IWO JIMA maps from my Dad

[imarangemaster]

I mentioned that my Dad was with Army HQ that went ashore on Iwo Jima before the Army landed and took over from the Marines. He passed on to me a pre-invasion planning map, his copy, #93, of which was made in Dec 1944 (see bottom corner of second picture). I believe he said that the original was made much before that (1943 comes to mind, but I am not sure.

The second map is his post invasion minefield map from March, 1945, he was issued as he had to travel the island for Army HQ signal Corps.

They are as high of a resolution as I dare go so you can blow them up and read them. I tweaked the color as best I could.

Information

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[imarangemaster]

If you would like a JPEG for personal (non-commercial) purposes, I would be happy to share and email you one.

[painter777]

Hey RM,
Great timing.....
I just happen to run across this Ebay seller's maps yesterday.
Look at the price tag on this USMC Iwo map, along with others.

eBay Seller: jomchi2: Collectibles items on eBay.com

Cheers,
Charlie-painter777

P.S. I'll bet even copies might carry some value to your maps.
Thanks for sharing them.

[imarangemaster]

That's cool. I am actually surprised they are selling that cheap. I was offered a princely sum a long time ago by a serious WW2 collector in Washington state. He especially liked the minefield map! I am glad I resisted selling, since the money would be long gone now, but the family history is still here. Some things are priceless!

As I side note, I may have mentioned that I have sent off to the national archives in St. Louis, MO for my dad's entire service record.

[Brasidas]

Nice posting! Thanks for sharing.

Good luck obtaining your Dad's service records from St Louis. My Dad's records were destroyed in the great fire they had in 1967.

[imarangemaster]

Nice posting! Thanks for sharing.

Good luck obtaining your Dad's service records from St Louis. My Dad's records were destroyed in the great fire they had in 1967.

I heard about that. We sent for my wife's father's records at the same time as my Dad's, and received a letter shortly after the request saying her Dad's were destroyed in that fire. That was a month ago, but I did not get a similar letter, so I am hoping!

[painter777]

RM,
I've found lots of help from researchers on this forum,
U.S. Militaria Forum
While tracing my Father's Units history.

Charlie

[Brasidas]

I REALLY hope they still exist. It will make your research so much easier and you can get an accurate picture of your Dad's experience.

I've had to go the long route, searching my Dad's Division history. But I do have the advantage of having him still alive and with a memory fully intact.

Do you have anything else besides the maps?..

[imarangemaster]

I have a bottle of Iwo Jima black sand, his original helmet liner that I wore out playing "Combat" as a kid, an oxygen tank out of a B29 that crashed on IWO, a broken Japanese issue brown bakelite rice bowl (that was intact before some movers packed it), his field jacket (paint spattered as he used it as a work coat after the war), His class A jacket and ribbons, his overcoat, a book "How the Jap Army Fights" he was issued on the way to Iwo, two iron "signal corps belt rings" (one came off his original belt that I wore out along with the helmet as a kid, small brass Japanese artillery fuse can, deactivated 20 mm Orlikon round (was cigarette lighter also), misc. small pieces of misc kit, gas mask bag, msic papers, etc. I also have a 30 cal machine gun ammo can he used to haul his jewelry making stuff around. He would make bracelets out of the aluminum skins of crashed airplanes (US and Japanese). There was more, but that disappeared after I left home at 20. This stuff he mostly gave me before I left, because he knew I was interested.

[Brasidas]

Fantastic! What a great collection and a terrific part of your family history!

Foolishly, I played with my Dad's stuff as a kid and lost/broke most of it. That includes decorations and medals, his service wristwatch with canvas band and hack stop, and a German dagger he took from an Kriegsmarine admiral he took prisoner in Cherbourg.

Still have the field pack he brought home. I managed not to destroy that because it was lost for about 20 years.