119-sres53

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 53 Agreed to Senate

    (ATS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
S. RES. 53

 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 SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 February 4, 2025

 Mr. Young (for himself, Mr. Warner, Mr. Blumenthal, Mr. Sullivan, Mr. 
 Coons, Mr. Boozman, Ms. Cortez Masto, Mr. Cramer, Mr. Gallego, Mr. 
 Cruz, Mr. Kaine, Ms. Ernst, Mr. King, Mr. Scott of Florida, Ms. 
Klobuchar, Mr. Tillis, Ms. Rosen, Mr. Reed, Mr. Van Hollen, Mr. Banks, 
 Ms. Warren, Mr. Schmitt, Mrs. Fischer, Mr. Cotton, Ms. Duckworth, Mr. 
 Justice, Mr. Rounds, Mr. Schiff, Mr. Hoeven, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. 
Daines, Mr. Budd, Mr. Moran, Mr. Wicker, Mr. Ricketts, Mr. Kelly, Mrs. 
 Capito, Mrs. Shaheen, and Mrs. Blackburn) submitted the following 
 resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

 February 19, 2025

 Committee discharged; considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

 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 through the use of 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 progressively extend the sea control of the United 
States Navy westward across the Pacific Ocean towards Japan;

    (2) in order to launch aerial bombardment attacks against the mainland 
of Japan using the new Boeing B-29 Superfortress; and

    (3) 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 island of volcanic 
 rock and sand with 3 strategic airfields, located between the Mariana 
 Islands and Japan;
Whereas Iwo Jima was--

    (1) a strategic island with airfields to support the 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, 3rd Marine Division Major 
 General Graves B. Erskine, 4th Marine Division Major General Clifton B. 
 Cates, and 5th Marine Division Major General Keller E. Rockey, the 
 United States launched an amphibious landing and assault on Iwo Jima 
 (referred to in this preamble as the ``Battle of Iwo Jima'') that 
 culminated with the engagement of more than 70,000 members of the United 
 States Marine Corps, supported by thousands of members of the United 
 States Navy, the United States Coast Guard, and the United States Army 
 serving as assault, garrison, and support forces;
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 entrenched, 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;

    (3) has been memorialized as the United States Marine Corps War 
Memorial in Arlington, Virginia;

    (4) immortalized the fighting spirit of the United States Marine Corps 
and the heroism of the 6 Marine flag raisers portrayed; and

    (5) has continued to inspire the people of the United States to fight 
in support of our Nation's interests and in support of our allies, even 
against formidable odds;

Whereas Secretary of the Navy, Hon. James Forrestal, who was observing the 
 battle from the sea aboard a landing craft, remarked to Lieutenant 
 General Holland M. Smith that, ``the raising of that flag on Suribachi 
 means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years.'';
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 
 for the United States, more than 6,800 of whom were killed;
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 \1/4\ 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 
 2,251 B-29 Bombers, saving the lives of an estimated 24,761 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 on the island of Iwo Jima, in Washington, DC, and 
 internationally, organized by the people of the United States and Japan: 
 Now, therefore, be it
 Resolved, That the Senate--

    (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 tenaciously defended the 
 island;

    (4) remembers and venerates the service members who gave 
 their last full measure of devotion on the battlefield;

    (5) recognizes the Allied victory at 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 stated that ``uncommon valor was a common virtue'' among 
 the service members of the United States who fought on Iwo 
 Jima;

    (7) reaffirms the bonds of friendship and shared values 
 between the United States and Japan, whose strong and resilient 
 alliance demonstrates the power of reconciliation between 
 former adversaries;

    (8) encourages the people of the United States to honor the 
 veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima with appropriate programs, 
 ceremonies, and activities;

    (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; and

    (10) salutes the 250th year since the founding of the 
 United States Marine Corps and the United States Navy.
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