Night Time Exposure of Mt. Suribachi, 1965 by Joe Richard

 

 

Iwo Jima Stories

 

Gareth W. Rossen. hoto by Gareth W. Rossen, 1946.

 

Gareth W. Rosson
Headquarters and Headquarters Command
Ordinance 199th Depot & 3605th HAM Shop

Time on Iwo Jima: 1946-1947
United States Army

Iwo Jima Aerial View taken in 1946

 

Gareth W. Rosson's Notes and Photos:

 

   Most of the caves were on one level but there were a few two levels or more. The temperature was hot in some. The best cave on the island was the General's (Kuribayashi) cave (picture #7). A few of the caves are as follows:

 

   I am sending 17 pictures attached to this e-mail.

 

 

Four Rice Caves. Photo by Gareth W. Rossen, 1946.

 

   There are 4 caves sid by side. All were filled with rice. The caves were approximately 15 feet high, 12 feet wide and at least 70 feet deep. These caves are filled within 3 feet of the top. Rats of all sizes were everywhere. The rice was hauled away by trucks. We cleaned the caves, installed electrical lights along with an outside generator. This was to be our typhoon shelter. The first typhoon came in late 1946 or early 1947. Records should indicate. This cave is #1 on the pictures.

 

   This cave (no picture) is on the N. E. end of the island on the main road. The opening was approximately 15 feet from the road. The opening was only 5 feet high and 3 feet wide. After entering 10 feet there was a decline of 60 degrees for 20 feet which opened into a room. There were 20 boxes of Sake stacked along the wall (both clear and milk Sake). Most of the men took a bottle each. The room was HOT around 105 with a terrible smell. There were 5 or 6 Japanese soldiers, fully clothed, on the floor on the other end of the room. Their bodies were dried like leather. We didn't go down to the next level due to the stench and heat.

 

   The next cave (no pictures) was on the south side of the island. After the typhoon came the rains washed out where the Marines had sealed the caves. The opening were about 2 feet by 3 feet. We opened one of the caves all the way so we could get in. We went inside and found Japanese soldiers, fully clothed, some were wearing their bandages. There were dug outs along the walls of the caves. These were probably used for sleeping and hiding.

 

Mt. Suribachi and the General's Cave. Photo by Gareth W. Rossen, 1946.

 

Sign for General Kuribayashi's Cave. Additional photo is of a knocked out Sherman. Photo by Gareth W. Rossen, 1946.

 

   This is the Japanese General's cave (picture #7). It appears as a green oasis, 300 feet square with a few palm trees and coconut trees. There were very little vegetation on the island, making this cave area outstanding. There was a large sign by the entrance as shown in the picture. After entering through a hall of about 8 feet, in a high room, no furniture. There were other rooms leading off including a bathroom with a half sunken bathtub in the floor.                                                                                                   

     You wanted more details. Details your get. The Generals Cave was not a bunker. I'll start at the beginning. I drove approximately 110 feet  to  the right of the Generals entrance. In the jeep with me were T5 Walker, T5 Willinghoff, and PFC Selby. Walker got out of the jeep first and hollered to me that I had just straddled a land mine. I got out and as he said I had just done that. I got back into the jeep and backed straight (young and stupid). I drove to the other side of the cave entrance and drove up the incline approximately 60 feet. There was a lot of brush on the right side.

     We then went to the cave opening. There was a sign saying " OFF LIMITS " approximately 15 feet in front of the opening. Once in the cave, as I said before there was a large room. Leading off was a smaller room with a small table and chairs, all busted up. There were Japanese documents there on the floor (maybe a dozen or so.) We did not take any paper with us. There was a small bath room with a tub half in the ground. There was an air shaft, 4 feet wide going straight up for about 8 feet. Then at a approximately 60 degree angle it goes up around 50 or 60 feet to the air opening. The opening had bars. A rope was tied to the bars and extended all the down to the floor. We climbed up and were able to see our jeep parked outside. We didn't notice the bars from the outside as we parked due to the brush that I mentioned earlier. (Sure glad it wasn't the MP jeep).

     You inquired about inside pictures of the caves. Having only a 620 box camera with no flash, no inside pictures. The only place we could develop our pictures was in a dark room in our company. All the supplies were by the Army Special Services Dept.

   Barracks and the U. S. Marine Cemetery on Iwo Jima. Photo by Gareth W. Rossen, 1946.

 

1st. Lt. Max H. Booth, Ordinance 199th Depot & 3605th HAM Shop. Photo by Gareth W. Rossen, 1946.

 

Mt. Suribachi Flag Raising Monument. Photo by Gareth W. Rossen, 1946.

 

 

   All the marine cemeteries were very kept up by the Quartermaster Co.

   I have a lot more details on these if needed. Thanks.

 

   .....Gareth W. Rosson

                                    

 

Note: To view images taken by the web master of World War II Stories -- In Their Own Words during his year on Iwo Jima, please click on the following link to my World War II Stories Photo Album:

WW II Stories: Iwo Jima Photo Album 1965-1966

 

 

Did YOU serve on Iwo Jima?

Did you know that there is a group of veterans who have gotten together to form an association of servicemen, no matter what branch of service, who served at one time or another starting at the invasion of the island on February 19, 1945 and continuing until the island was eventually returned to the Japanese in 1969?

Black Pearl Veterans

 

 

The materials depicted on this page were reprinted with kind permission of the subject of our essay -- Gareth W. Rosson.

We, at the World War II Stories - In Their Own Words web site wish to offer to Mr. Gareth W. Rosson our most profound THANK YOU for his poignant story of his personal experiences -- during his tour of Iwo Jima and especially for allowing us to share those memories.

 


Original story transcribed on 6 March 2007


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