Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Jackson County Commissioners take pro-gun stance Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers Ashland may restrict outdoor pot growing Second suspect pleads guilty in cartel grow case Trail man allegedly hit mother with hatchet Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Second suspect pleads guilty in cartel grow case Trail man allegedly hit mother with hatchet Child molester sentenced to five years prison Man jailed on sex abuse charges Clash with officers lands Medford man in jail on multiple charges Politics and Elections Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Gov. Kitzhaber steps down, federal investigation begins Gov. Kitzhaber announces resignation Successor Kate Brown must run for election in 2016 Community leaders saddened by governor's departure Education Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines A question of punishment Logos to receive a slice of Wes Howard Memorial Sports Park Medford School Board OKs full-day kindergarten Former superintendent sues district, board member Environment Coho salmon road trip Mt. Ashland Ski Area celebrates snow Company fined for illegally dumping asbestos in White City Solar pavilion going up at Coyote Trails GMO opponents can join Jackson County in defending ban State News Drivers to take road tax for test spin Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon's 38th governor Oregon Senate advances low-carbon fuel law Brown says inauguration speech will focus on restoring trust in government Oregon chub first fish to be officially taken off endangered list Nation - World Obituaries Arthur �Art� S. Backlund Death Notices Lynn Ann Latham McCoy Lane Itol A. Downing Grant Edward Cochran Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Shareable Mars One attracts science fiction geeks and people who hate society This $1 million Mercedes is like an armored private jet for the road Sports Latest Stories Karl introduced as 3rd Kings coach of season Crater rally denies EP North Medford girls hold off Cavers Kentucky defense keys win over Vols LOCAL REPORT Varsity 541 College Sports Kentucky defense keys win over Vols W. Virginia squeaks by Kansas, 62-61 Senior's swan song Afengus, Champion to coach soccer, women's wrestling Harrison, Hendrix homer in OSU loss Pro Sports Karl introduced as 3rd Kings coach of season Pitchers, catchers will report this week Questions surround top quarterback prospects Teams mull options as trade deadline nears Blazers content at the halfway point Community Sports Business Latest Stories Blog: Alaska Airline, brimming with confidence, adding six extended-range Boeing 737s by 2016 Josephine County to approve Southern Oregon business recruiting contract Blog: An empire built on a plastic-block foundation Ride & Drive: 2015 Nissan GT-R Oregon Retina Specialists will expand into new building Real Estate News Housing prices climb 9 percent in Jackson County Big plans on the Butte Homes for the long haul New owners of Medford Center promise a hands-on approach: People In Business People in Business Transportation Medford airport flies past January record The heart of Brammo will remain Agriculture 1-800-Flowers dumps Harry & David execs Nine companies pitch investment opportunities in Medford Darigold to shutter Medford plant, putting 29 out of work Opinion Latest Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Islamic State's atrocities demand ... what? Letters to the Editor, Feb. 17 Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Editorials Our view: Expulsions hurt students, district, community Our View: Independent Party of Oregon faces obstacles Our View: A sad end to a historic career Our View: Time to end the vaccine exemption Our View: Hemp hemp, hooray — old crop is new again Letters to the Editor Letters to the editor, Feb. 18 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 17 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 16 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 15 Letters to the Editor, Feb. 13 Columns Islamic State's atrocities demand ... what? Michael Gerson: A call for 'patient pluralism' Kathleen Parker: No excuse for juicing the story Dana Milbank: Remembering the remarkable Kayla Mueller George Will: Curb your pessimism about terrorism Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Weed killers should not be sprayed on streams, homes Guest Opinion: Understanding Wes Cooley Guest Opinion: Smokers: Quit before this happens to you Guest Opinion: Our public school system is a stew pot of clashing ingredients Guest Opinion: How long will we look the other way? Lifestyle Latest stories Season Stepp: Cooking Chinese food should not intimidate you Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune Page H. Onorato: Food items help define the South Debbie Snyder: Fleas annoy you and your pet Brent St. Germain: King cake is my kryptonite Food Season Stepp: Cooking Chinese food should not intimidate you Page H. Onorato: Food items help define the South There's a whole universe of chili outside Texas Citrus sensations Community blog: It's time to lavish love on heart-healthy lentils Home and Garden Garden Cameos: Winter is the time to prune How to install energy-efficient windows the right way Dear Monty: Nine downsizing tips for seniors Carol Link: Prime time for pruning blueberries approaches Home Help: DIY home upkeep projects for every season Health Runners’ Corner: Helpful winter running hints Today is exclusion day for kids who don't have required vaccines Community blog: Your Brain on Love Health Watch: The rise of wearable fitness tech Community blog: Are You Losing or Gaining on Your Investment in Health? Hiking Biking Faith Religion briefs: Friday, Feb. 13 RELIGION BRIEFS, Feb. 6 Religion News: Church of England consecrates first female bishop Religion briefs Religion briefs, Jan. 23 Milestones and Achievements New arrivals: Sunday, Feb. 8 Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories The music that made Paris famous SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'Much Ado About Nothing' kicks off OSF's 2015 season Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Theater SOU presents 'She Stoops to Conquer' 'Much Ado About Nothing' kicks off OSF's 2015 season SOU presents 'The Glass Menagerie' Le Cirque presents 'City Walk' 'Seven Brides for Seven Brothers' Music The music that made Paris famous Blues Jam at The Little Brown Jug Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra 'Broadway's Next Hit Musical' Live Music in Local Clubs Community Events Southern Oregon Rod and Custom Show Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhibits by regional artists Jacksonville celebrates Chinese New Year Comedian Susan Westenhoefer pulls no punches Paula Poundstone performs at the Craterian Dining The zwickels shall flow Soo Rah Korean Cuisine Stylish shareables are the feature at Brickroom Sandwiches and burgers are hits at The Rogue Chef The Vine offers a taste of Italy Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Jackson County Commissioners take pro-gun stance ... Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers ... Ashland may restrict outdoor pot growing ... Jackson County Commissioners take pro-gun stance ... Brown's inauguration brings hope to local lawmakers ... Ashland may restrict outdoor pot growing ... 70TH ANNIVERSARY 'We knew we were going to die' Medford Marine veteran recalls battle of Iwo Jima Comment By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 am By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 am An Iwo Jima eulogy --> The following are excerpts from Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn's Iwo Jima eulogy, delivered at the dedication of the 5th Marine Division Cemetery, March 1945. "Here lie men who loved Am... » Read more X An Iwo Jima eulogy The following are excerpts from Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn's Iwo Jima eulogy, delivered at the dedication of the 5th Marine Division Cemetery, March 1945. "Here lie men who loved America because their ancestors generations ago helped in her founding, and other men who loved her with equal passion because they themselves or their own fathers escaped from oppression to her blessed shores. "Here lie officers and men, Negroes and whites, rich men and poor — together. Here no man prefers another because of his faith or despises him because of his color. Here there are no quotas of how many from each group are admitted or allowed. Among these men there is no discrimination. No prejudices. No hatred. Theirs is the highest and purest democracy. "Whoever of us lifts up his hand in hate against a brother, or thinks himself superior to those who happen to be in the minority makes of this ceremony and of the bloody sacrifice it commemorates an empty, hollow mockery. To this, then, as our solemn, sacred duty, do we the living now dedicate ourselves: to the rights of Protestants, Catholics and Jews, of white men and Negroes alike, to enjoy the democracy for which all of them here have paid the price. "We here solemnly swear: this shall not be in vain! Out of this, and from the suffering and sorrow of those who mourn this, will come — we promise — the birth of a new freedom for the sons of men everywhere." » Social News Abe "Murph" Rosenstein's platoon was next in line, and its prospects weren't good. After weeks of aerial bombing and three days of naval shelling of Iwo Jima's rocky surface, the first waves of U.S. Marines landed on a narrow strip of beach. They encountered little resistance at first, but as the Americans moved beyond the beach they were ripped apart by snipers, machine-gun fire and artillery that rolled in and out of caves. Rosenstein and the 4th Marine Division already had been part of the Pacific Island fight for Saipan and Tinian, but the carnage that commenced 70 years ago this week — and lasted from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945 — was unlike any encountered by American troops. It was the costliest battle in the Pacific Theater during World War II, with 6,821 Marines killed and 19,271 wounded, along with more than 22,000 Japanese who died. The U.S. decided it needed the eight-square-mile island where the Japanese had constructed two airstrips and were working on a third. Iwo Jima was considered a sort of stationary aircraft carrier where B-29 bombers could land if they ran out of fuel or were crippled. Rosenstein was going ashore on the seventh wave, and it didn't take the 20-year-old private first class from Philadelphia long to size up what waited ahead.  "You couldn't put your head above ground, because you'd get hit by body parts," recalled the retired 90-year-old businessman, who has called Medford home for more than 20 years. "We were on the beach for two days and two nights before moving on to the first terrace. The sergeant said, 'We're not going to die on the beach, so let's go.' You couldn't dig a foxhole because the volcanic ash would collapse around you. You'd step into it and go up to your knees it was so soft. The only holes we had were from the huge naval shells." As his platoon moved forward, the picture grew clearer and more horrific. Japanese Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi had ordered his men to allow Americans to come on shore without opposition. When Marines, tanks and equipment began sinking into the ash, the Japanese unleashed torrents of lethal fire. During the first six days, 1,605 Marines died. "Of the 45 in my platoon, maybe six or seven survived," he said. American dead were carried to the beach and covered with ponchos, because there was no time to bury them. At night, Japanese snipers would sneak in among the dead and crawl under the ponchos. At daybreak Marines would make the rounds, shooting the dead in order to take out snipers, Rosenstein recalled. As the battle wore on, it became apparent the Japanese had carved out miles of tunnels 40 feet beneath the surface, housing everything from barracks and hospitals to mess halls. "You could put your ear close to the ground and hear the noise underneath, but you couldn't get to them," Rosenstein said. "We'd throw in grenades and go in with flame throwers, but we didn't know how many tunnels there were." While clearing a cave en route to airstrip No. 2 on Feb. 26, a flamethrower ignited a gas tank, and the ensuing explosion set off grenades. "Everybody got hit," he recalled. Rosenstein was severely burned and pierced above the left eye by grenade fragments. He was evacuated to the USS Solace, a hospital ship that was quickly filled. He was transferred to a naval hospital on Guam for six weeks and then on to Honolulu for a month. He found himself back in Maui, where he had trained in June 1944 before going to Saipan. He was boxing up machine guns and other equipment in preparation for an invasion of Japan when news came of the Japanese surrender in August 1945. "We knew we were going to die," said the Purple Heart recipient. "You couldn't believe the joy and tears flowing. Then you wondered why it didn't happen earlier, before we lost our buddies. The significance of taking Iwo Jima was that it saved thousands and thousands of lives. "The reason we won that battle was because Marine Corps training is absolutely brutal. You would not believe the brutality and misery. You'd get so mad during training that you would want to kill one another. That's the spirit that keeps the Marine Corps going." Time has taken most of those who survived the bitter struggle. At Iwo Jima's 50th anniversary reunion at Camp Pendleton, not far from San Diego, where Rosenstein shipped out to Hawaii, he was with close friends and comrades. Among them was Allen J. Striffler of Rye, N.Y., who died last June. "I'm still in mourning," Rosenstein said. "I lost my best friend." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or [email protected] . Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/GregMTBusiness , on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/greg.stiles.31 , and read his blog at www.mailtribune.com/EconomicEdge   By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Greg Stiles Mail Tribune Posted Feb. 18, 2015 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501