The Last Lieutenant: A Foxhole View of the Epic Battle for Iwo Jima

Acknowledgments

Acknowledgments This book could not have been written without the help of many people who at one time or another provided encouragement, research assistance, and editorial advice. I am grateful to my uncle, James R. Craig, who agreed to tell me his story so that I could write it. He put up with my awkward rst attempt at interviewing as I stumbled through the early stages of our discussions about his involvement in the war generally and the battle of Iwo Jima specically. My special thanks to Jim’s wife, Pat, who graciously tolerated my intrusions into their home on Saturday mornings and provided delicious lunches. The staff of the Marine Corps University archives department at Quantico , Virginia, provided invaluable assistance on two occasions. Pat Mullen helped me, via e-mail, with my rst experience in an archive. Belinda Kelly photocopied oversized maps and other documents for me. Mike Miller was very helpful when I returned to scan ofcial combat photographs. The staff at the National Archives on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park provided archival material, including death records of the Marines of the 4th Division killed on Iwo Jima. Ruth Dixson of Bloomington, Indiana, provided photographs of Iwo Jima taken by her late husband when he was on Iwo Jima in 1945 with the U.S. Army. I am indebted to two great Marines for their contribution: Lt. Col. Brian Joseph, a good friend since our high school days together, and Col. Scott Reske, a fellow triathlete and a friend of Jim’s family from Pendleton, Indiana. Both critiqued the manuscript and corrected its many errors, both military and otherwise. They made sure I got the Marine stuff right. A good friend, Jack Kerins of Terre Haute, Indiana, and a 3rd Marine DivisionveteranoffourPaciccampaignsincludingGuadalcanalandBougainville in the Solomon Islands, Guam, and Iwo Jima, read the manuscript and provided editorial advice and encouragement. Captain Thomas Fisher of the United States Marine Corps, Purdue Navy ROTC, provided me with information about platoon leader responsibilities . Two people whose opinions I value read the manuscript and offered encouragement .MyroommateintheMarianas,VirgilAnderson,aWorldWar II Marine veteran, and Bob Sanders, who ew missions over Germany as a World War II B-17 bomber pilot, both read an early version and provided much appreciated encouragement. xii | Acknowledgments As they have for all of the manuscripts that I have written, my parents, John and Virginia Shively, read this one and pointed out my many spelling and grammatical errors. My sister-in-law, Misty Shively, pointed out more errors. A special thanks to my editor at Indiana University Press, Bob Sloan, and his assistant, Jane Quinet, who were very patient as they guided me through the publication process. Lastly, I would like to thank all the Marines I met along the way—those at Quantico, those on maneuvers on the island of Tinian in the Northern Marianas, those from Okinawa I met on Iwo Jima, the Iwo Jima veterans I met during my trip to the Marianas and Iwo Jima, and all the ex-Marines and those in the Marine Corps Reserve I have met in my ofce practice over the years. You guys are the greatest. I sleep more soundly and know that America is safe with you at the ready to answer the call. Semper Fi. ...