Personal Narrative Film, Video Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Herb L. Hammond Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 5th Marine Division
- Location of Service: Quantico, Virginia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Tarawa, Hawaii; Iwo Jima; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/21279
Herb Hammond was part of a Marine engineers battalion that landed on the side of Iwo Jima's Mt. Surabachi opposite from most of the American forces that invaded the island in February 1945. Night time, he recalled, with the uncertainty of enemy intentions, was worse than daylight. Taking the mountain was only the beginning of the battle; the advance across the island uncovered an immense fortress unknown to U.S. intelligence, and thousands of Japanese soldiers who harassed the rear lines almost as much as the front.
Interview / Recording
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PlayThe code of the Japanese: never surrender; difficulty of getting living prisoners of war; he saw only 6 POWs on Iwo Jima; strict hierarchy within the Japanese ranks 00:33:35.0 - 00:39:43.3
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PlayLanding on the island near the base of Mt. Surabachi; dealing with uncertainty of attack at night. 00:39:39.8 - 00:49:39.4
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PlayDifficulties of landing on the beach; ability of the American soldier to improvise; casualties were bad taking the mountain but even worse going north 00:50:54.2 - 01:00:54.8
More Resources
Interview / Recording
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Play[Previous clip continues] limited ability of land fighting man to take in the field of battle; working their way methodically up the mountain; inability of Japanese units to function when they lost an officer 00:00:00.0 - 00:02:16.2
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PlayAdvancing slowly across the island; tunneling made safety in the rear lines unpredictable; evidence of intense small arms fire on the Japanese artillery guns 00:05:28.5 - 00:14:06.1
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PlayOut of the original fifty in his platoon, about half were left at the end of the invasion; most of the survivors had been wounded more than once; many wounded to some degree 00:16:07.1 - 00:16:47.4
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PlayFighting along the central ridge, where a huge fortress, unknown to U.S. intelligence, held off the advance; justifying the use of the atomic bomb in contemplating the casualties that would have resulted from an invasion 00:20:40.0 - 00:28:20.3
About this Item
Title
- Herb L. Hammond Collection
Names
- Collins, Denver
- Rhay, Gary D.
- Hammond, Herb L.
- Timeless Media Group
Home State
- Oregon
Headings
- - Hammond, Herb L.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Marine Corps.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
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World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Marine Corps
- Unit of Service: 3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 5th Marine Division
- Location of Service: Quantico, Virginia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Tarawa, Hawaii; Iwo Jima; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Captain
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Video: Digital Betacam [1 item] -- Digitized Copy (collected unknown)
- Video: VHS [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2004-09-08)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/21279
Cite as
- Herb L. Hammond Collection (AFC/2001/001/21279), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- image
- video
Additional Metadata Formats
Wars & Conflicts
Service Branch
Location of Service
- Camp Lejeune, North Carolina
- Camp Pendleton, California
- Camp Tarawa, Hawaii
- Iwo Jima
- Pacific Theater
- Quantico, Virginia