Posted on 03/02/2010 11:33:44 AM PST by GATOR NAVY
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – The military has denied a request from a World War II veterans group for transportation to Iwo Jima this week to commemorate the historic battle that took place there 65 years ago.
The Greatest Generation Foundation asked the military for help after a charter plane company that had volunteered to take the group from Okinawa to the battlefield canceled unexpectedly two weeks ago. But Pentagon officials denied the request because it could set a problematic precedent for other nongovernmental agencies that ask for similar assistance, U.S. Pacific Command spokesman Marine Maj. Bradley Gordon said Tuesday from Hawaii.
PACOM officials in Hawaii and Japan on Monday had been trying to arrange a military flight for the group in the event leaders in Washington approved the request, Gordon said.
Before the decision was made, the Denver-based nonprofit brought 12 aging veterans who fought at Iwo Jima from the United States to Japan over the weekend as planned, hoping the military would be able to provide transportation.
“[The veterans] are very emotional. They know the dream of going back to Iwo Jima is not going to take shape,” said Timothy Davis, president of the foundation, which has sponsored battlefield trips for veterans since 2004.
“We’re going to fight this,” Davis said. “I have to do what I can to get these boys back to Iwo Jima.”
The group of 85- to 97-year-old former Marines — along with 12 students who were to document their return to Iwo Jima, and several journalists — arrived on Okinawa on a commercial flight late Saturday. They are staying on Marine Corps Air Station Futenma and are scheduled to return to the United States on March 9.
One veteran was hospitalized with stroke-like symptoms after arriving on Okinawa but was released Sunday, and another suffering from an infection was admitted to the hospital Tuesday, Davis said.
“Reality is kicking in. Come the 70th anniversary [of Iwo Jima] most of them are going to be dead,” he said. “If we allow these veterans to go to their graves with these stories then shame on us.”
Military officials recommended the group arrange the flight from Okinawa to Iwo Jima with another company. But Davis said the foundation could not afford the $50,000 it would cost after already having spent the $150,000 to get the group to Japan.
The government of Japan must approve all flights — commercial or military — to Iwo Jima, now officially known by its original name Iwo To.
Gen. James T. Conway, commandant of the Marine Corps, was expected to be the keynote speaker at a ceremony Wednesday on Iwo Jima to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the 36-day battle there in which 6,900 Marines and 20,000 Japanese were killed.
I can sort of understand this reasoning, but this still sucks. Maybe the Commandant can bring these guys along as his personal guests.
Why not have Pelosi fly over there and take them as her guests on the USAF jet she has demanded for her personal use?
My Grandfather was a WW2 vet and Army Colonel. He did this to see the WW2 memorial in DC shortly before his death. He said it was one of the best trips he has ever made.
They flew him out, put him in a hotel, and shuttled him around to see the sites.
Thank you if you donate to this great cause.
If I had the money, I’d fly every last one of them first class to Iwo......but alas I don’t but I wish I did then I could tell this feral gooberment to BITE ME! There’s nothing that SHOULDN’T be done for these wonderful men! I’m so mad I gonna start cryin’!
If they can chauffeur Pelosi and her entourage to Copenhagen for Global Warming parties they can do something constructive too.
Yeah! Just look at what that skank takes daily from the taxpayers.....just damn!
I bet a lot of people would contribute to the needed $50,000. Count me in and I’ll pass it around to get more.
Please ping me if you know of any fundraising efforts to get the vets there!
How about some PRESIDENTIAL INTERVENTION here, Obama???? Show you got a pair and get these Jarheads to IWO!!!!!
Show us you ARE an American, Obama....
Her Royal Highness Pelosi can send these awesome American patriots to Iwo Jima on her jet (instead of her sleaze family) paid for by the US taxpayers. This is a cause far more worthy than her.
Pelosi don’t have time for the “little” people............
Oh, but she cares about your health care NOT!!! She prays at the alter of power and greed.
Yep...That’s ALL that means anything to her, reid, that idiot in the WH...All those “progressives”....
Well dang, If we just fought that battle in Copenhagen, instead or watched 18,000 fellow solders die in Norway they could have hitched a ride with the Global Warming Summit or Nobel Prize entourages.
We didn’t see to have a problem getting to THOSE “historic” events with unprecedented fan fair and accommodations.
What a disgrace and insult to those brave patriots.
BTW, Great tagline.....
They had to fight like hell to take Suribachi. Here we are 65 years later and they have to fight to make it there again. I hope there is a fund started so we can give them the support they deserve to be victorious again!
We should not be footing the bill for this trip.
Maybe the slut Pelosi can give up a few seats.
Who should?
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