Jump to content

From Iwo Jima, Feb. 1945, Showato or earlier?


lambo35

Recommended Posts

This sword was captured by CPL. Jack First, USMC, 2/28/5/E company. Jack passed away in Oct. of 2017. He said the sword came from a Japanese NCO. The Tsuba received a AP round from Jack's Garand which pierced the Nakago. Part of the copper jacket and lead outer core are still inbedded in the perimiter of the bullet hole, the hard steel core having passed through. I would like to X-ray the Tsuka to see if any remenants of the bullet still remain in the Tsuka. Any information on the smith who made the blade and about when in was produced would be greatly appreciated by tha familly.post-3667-0-36544900-1554753085_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-66127200-1554753106_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-59127600-1554753124_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-30366000-1554753144_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-92791400-1554753199_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-47144600-1554753223_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-27470600-1554753279_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-82456200-1554753303_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-54350300-1554753344_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-77860300-1554753363_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-10016100-1554753398_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-17897400-1554753424_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-81316200-1554753445_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-30420300-1554753466_thumb.jpgpost-3667-0-70912100-1554753484_thumb.jpg

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Ray, Many thanx!  What an interesting history this blade must have. A quest has begun!

 

Bruce, He landed on Iwo Jima with the second wave on 2/19/1945. Jack was an Armorer in E company, 2nd Batallion, 28 Regiment, of the 5th Marine Division. They landed at the Southern most end of the island, a few hundred yards North of Mt. Surabachi. He was among the Marines that raised the flags three days later. He accidentally left his personal Colt first generation .45 single action in a fox hole on the slopes of Suribachi the night prior to reaching the crest. The Colt was not in the fox hole the next day when they again went up to the top, Jack thought it might still be there under the sand or that it got picked up by a Japanese soldier who was one of several in a gun pit several yards away from their previous night's fox hole [Not noticed during the night, but the reason they rapidly left the next morning].

 

I did not ask him where on the Island he was when he got the sword. He fought across the neck of Iwo on the first day, three +/- days on Suribachi then the next thirty+ days up the west side of the Island. He was one of only 16 members of his original Regiment who was able to walk off the Island when they were relieved in late March. He was an interesting person to talk with.

 

Chuck.

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

This thread is quite old. Please consider starting a new thread rather than reviving this one, unless your post is really relevant and adds to the topic..

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

Loading...
×
×
  • Create New...