Herb L. Hammond |
Herb L. Hammond [detail from video] | World War II, 1939-1946
Marine Corps
3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 5th Marine Division
Quantico, Virginia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Tarawa, Hawaii; Iwo Jima; Pacific Theater
Captain
Portland, OR
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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.
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