Iwo Jima Veterans, families and friends,
 
We are pleased to report that the 2012 February Reunion and Educational Symposium, as well as the March Reunion of Honor on Guam and Iwo Jima were tremendous successes. Once again, the active duty Navy and Marine Corps support was great and all returned home being satisfied that we Americans continue to highly respect our living veterans, even as we honor those killed and missing in action.
 
As we bask in the satisfaction of a job well done, we have turned our attention to 2013, and the 68th Anniversary of this savage battle. The February and March dates are above and you will soon receive detailed information on how to register for both events. Check our web site at: www.IwoJimaAssociation.org
 
Each year we choose a "theme" of those to honor, in addition to the combat forces that took the island. This year it was the "Fighting Seabees". Next year it will be Army and Naval Aviation. (The Air Force was still unborn in 1945.) Thousands of pilots and crewman were killed in aerial battles, or lost at sea, to assist in the invasion of Iwo Jima. One of the primary reasons for taking Iwo Jima was to position fighter aircraft  further north to escort the bombers on their  flights to the Japanese homeland from Guam, Saipan and Tinian. These bravemen deserve no less respect and admiration for their heroic deeds than those Marines and Navy Corpsmen on the ground.
 
We are also planning to hold a special memorial service on Iwo Jima to honor the fighting spirit of Sgt William Genaust, USMC, who is entombed in the Black Sands for eternity. Sgt Genaust was a Marine Corps Combat Photographer who, along with Joe Rosenthal took film of the flag raising on Iwo Jima. (He stood next to Joe as the flag went up and the color film of the flag raising was shot by him). Like thousands of other Marines, Bill was killed on the island, and his body was never recovered. (There are about 340 Marines and Navy Corpsmen who were never recovered, despite numerous attempts).    We are often remiss in not honoring the brave Combat Correspondents and Photographers who were also in harms way during the battle, recording the events for posterity.

A final reminder, IJAA membership is open not only  to veterans of the battle. Any family member, military educator, historian, student, or friend of a veteran, is eligible for membership. Our association mission is simple: To perpetuate the legacy battle of Iwo Jima, and the brave men who gave their lives taking the island. Iwo Jima, along with the battles of Belleau Wood in WWI, the Chosin Reservoir in Korea, as well as Khe Sanh and Hue City in Vietnam, will be forever engrained in the history of the United States Marine Corps.
 
We hope to see many of you at one, or both, of these memorable events.
 
Sincere fraternal regards and .... Semper Fidelis,