IWO JIMA — No World War II battle represents the fighting spirit of the US Marine Corps more dramatically than Iwo Jima. In terms of its combat brutality and staggering casualties, it was the worst battle in the history of the Corps. Allied military planners anticipated an “easy time” conquering the enemy, predicting victory in a three-day battle. The reality was a gruesome slog of 36 days from Feb. 19 to March 26, 1945 that historians have described as “throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete.” Pacific Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said that among America’s fighters at Iwo Jima “uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

March 3 is the 79th anniversary of the ultimate sacrifice by Lewistown’s Private First-Class Louis E. Brown at Iwo Jima. The non-profit Stories Behind the Stars (www.storiesbehindthestars.org) has written memorials to honor Brown and each of the Pennsylvania Marines who sacrificed their lives during that savage battle.

Louis Edmund Brown was born in Mill Hall, Clinton County, on Dec. 6, 1919. His family relocated to Lewistown by 1935.

Brown registered for the draft on July 1, 1941. He enlisted in the Marines on Nov. 6, 1943. He was assigned to the 27th Replacement Draft, Service Troops, 5th Marine Division and was deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations from San Diego a year later.

Brown arrived at Camp Tarawa, Hawaii in December 1944, reported to the 5th Shore Party Regiment, and began training for the Iwo Jima invasion. His unit helped load Navy ships of the three transport divisions as they arrived at Hilo, Hawaii. On Jan. 22, 1945, Brown’s regiment set sail from Pearl Harbor aboard the flotilla of LSTs and LSMs. After stops at Eniwetok and Saipan, a final rehearsal of the amphibious assault landing was held on the west coast of Tinian. Brown’s 5th Marine Division left for Iwo Jima on Feb. 16.

On Feb. 19, 1945, the Marines’ 3rd, 4th, and 5th Divisions led the assault of Iwo Jima with key support from the Army and Navy. The island’s determined Japanese defenders had the most ingenious and deadly fortress in military history. Their miles of interlocking subterranean hideouts, concrete bunkhouses and pillboxes proved to be among the most impenetrable defenses encountered by the Marines. The extremely rough terrain presented as much of an obstacle as the enemy did.

The 5th Marine Division’s mission was to cut off Mount Suribachi from the rest of the island and to pivot north, advancing along the western half of the island. On Feb. 22, under heavy rain and heavy enemy fire, the Marines attacked the north to secure the airfield. Casualties across the entire landing force during the first 58 hours ashore exceeded 5,300. By comparison, the Battle of Tarawa’s casualties for 72 hours were just over 3,000.

On March 2, 1945, the 5th Marine Division was embroiled in the battle for Hill 362, known as the “Meatgrinder.” The Marines engaged the enemy during the afternoon in savage hand-to-hand combat and advanced through extremely heavy fire as far as the island’s northern plateau, where the troops dug in for the night. During the night, Japanese soldiers infiltrated American lines near Hill 362, and 97 of the enemy were killed. The 5th Marine Division’s losses through the following day reached 5,511. The Japanese dead totaled 4,790 in the 5th Division’s zone.

Brown was killed in action on March 3, 1945 during a combat mission at Iwo Jima.

The ultimately victorious 36-day assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. Iwo Jima was the only US Marine battle where American casualties exceeded those of the Japanese. Enemy combat deaths, however, numbered three times as many as American deaths.

Brown’s remains were recovered and were repatriated to the United States for burial at Lind Memorial Cemetery at Lewistown. Brown posthumously received the Purple Heart.

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Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smartphone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring all 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania. To volunteer or for more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthstars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.