IV 116TH CONGRESS 2D SESSION H. RES. 857 Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES FEBRUARY 13, 2020 Mr. CALVERT (for himself, Mr. VISCLOSKY, Mr. PENCE, Mr. GALLAGHER, Mr. BERGMAN, Mr. TAYLOR, Mr. COOK, and Mr. GALLEGO) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a pe- riod to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for con- sideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the com- mittee concerned RESOLUTION Recognizing the 75th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi. Whereas, following the surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the United States formally declared war on the Imperial Government of Japan on December 8, 1941; Whereas during the four years that followed the attack, the United States and allied forces fought a prolonged coun- VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Feb 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR857.IH HR857 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 2 •HRES 857 IH terattack against Japanese advances across the Pacific region; Whereas the tactic of attacking, defeating, and controlling Japanese-held outposts through the use of amphibious assault landings against Japanese-held islands and terri- tories (referred to in this preamble as ‘‘island hopping’’) became crucial to successfully countering Japanese ad- vances throughout the Pacific region; Whereas the goal of this island hopping was to secure air- fields and supply bases— (1) in order to launch aerial bombardment attacks against the mainland of Japan using the new Boeing B– 29 Superfortress; and (2) in preparation for, and in anticipation of, a United States invasion of Japan; Whereas, by early 1945, the United States and allied forces bravely fought and advanced to the island of Iwo Jima, an 8-square-mile volcanic island with 3 strategic airfields, located between the Mariana Islands and Japan; Whereas Iwo Jima was— (1) a strategic island with airfields to support bomb- ers of the United States with fighter escorts; and (2) an essential base for emergency, refueling, and diversionary landings for B–29 bombers; Whereas, under the command of Japanese Lieutenant Gen- eral Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Iwo Jima was a heavily for- tified island with nearly 11 miles of underground and networked tunnels, rooms, bunkers, artillery emplace- ments, ammunition dumps, and pillboxes supporting more than 21,000 Japanese soldiers; VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Feb 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR857.IH HR857 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 3 •HRES 857 IH Whereas, on February 19, 1945, under the leadership of United States Navy 5th Fleet Admiral Raymond A. Spruance and United States Marine Corps V Amphibious Corps Major General Harry Schmidt, with 3d Division Major General Graves B. Erskine, 4th Division Major General Clifton Cates, and 5th Division Major General Keller E. Rockey, the United States launched an amphib- ious landing and assault on Iwo Jima that culminated with the engagement of more than 70,000 members of the United States Marine Corps, buttressed by thousands of members of the United States Navy and the United States Army serving as assault, garrison, and support forces (referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Battle of Iwo Jima’’); Whereas the Marines who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima overcame numerous disadvantages in the 36-day battle that included treacherous terrain, unfavorable weather conditions, and heavy enemy fire from an embedded, de- termined, and fierce Japanese fighting force in places im- mortalized by members of the United States Marine Corps, including the ‘‘Meat Grinder’’ and ‘‘Bloody Gorge’’; Whereas, on February 23, 1945, only 5 days into the Battle of Iwo Jima, members of the United States Marine Corps ascended the highest point on the island, Mount Suribachi, and raised the flag of the United States two separate times, and the second flag raising resulted in the iconic, Pulitzer Prize-winning image that— (1) was captured on film by photographer Joe Rosenthal; (2) has become a recognized symbol of determina- tion, perseverance, and struggle; and VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Feb 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR857.IH HR857 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 4 •HRES 857 IH (3) has been memorialized as the United States Ma- rine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia; Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Marine Corps, resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including more than 6,800 killed; Whereas most of the more than 20,000 estimated Japanese soldiers that fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima were killed, with only approximately 1,083 Japanese soldiers sur- viving at the conclusion of the campaign; Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima led to 22 members of the United States Marine Corps and 5 members of the United States Navy receiving the Medal of Honor, rep- resenting— (1) the most Marines ever to receive the highest military decoration in the United States for a single bat- tle; and (2) more than a quarter of all members of the United States Marine Corps to receive the decoration during World War II; Whereas the secured airfields on Iwo Jima became emergency landing locations for 2,400 B–29 Bombers, saving the lives of an estimated 24,000 flight crewmen; Whereas, 160 days after the end and victory of the pivotal Battle of Iwo Jima, the United States received the un- conditional surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945; Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the Marines who selflessly led the fight for the strategic island of Iwo Jima in the middle of the Pacific theater; and Whereas, on March 28, 2020, the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima will be marked by commemorative VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Feb 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR857.IH HR857 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 5 •HRES 857 IH events on the island of Iwo Jima, organized by the people of the United States and Japan: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1 (1) recognizes the 75th anniversary of the am- 2 phibious landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima 3 that began on February 19, 1945, and ended on 4 March 26, 1945; 5 (2) commemorates the iconic and historic 6 raisings of the flag of the United States on Mount 7 Suribachi that occurred on February 23, 1945; 8 (3) honors the Marines, sailors, soldiers, army 9 air crew, and coast guardsmen who fought bravely 10 on Iwo Jima, including the thousands of Japanese 11 soldiers who defended the island; 12 (4) remembers and venerates the 13 servicemembers who gave their last full measure of 14 devotion on the battlefield; 15 (5) recognizes that the Allied victory in the 16 Battle of Iwo Jima— 17 (A) was led by the United States Marine 18 Corps; and 19 (B) made possible the defeat of the Empire 20 of Japan in World War II; 21 (6) affirms the immortal words of Admiral 22 Chester Nimitz, who stated that ‘‘uncommon valor 23 VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Feb 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\HR857.IH HR857 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS 6 •HRES 857 IH was a common virtue’’ of those servicemembers who 1 fought on Iwo Jima; 2 (7) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between 3 the United States and Japan; 4 (8) encourages the people of the United States 5 to honor the veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima with 6 appropriate programs, ceremonies, and activities; 7 and 8 (9) honors the service and sacrifice of the men 9 and women who serve the United States today, car- 10 rying on the proud tradition of the individuals who 11 came before them. 12 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 01:34 Feb 14, 2020 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR857.IH HR857 pamtmann on DSKBC07HB2PROD with BILLS