increasingly frustrated by his role campaigning for war bonds, Basilone convinces the Marines to allow him to train troops headed for combat. Transferred to Camp Pendleton, he enjoys a whirlwind romance with an initially reluctant female Marine, Lena Riggi. But the lovers know they may be living on borrowed time, as Basilone is soon to take part in the Marine landing on Iwo Jima.
Being a woman Marine in 1940s wartime came with its share of culture shock, as this veteran relates. Her well-intentioned patriotism made for some amusing anecdotes and inspiring memories.
The strategy 60 years ago is to seize Okinawa as a staging ground for the invasion of the Japanese mainland. It comes at a painfully high price.
The heroism and sacrifice of 3d Division Marines, as well as their families anguish, are revealed in letters to and from Major General Graves Erskine.
From a ship off Iwo Jima, a chief radioman penned a Sailor's-eye view of the bloody battle and paid tribute to the U.S. Marines who were waging it.
The Iwo Jima Collection is from the U.S. Naval Institute's Oral History program. The program captures and preserves the reminiscences of key Navy and Coast Guard personnel and contains over 230 bound volumes.
The Okinawa Collection is from the U.S. Naval Institute's Oral History program. The program captures and preserves the reminiscences of key Navy and Coast Guard personnel and contains over 230 bound volumes.
The Okinawa slideshow is from the Naval Institute Photo Archive Collection. The Naval Institute preserves the world's largest private military photo collection, with more than 450,000 photos.