IV
119THCONGRESS
1
STSESSION H. RES. 142
Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the Japanese
island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the flag
of the United States on Mount Suribachi.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY18, 2025
Mr. C
ALVERT(for himself, Mr. CARBAJAL, and Mr. ISSA) submitted the fol-
lowing resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed Serv-
ices, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a period
to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consider-
ation of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee
concerned
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the amphibious landing
on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War
II and the raisings of the flag of the United States
on Mount Suribachi.
Whereas, following the surprise attack by Japanese forces on
December 7, 1941, at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the United
States formally declared war on the Imperial Government
of Japan on December 8, 1941;
Whereas, during the 4 years that followed the attack, the
United States and allied forces fought a prolonged coun-
terattack against Japanese advances across the Pacific
region;
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Whereas the tactic of attacking, defeating, and controlling
Japanese-held outposts using amphibious assault land-
ings against Japanese-held islands and territories (re-
ferred to in this preamble as ‘‘island hopping’’) became
crucial to successfully countering Japanese advances
throughout the Pacific region;
Whereas the goal of island hopping was to secure airfields
and supply bases—
(1) in order to launch aerial bombardment attacks
against the mainland of Japan using the new Boeing B–
29 Superfortress; and
(2) in preparation for, and in anticipation of, a
United States invasion of Japan;
Whereas, by early 1945, the United States and allied forces
bravely fought and advanced to the island of Iwo Jima,
an 8-square-mile volcanic island with 3 strategic airfields,
located between the Mariana Islands and Japan;
Whereas Iwo Jima was—
(1) a strategic island with airfields to support bomb-
ers of the United States with fighter escorts; and
(2) an essential base for emergency, refueling, and
diversionary landings for B–29 bombers;
Whereas, under the command of Japanese Lieutenant Gen-
eral Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Iwo Jima was a heavily for-
tified island with nearly 11 miles of underground and
networked tunnels, rooms, bunkers, artillery emplace-
ments, ammunition dumps, and pillboxes supporting
more than 21,000 Japanese soldiers;
Whereas, on February 19, 1945, under the leadership of
United States Navy 5th Fleet Admiral Raymond A.
Spruance, United States Marine Corps V Amphibious
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Corps Major General Harry Schmidt, 3d Division Major
General Graves B. Erskine, 4th Division Major General
Clifton Cates, and 5th Division Major General Keller E.
Rockey, the United States launched an amphibious land-
ing and assault on Iwo Jima that culminated with the en-
gagement of more than 70,000 members of the United
States Marine Corps, buttressed by thousands of mem-
bers of the United States Navy and the United States
Army serving as assault, garrison, and support forces
(referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Battle of Iwo
Jima’’);
Whereas the members of the United States Marine Corps
who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima overcame numerous
disadvantages in the 36-day battle that included treach-
erous terrain, unfavorable weather conditions, and heavy
enemy fire from an embedded, determined, and fierce
Japanese fighting force in places immortalized by mem-
bers of the United States Marine Corps, including the
‘‘Meat Grinder’’ and ‘‘Bloody Gorge’’;
Whereas, on February 23, 1945, only 5 days into the Battle
of Iwo Jima, members of the United States Marine Corps
ascended the highest point on the island, Mount
Suribachi, and raised the flag of the United States 2
times, the second of which resulted in the iconic, Pulitzer
Prize-winning image that—
(1) was captured on film by photographer Joe
Rosenthal;
(2) has become a recognized symbol of determina-
tion, perseverance, and struggle; and
(3) has been memorialized as the United States Ma-
rine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia;
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Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles
in the history of the United States Marine Corps, re-
sulted in more than 26,000 casualties of the United
States, more than 6,800 of whom were killed;
Whereas most of the more than 20,000 estimated Japanese
soldiers who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima were killed,
with only 1,083 Japanese soldiers surviving at the con-
clusion of the campaign;
Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima led to 22 members of the
United States Marine Corps and 5 members of the
United States Navy receiving the Medal of Honor, rep-
resenting—
(1) the most members of the United States Marine
Corps ever to receive the highest military decoration in
the United States for a single battle; and
(2) more than one-fourth of all members of the
United States Marine Corps to receive the decoration
during World War II;
Whereas the secured airfields on Iwo Jima became emergency
landing locations for 2,400 B–29 Bombers, saving the
lives of an estimated 24,000 flight crewmen;
Whereas 160 days after the end and victory of the pivotal
Battle of Iwo Jima, the United States received the un-
conditional surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945;
Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the members
of the United States Marine Corps who selflessly led the
fight for the strategic island of Iwo Jima in the middle
of the Pacific theater; and
Whereas the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima will
be marked by commemorative events throughout 2025 in
Washington, DC, on the island of Iwo Jima, and inter-
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nationally, organized by the people of the United States
and Japan: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 1
(1) recognizes the 80th anniversary of the am-2
phibious landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima 3
that began on February 19, 1945, and ended on 4
March 26, 1945; 5
(2) commemorates the iconic and historic 6
raisings of the flag of the United States on Mount 7
Suribachi that occurred on February 23, 1945; 8
(3) honors the marines, sailors, soldiers, army 9
air crew, and coast guardsmen who fought bravely 10
on Iwo Jima, including the thousands of Japanese 11
soldiers who defended the island; 12
(4) remembers and venerates the 13
servicemembers who gave their last full measure of 14
devotion on the battlefield; 15
(5) recognizes the Allied victory in the Battle of 16
Iwo Jima, which— 17
(A) was led by the United States Marine 18
Corps; and 19
(B) made the defeat of the Empire of 20
Japan in World War II possible; 21
(6) affirms the immortal words of Admiral 22
Chester Nimitz, who state that ‘‘uncommon valor 23
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•HRES 142 IH
was a common virtue’’ among the servicemembers of 1
the United States who fought on Iwo Jima; 2
(7) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between 3
the United States and Japan; 4
(8) encourages the people of the United States 5
to honor the veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima with 6
appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities; and 7
(9) honors the service and sacrifice of the men 8
and women who serve the United States today car-9
rying on the proud tradition of the individuals who 10
came before them. 11
Æ
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