Iwo Jima and the Post-War Occupation of Japan
WWII Veteran John Robinson Shares His Story With SPI, Grades 7-12
After a near lifetime of “trying to forget,” 98-year-old WWII Marine Corps veteran John Robinson agreed to share with SPI his personal remembrances of the Battle of Iwo Jima and his presence in Japan during the US post-war occupation.
Mr. Robinson relates: Initially, Iwo Jima had been bombed and strafed and burned for a month ahead of the invasion. It was assumed there was no enemy remaining there. What the US didn’t take into account was that on a volcanic island there are underground “tunnels.” In the case of Iwo Jima, these tunnels housed somewhere in upwards of 20,000 Japanese troops. When US troops landed, the 20,000 came out and attacked.
What was supposed to be a simple operation turned out to be a more than month-long “catastrophe” for the US before successfully taking the island. “Every time I took a breath, someone was killed.”
John Robinson and the Sound Ranging unit. Used with permission. Courtesy of John Robinson.
During his time of military service Mr. Robinson headed a Sound Ranging group that worked to identify the location of hidden enemy artillery. He was 20 years old at the time.
When talking about his experience in post-war Japan, he relates a remarkable story about a young Japanese man that he met, Hiashi Wasaki (sp). Hiashi spoke English and was eager to learn about America. These two men, who weeks before were mortal enemies, struck up a friendship. As John prepared to return to the States, Hiashi shared with him his wish to visit America. The two never saw each other again. Their relationship gives one pause.
In addition to recording first-person narratives, SPI develops related lesson plans and project prompts to deepen students’ learning. For this recording, SPI will ask students to listen to Mr. Robinson’s story, along with those of other veterans from different branches of the military and from different wars to find the parallels that exist for all soldiers regardless of the war or conflict. In addition to learning about history, the stories are a lesson in humanity.
The recording and related project prompts will be uploaded to the SPI Learning Lab this summer prior to the start of the school year. In the meantime, however, Mr. Robinson’s story has been uploaded to Soundcloud where it can be listened to in its entirety. To listen, click here.
About the impact of SPI material as related by a High School History Teacher:
“History is best taught and learned by the telling of stories. By listening to the stories of people who lived through the historical events and eras we study in class, students have felt a direct relationship to those events in a way that is otherwise difficult to achieve. Personal stories being told by the people who lived them is the “hook” that history teachers are so often looking for. I am so pleased to be able to use these accounts in my American History class. ”
Story Preservation Initiative makes its work available to all, free of charge. We are a small non-profit dedicated to inspiring young people by sharing first-person stories told by extraordinary people in the arts, sciences, and humanities, as well as eye-witnesses to - and participants in - major historic events.
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SPI expresses its sincere thanks to a private donor who, through kindness and generosity, made this recording possible.
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