Letter to the editor: Is staying home asking too much?
Photo by Marin County Fire Department, taken at end of March.
To the editor,
Beaches in the Bay Area were recently crowded.
75 years ago 70,000 Americans were asked to sacrifice for the good of the country.
They too were on the beach.
After 36 days 6,800 of them were dead.
At the entrance to the cemetery where they were buried on Iwo Jima the inscription reads:
When you go home
Tell them for us and say
For your tomorrow
We gave our today
In World War II 473 Medals of Honor were awarded to U.S. military personnel.
83 of them went to U.S. Marines.
22 of those 83 went to Marines who fought on Iwo Jima.
Now, please explain to me the magnitude of the difficulty you face in staying home.
Randolph L. Kohn
Paso Robles
Editor’s note: Mr. Kohn served on active duty for three years as an officer in the United States Marine Corps.
Postscript from the author:
The Marine Corps War Memorial depicts the raising of the American flag at Mount Suribachi on 23 February 1945 by U.S. Marines in World War II during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
The fighting that took place during the 36-day assault would be immortalized in the words of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who said, “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Marines from Marine Barracks, Washington, D.C. perform their famous Sunset Parade in front of the memorial every Tuesday evening at 1900 during the summer months. The parade features a precision drill exhibition by the Marine Corps Silent Drill Platoon and a “Music-In-Motion” performance by the Marine Drum and Bugle Corps.
From the Official Website of the United States Marine Corps
Editor’s note: Letters to the editor are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Paso Robles Daily News or its staff. We welcome letters from local residents regarding relevant local topics. To submit one, click here.
