If you should ever make it as a non-rev to the IWO JIMA, BONIN ISLANDS in
the Pacific, I would render you a most honorable salute, because, you would
have set foot in one of the tiniest and rarest places on earth that anyone
would ever want to fly to, but frankly, I doubt you would ever find the
place, plus, you would need special permission from the Japanese government
to enter the island of IWO JIMA. The ends just wouldn't justify the means
unless you were some former Marine and WWII history buff of the Pacific
theatre.
I was fortunate enough to attend the 50th anniversary of that battle in
March of 1995. Our ship was requested by the Marine Corps high command to
attend as a backdrop for returning veterans of that battle. We sailed for two days from the island of our homeport in GUAM. We provided, the backdrop, then we took our search and rescue boat and headed for the SANDS
OF IWO JIMA. While on shore, I took alot of pictures of Iwo, and me with
Mount Suribachi in the background, where the famous flag raisers gained
their fames. Particularily Irah Hayes, the American Pima Indian from
Arizona. I have been to many parts of this world, but attending Iwo Jima's
50th anniversary was an unexpected mind blower for me, and one I will never
forget.
If you should ever make it there, you have pushed your non-rev status to a level beyond any non-rev I know.
