IWO JIMA PRESERVATION COMMITTEE SITREP: 11/99

C. G. Cooper, LtGen, USMC (Retired), Chairman of the Iwo Jima Preservation Committee

After over two years of an uphill fight to defend our beloved Marine Corps War Memorial from encroachment by intrusion of an AF Memorial, it seems appropriate to reflect on this struggle and comment on just where we stand today, 3 November 1999, on the eve of another birthday of our Corps. First, let me assure everyone reading this message, we are stronger today than we have ever been before in this struggle.We started behind the power curve but have steadily gained momentum. Our initial legal efforts were unsuccessful, largely because the judges did not want to take over the process of site selection for memorials. They noted in their judgment that they didn't know where the AF Memorial should be located, but that the court was not the proper agency to determine this matter. We were disappointed but this was a small bump in the road. Shortly after this ruling, we had our first real opportunity to publicly express our views. By law, the AF Memorial Foundation and the National Park Service prepared an Environmental Assessment stating that their incursion would have "no adverse impact" on the Marine Corps Memorial. Public comment was mandated. Since that time, in Feb and March, when hundreds of letters and personal appeals were registered against the AF Memorial at public hearings, by persons of all stripes, vets, AF retired, civilians, neighbors, and active duty Marines, it has become apparent that our foes miscalculated in a most gross way. It shocked them. The rejection and animosity aroused was overwhelming.

Their Environmental Assessment proved to be woefully inadequate, inaccurate, and unsatisfactory. The killing blow was the highly technical and accurate official response from the US Marine Corps, which laid out the many short falls of this piece of paper. The inputs made back in Feb and March have been sorted, collated, and studied by the National Park Service. The ball is in their court. They must decide on one of three courses. First, to tell the AF to move to another site. Second, to admit that the assessment was inadequate and incorrect and then commence a very complete Environmental Impact Study, a lengthy, comprehensive process that could delay the matter for another year. Thirdly, they can paste a few Band-Aids on their original product and attempt to force the matter back to the National Capital Planning Commission for final design approval.

We have waited almost eight months for a decision. Meanwhile the Marine Corps has entered the fray by contesting the original contention of the Park Service that our Memorial was not eligible for nomination to the National Historic Register. Our appeal of that matter has recently resulted in the "Keeper" of the National Historic Register stating that not only was it eligible but that our Memorial was eligible in its own right, alone, as a national treasure, not as a part of any other park. This unique and important ruling creates another protective barrier around our beloved churchyard of the Corps. Should the NPS not respect this ruling and other aspects of the law, we are backed up by a Washington law firm of international repute, Covington and Burling, who will institute an immediate law suit in our behalf.

We get stronger each day. We are still hoping that the AF Memorial Foundation will accept our offer to assist them in finding an alternative location, ie the knoll by the Navy Annex. They have repeatedly turned down any offers for help, saying they have already won and will proceed. They will not and cannot until the last shot is fired. We have public support, the Park Service's delay makes it possible that the authorization for the AF Memorial may expire before they can get through all their necessary approval "wickets". We are dug in and determined. This has been too long but it's necessary for all to understand the complexities we are dealing with.

In a second part to this message, I must deal with another issue that has surfaced, that could create problems for our cause. It is the talk and commentary about a "Million Marine March". I will return to that next.

PROPOSALS FOR A MILLION MARINE MARCH:<0> C. G. Cooper, LtGen, USMC (Retired), Chairman of the Iwo Jima Preservation Committee

Recently my computer screen has been almost filled with comments and ideas dealing with trying to bring 1,000,000 former and active Marines together in D.C. to stop the Air Force Memorial and secondly, to celebrate 2000 with an enormous outpouring of Marines. It startled and dismayed me, for a number of reasons. I responded to the individual who appeared to have taken on the leadership of this endeavor, once I sensed what seemed to be happening. Without a lengthy commentary, I am paraphrasing what I said to him. Since his message came to me via an address "MAJORUSMCRET", I assumed he was a Major. He informed me that he is not, nor ever was a Major. He said he was a former Marine who lives in the Tidewater area of Virginia. His name is Tom Tanney.

"I appreciate your infoing me on your various activities. As chairman of the Iwo Jima Preservation Committee, allied with the Friends of Iwo Jima and Combat Veteran of Iwo Jima, I have spent over two years in the uphill battle to resist the efforts of the Air Force Memorial Foundation to build their memorial in Iwo Jima Park.

We have countless irons in the fire and our likelihood of victory has never been more favorable than at present. I am deeply concerned that your well meaning efforts to rally Marines to this cause could prove to be detrimental. Since learning of your efforts I have consulted on many fronts and at this time I would like to ask you, from the vantage point of having lead this bitter fight for two years, in complete harmony with the senior Marine Corps leadership, not to change the chemistry or create a situation that we and the top echelons of the Marine Corps cannot support.

I simply ask you to trust us in what we are doing. We are going to prevail. We are currently working to get a comprehensive message out to the field, but you must realize the sensitivity of the many issues do not allow public discussion or disclosure of much that we are doing at this time. We welcome support, but I must caution you that your approach to treat Washington as an objective to be captured by Marines is a very dangerous one. We are defenders of the Capital, an explicit mission of the Marine Corps, since Marine Barracks Washington was established.

I respect your zeal but sincerely request that you respond to my personal request for patience and trust at this time, not to foment a well-meaning chain of events that could degenerate into an action that would embarrass our Corps and prove to be counterproductive.

In summary, I sincerely hope that these hard-chargers who came up with this March idea will find it within their hearts and minds to reflect on the wisdom of this endeavor. We're in the assault phase of this momentous battle; we must not risk all that we have invested. Please give us the trust and confidence that Marines have always given their commanders in battle. We will not let you down!

Semper Fidelis

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE INFORMATION ON THE IWO JIMA MEMORIAL DISCUSSION + USMC POSITION + MCL HOMEPAGE