Staff Reports
INDIANAPOLIS — Sen. Todd Young, R-Indiana, and Rep. Greg Pence, R-Indiana, honored the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima at an event in Indianapolis on Friday.
They were joined by World War II veteran Wayne Saucerman, who served in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Young and Pence, both Marine Corps veterans, introduced a resolution to honor the 75th anniversary of the historic battle last week.
“Today we remember and honor those who served, fought, and died during the Battle of Iwo Jima. As one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Marine Corps, the sacrifices of those Marines and Sailors saved the lives of 24,000 crewmen and changed the tide of World War II in the Pacific,” Young said.
“Our fearless Marines showed unwavering courage 75 years ago at Iwo Jima. I had the solemn experience of going to Iwo Jima when I was deployed as a Marine years ago, and it was an honor to pay tribute to that fateful battle at the Indiana War Memorial today,” Pence said. “God bless our men and women in uniform for their unrelenting bravery, including Wayne Saucerman, a World War II Iwo Jima veteran who we were privileged to have join us at the ceremony today.”
Wednesday marked the 75th anniversary of the start of the battle of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima still stands as one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Marine Corps. On Feb. 19, 1945, three Marine divisions landed on Iwo Jima supported by hundreds of ships off shore. In the ensuing 36-day battle, the United States would suffer more than 26,000 casualties, of whom 6,800 were killed in action.
Next month, Young will lead a congressional delegation to Iwo Jima where he will participate in a formal ceremony to mark the 75th anniversary together with other leaders from the United States and Japan.
