HARRY ASH PEARCE
Harry Pearce was in the shell crater with PFC Richard B. Anderson and gives his full account on the PFC Richard Anderson Page.
This tribute, page, however, is for the following words that Harry wrote about Iwo Jima........
"Training continued until the 18th of January, 1945 at which time we sailed for the western Pacific. We stopped off at Tinian from February 13th to 16th for rehearsal in landings and then sailed for Iwo Jima. The Iwo Jima landing was made on February 19, 1945. I believe, it was the Battle of all Battles for the Marines. Those of us in E Company, who had made it through three recent invasions, were not so fortunate this time. As stated before, we were again given the privilege of being in the first wave to land on the island. Needless to say, this island was the Hell Hole of Creation. I am now 75 years young and after 52 years of reflections I cannot bring myself to write about this battle. The conditions, the carnage of dead mangled bodies, the cries of the dead (sic dying) and wounded, the wrecked equipment, not only on the beaches but over the entire island was and is unbelievable to this day. My beloved E Company was decimated. All but a few were killed or wounded. The six or eight remaining, stayed to the end, and they too were wounded. Much has been written about the Battle of Iwo Jima, but words written still do not tell the story."
Harry Pearce in a letter dated June 6, 1997.
Harry Pearce passed away 12/26/2009 and was layed to rest on 12/31/2009. Semper Fi old friend. We will miss you.
