Photos: Iwo Jima survivors come together to celebrate the 74th anniversary
On Tuesday morning, The Iwo Jima Survivors of New York’s Capital Region, who gather once a month for breakfast at the Homefront café in Altamont, had a special get-together to mark the anniversary of the start of the 36-day battle, which had over 26,000 American casualties, including nearly 7,000 killed in action on the eight-square-mile volcanic island.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Sharing stories: Gene Gierka, who served with the 9th Air Corps Army Air Force, left, reminisces with Thomas Lemme, who is wearing his Purple Heart. Gierka served in the European Theater during World War II and Lemme fought on Iwo Jima with the 4th Marine Division.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
American flags abound at Altamont’s Home Front Café on Tuesday, Feb. 19, the 74th anniversary of the beginning of the battle of Iwo Jima. The Iwo Jima Survivors of New York’s Capital Region, who gather once a month for breakfast at the café, had a special get-together to mark the anniversary of the start of the 36-day battle, which had over 26,000 American casualties, including nearly 7,000 killed in action on the eight-square-mile volcanic island.
The Enterprise — Michael Koff
Informing the next generation: Dr. Tom Smith, an Iwo Jima survivor who fought with the 4th Marine Division, left, tells two Guilderland High School students, Matthew Conforti, center, and William Smith V, about his experiences.