Recently we posted a picture of one of our directors, Peter Coz, grabbing a moment to study his flight manuals while resting against the Mi-24. Looking at this picture, I was reminded of a photo in my family albums, from 1945. In it, another marine is taking a moment to read his mail before shipping out to the Pacific.
This young marine landed on Iwo Jima in the fifth wave of marines and was severely wounded on the beach. He survived three days without medical attention because the medic who first saw him believed he was dead. The volcanic sand of Iwo Jima got into the severe wound on his jaw and caused the blood to coagulate and saved his life. When the graves registration people came to bury him, they discovered he was still alive. Eventually recovering and continuing with a military career, he retired from the U. S. Army as a Master Sergeant after two tours in Viet Nam. I am proud to say that Marine that landed on Iwo Jima, my uncle, still lives today in good health in North Carolina.
If photographs and blogs had been around in Roman times, I'm sure they would have shown Centurions in similar poses of recline. Marines and soldiers learn to grab a moments rest whenever and wherever it can be found.
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