Rolland Turcotte's
OPERATION MARDIVLEX 1-54
Picture Gallery
USS SKAGIT
IWO JIMA, JAPAN
March, 1954
MARDIVLEX 1-54 was a 7th Fleet exercise that included the 3rd Marine Division, Task Force 90, Cruiser Div. 1, Trans. Div 13, and Carrier Div 5,
The forces included 60,000 military, 100 ships, and 200 aircraft.
On 19 March, 1954 a rehearsal landing was made on Ha Ha Shima.
The landing on Iwo Jima was made after the Navy simulated a naval bombardment of the island, along with Navy and Marine aircraft.
The landing was on the southwest beach by Mount Suribachi, just across a narrow strip of beach from where the WWII landing took place.
After the exercise was completed, some 16,000 Marines participated in a memorial service at the foot of Mount Suribachi.
HA HA SHIMA LANDING |
