In Store Now

A Terrible Glory
By James Donovan $26.99
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Book Review

Eyewitness to Iwo

Reviewed by Charles Neimeyer

MajGen Fred E. Haynes is likely one of the last surviving officers of Combat Team 28 (CT–28) (sometimes referred to as the 28th Marines) to have intimate knowledge of the plans and operations of the team as it prepared itself for what proved to be its first and last battle—the titanic struggle for Iwo Jima. Ably assisted by military historian James A. Warren, the authors take their readers from the formation of CT–28 at Camp Pendleton and the unit’s subsequent transfer to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii for further training, through the cauldron of battle on Iwo, and to its final return to Camp Tarawa as a shadow of its former self after incurring nearly 70 percent casualties.

CT–28 formed part of the 5th Marine Division (5th MarDiv) (known as the Spearhead), along with CTs–26 and –27. While I would have personally preferred the authors to have used the more traditional 26th, 27th, and 28th Marines assignations, it is clear after reading the narrative why they selected the term “combat team” for use throughout the book. These teams were much more than just infantry regiments. They also had significant engineer, heavy weapons, artillery, and tank units attached in direct support and thus can perhaps be considered a precursor to the modern Marine air-ground task force concept. Further, during the course of the battle, the size and structure of the three teams were frequently task organized to meet battlefield exigencies.

The 5th MarDiv was part of the V Amphibious Corps, the main landing force at Iwo, which also included the 4th and 3d MarDivs. The general plan for Iwo was to land the 5th MarDiv on the left of the landing beaches with the 4th MarDiv immediately on its right. The 3d MarDiv was to land two-thirds of its combat force a few days later with the 3d Marine Regiment being held in V Amphibious Corps reserve (and in a controversial decision, the 3d Marine Regiment was never released for use on Iwo). However, the 5th MarDiv was given the onerous task of driving across the narrow neck of the island that connected it with its dominant terrain feature—Mount Suribachi.

Once Suribachi was isolated, CT–28 was given the assignment to reduce its defenders, and then ultimately send a patrol up to occupy the summit. It was CT–28 that provided the personnel for both now-famous flag raisings that took place on D+4. However, the authors made it quite clear that while the fight for Suribachi was tough, there would be far worse days on Iwo for CT–28.

An often overlooked point about the 5th MarDiv was that although many of its members had fought in earlier campaigns in the war, such as at Guadalcanal and Bougainville, the fight for Iwo was the division’s only campaign during the entire war. Nonetheless, to a man, the veterans of these earlier campaigns noted that nothing they had previously experienced compared to what they saw on Iwo Jima. As one veteran Iwo Marine observed, “Each day [on Iwo] we learned a new way to die.”

But early on in this extraordinary account, Fred Haynes makes it very clear that he believed the reason for the ultimate success of CT–28 on Iwo Jima was due to the full year he was given to train his Marines as a team both at Camp Pendleton and Camp Tarawa, along with being blessed with some very extraordinary Marine officers in command at various levels. First and foremost, the team was led by legendary Marine Col Harry “the Horse” Liversedge.

Liversedge was a large, powerful man and well respected by members of CT–28. He had participated as a member of the U.S. track team at the 1920 and 1924 Olympic games and was also renowned on the gridiron, playing for Marine Corps teams at Quantico. Liversedge had previously commanded the tough 1st Raider Regiment earlier in the war and, as Fred Haynes noted, had developed an abiding respect for the tenacity of his Japanese foe.

His regimental operations officer, Maj Oscar Peatross, had commanded a platoon of raiders, and the team executive officer, LtCol Robert Williams, had commanded the Paramarines. Amazingly, Liversedge, Williams, and Peatross had all been awarded the Navy Cross for gallantry in combat in earlier campaigns. In fact, many of the enlisted men of CT–28 came from the recently disbanded Paramarines and Raider battalions.

The unit cohesiveness of the various Marine units on Iwo is credited by both authors as being decisive during this particularly horrific battle. Deftly blending some never before seen personal accounts within the battle narrative, the authors provide readers with a vivid firsthand narrative of what must have been hell on earth for members of CT–28. In fact, what leaves an indelible mark after reading these various personal accounts is the grinding, grueling, and seemingly endless task of reducing and destroying Japanese defensive positions over and over, day after day, all the while losing comrades and friends by the dozen. There was no rear area, no place to rest or relax, and death struck down Marines with a randomness that strained men’s nerves to the breaking point.

While the personal accounts are indeed fascinating, one must be careful when using them. For example, the authors include a story provided by one member of CT–28 who claimed that he and his sergeant climbed to the top of Suribachi on D+3 (the day before the various flag raising patrols went up the mountain). While this story may in fact be true, there is simply no way to corroborate its veracity as no other account of the battle for Iwo Jima, including official records, mentions this particular revelation. The book could also stand to use a few more maps so that readers not familiar with the geography and topography of Iwo can better follow along. But these are minor criticisms as this very important book is more about the valor and sacrifice of a generation of Marines who are now largely passing into history.

After reading The Lions of Iwo Jima, the reader can only marvel at the extraordinary heroism and gallantry of the Marines and other naval personnel who fought there. Haynes and Warren demonstrate throughout the book that on Iwo Jima, “uncommon valor was a common virtue.” And the record proves this out. For example, for combat action on a single day, 3 March 1945, five members of the 5th MarDiv became recipients of the Medal of Honor—a truly incredible record for a single infantry division. Further, the battle for Iwo Jima represented over one-fourth of the 82 Medals of Honor awarded Marines during World War II. This is a remarkable story, and The Lions of Iwo Jima should be required reading for all students of Marine Corps and World War II history.