[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 142 Introduced in House (IH)]
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119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 142
Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the
Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the
flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 18, 2025
Mr. Calvert (for himself, Mr. Carbajal, and Mr. Issa) submitted the
following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Armed
Services, and in addition to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for a
period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for
consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the
committee concerned
_______________________________________________________________________
RESOLUTION
Recognizing the 80th anniversary of the amphibious landing on the
Japanese island of Iwo Jima during World War II and the raisings of the
flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi.
Whereas, following the surprise attack by Japanese forces on December 7, 1941,
at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, the United States formally declared war on the
Imperial Government of Japan on December 8, 1941;
Whereas, during the 4 years that followed the attack, the United States and
allied forces fought a prolonged counterattack against Japanese advances
across the Pacific region;
Whereas the tactic of attacking, defeating, and controlling Japanese-held
outposts using amphibious assault landings against Japanese-held islands
and territories (referred to in this preamble as ``island hopping'')
became crucial to successfully countering Japanese advances throughout
the Pacific region;
Whereas the goal of island hopping was to secure airfields and supply bases--
(1) in order to launch aerial bombardment attacks against the mainland
of Japan using the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress; and
(2) in preparation for, and in anticipation of, a United States
invasion of Japan;
Whereas, by early 1945, the United States and allied forces bravely fought and
advanced to the island of Iwo Jima, an 8-square-mile volcanic island
with 3 strategic airfields, located between the Mariana Islands and
Japan;
Whereas Iwo Jima was--
(1) a strategic island with airfields to support bombers of the United
States with fighter escorts; and
(2) an essential base for emergency, refueling, and diversionary
landings for B-29 bombers;
Whereas, under the command of Japanese Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi,
Iwo Jima was a heavily fortified island with nearly 11 miles of
underground and networked tunnels, rooms, bunkers, artillery
emplacements, ammunition dumps, and pillboxes supporting more than
21,000 Japanese soldiers;
Whereas, on February 19, 1945, under the leadership of United States Navy 5th
Fleet Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, United States Marine Corps V
Amphibious Corps Major General Harry Schmidt, 3d Division Major General
Graves B. Erskine, 4th Division Major General Clifton Cates, and 5th
Division Major General Keller E. Rockey, the United States launched an
amphibious landing and assault on Iwo Jima that culminated with the
engagement of more than 70,000 members of the United States Marine
Corps, buttressed by thousands of members of the United States Navy and
the United States Army serving as assault, garrison, and support forces
(referred to in this preamble as the ``Battle of Iwo Jima'');
Whereas the members of the United States Marine Corps who fought in the Battle
of Iwo Jima overcame numerous disadvantages in the 36-day battle that
included treacherous terrain, unfavorable weather conditions, and heavy
enemy fire from an embedded, determined, and fierce Japanese fighting
force in places immortalized by members of the United States Marine
Corps, including the ``Meat Grinder'' and ``Bloody Gorge'';
Whereas, on February 23, 1945, only 5 days into the Battle of Iwo Jima, members
of the United States Marine Corps ascended the highest point on the
island, Mount Suribachi, and raised the flag of the United States 2
times, the second of which resulted in the iconic, Pulitzer Prize-
winning image that--
(1) was captured on film by photographer Joe Rosenthal;
(2) has become a recognized symbol of determination, perseverance, and
struggle; and
(3) has been memorialized as the United States Marine Corps War
Memorial in Arlington, Virginia;
Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles in the history of
the United States Marine Corps, resulted in more than 26,000 casualties
of the United States, more than 6,800 of whom were killed;
Whereas most of the more than 20,000 estimated Japanese soldiers who fought in
the Battle of Iwo Jima were killed, with only 1,083 Japanese soldiers
surviving at the conclusion of the campaign;
Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima led to 22 members of the United States Marine
Corps and 5 members of the United States Navy receiving the Medal of
Honor, representing--
(1) the most members of the United States Marine Corps ever to receive
the highest military decoration in the United States for a single battle;
and
(2) more than one-fourth of all members of the United States Marine
Corps to receive the decoration during World War II;
Whereas the secured airfields on Iwo Jima became emergency landing locations for
2,400 B-29 Bombers, saving the lives of an estimated 24,000 flight
crewmen;
Whereas 160 days after the end and victory of the pivotal Battle of Iwo Jima,
the United States received the unconditional surrender of Japan on
September 2, 1945;
Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the members of the United States
Marine Corps who selflessly led the fight for the strategic island of
Iwo Jima in the middle of the Pacific theater; and
Whereas the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima will be marked by
commemorative events throughout 2025 in Washington, DC, on the island of
Iwo Jima, and internationally, organized by the people of the United
States and Japan: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
(1) recognizes the 80th anniversary of the amphibious
landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima that began on
February 19, 1945, and ended on March 26, 1945;
(2) commemorates the iconic and historic raisings of the
flag of the United States on Mount Suribachi that occurred on
February 23, 1945;
(3) honors the marines, sailors, soldiers, army air crew,
and coast guardsmen who fought bravely on Iwo Jima, including
the thousands of Japanese soldiers who defended the island;
(4) remembers and venerates the servicemembers who gave
their last full measure of devotion on the battlefield;
(5) recognizes the Allied victory in the Battle of Iwo
Jima, which--
(A) was led by the United States Marine Corps; and
(B) made the defeat of the Empire of Japan in World
War II possible;
(6) affirms the immortal words of Admiral Chester Nimitz,
who state that ``uncommon valor was a common virtue'' among the
servicemembers of the United States who fought on Iwo Jima;
(7) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between the United
States and Japan;
(8) encourages the people of the United States to honor the
veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima with appropriate programs,
ceremonies and activities; and
(9) honors the service and sacrifice of the men and women
who serve the United States today carrying on the proud
tradition of the individuals who came before them.
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