"Uncommon valor was a common virtue"

Seventy-seven years ago today, six Marines raised the second and largest American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima.  Three of the Marines who raised the flag were killed in action later in the battle.  The first flag that was raised was felt to be too small to be seen by the Marines fighting below, so a second flag was raised later that morning.  A combat motion picture cameraman, Sergeant Bill Ganaust recorded the events in color, while Associated Press combat photographer Joe Rosenthal took the iconic photograph that inspired the Marine Corps War Memorial (the original photograph, as well as a photograph of the Memorial is shown below):

The Battle of Iwo Jima began with an amphibious landing on February 19, 1945 and would last until March 16, 1945.  By the time it was over, it would be one of the bloodiest battles in all of World War II.  Victory was achieved at great cost, with more than 6,800 U.S. Marines and Sailors losing their lives and another 19,200 being wounded (the Japanese death toll was far greater, approaching 18,500 lives lost).  Twenty-seven Americans were awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor, the U.S. military's highest honor, more than for any other battle in our country's history.  In a famous quote from March 1945, Fleet Admiral Chester A. Nimitz said, "Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue."

Iwo Jima proved to be of limited strategic value to the U.S. war effort, as either a forward staging base or Navy base, although some of the rebuilt airstrips were used for emergency landings of U.S. bombers later in the war.  Given the staggering numbers of lives lost, military historians have asked whether the battle was worth it.  Many expert have argued that it was not worth its cost, citing the island's limited strategic value and use later in the war.

My first and most important point is that today, we honor those brave Marines who gave their “last full measure of devotion” in the service of their country.  We also honor those Marines who fought bravely and lived valiantly as part of that “greatest generation” of Americans.  “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”  

My second point focuses on the responsibility of leaders to consider the costs of achieving an objective.  Fortunately, few leaders will ever have to make the kinds of life-or-death decisions that our nation's military and governmental leaders had to make during World War II.  However, even today's leaders, regardless of the industry, has to consider if the potential benefits of a major initiative outweigh the potential costs.  I think that the Battle of Iwo Jima is a really great example of this concept.

My last point is more personal.  If you've never visited the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Washington, D.C., I would urge you to do so.  It is inspiring and humbling at the same time.  You won't be disappointed.  It is a beautiful memorial to "The Marine Dead Of All Wars, And Their Comrades Of Other Services Who Fell Fighting Beside Them."  Semper Fidelis.