119-hres142

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 142 Introduced in House

    (IH) ]

<DOC>

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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