In a ceremony on Iwo Jima, now renamed Iwoto, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, emphasized the solid friendship and trust between America and Japan. This visit to Japan marks the second destination on his inaugural tour of Asia, following his earlier visit to the Philippines. Hegseth’s trip occurs amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea due to China’s assertive stance and as former President Donald Trump threatened to implement trade tariffs on Japan, a crucial ally of the United States.
Hegseth participated in a memorial honoring the soldiers who fought and died during the fierce World War II battle of Iwo Jima. Accompanied by Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and other officials, the memorial event commemorated the historical battle and the enduring alliance between the two nations. Present at the ceremony were American veterans who survived the battle alongside grieving Japanese families.
Highlighting the event, Hegseth stated, “Iwo Jima embodies our shared warrior ethos, our shared devotion to the nation, and to duty and our shared reverence for the men of valor who preceded us.” He further pointed out that the U.S.-Japan alliance exemplifies how former adversaries have transformed into steadfast allies, serving as a cornerstone for freedom, prosperity, security, and peace within the Indo-Pacific region.
Though the number of soldiers from the battle is dwindling, their memory endures. Appreciating the six veterans present, each nearing 100 years of age, Hegseth recognized their monumental sacrifices. The veterans, assisted by service members, approached the epitaph to honor their fallen comrades. Charles Cram, a Navy corpsman recognized for his valor and wounded during the battle, expressed his emotional reflections on the futility of war during this first return to Iwo Jima.
In a gesture of reconciliation, Cram handed over a flag taken from a Japanese soldier with the hope that it would be returned to the soldier’s family. This act symbolized the healing process between once-conflicting nations. Recent surveys reveal that many Japanese harbor strong ties with the U.S. The current American and Japanese populations include those born post-August 1945, when Japan surrendered.
Facing increasing threats from China, North Korea, and Russia, Japan is rapidly strengthening its military capabilities and cooperating closely with the U.S. military. Scheduled talks between Hegseth and Nakatani in Tokyo will aim to further bolster this longstanding alliance.
Prime Minister Ishiba, the first serving Japanese leader to attend the joint Iwo Jima memorial, commented, “We must not forget that the peace and prosperity we enjoy today have been built upon the noble sacrifices of those who died in the war and the tireless efforts of the people over the past 80 years since the end of the war.”
The 1945 Battle of Iwo Jima is remembered for the iconic photograph by Joe Rosenthal, which depicted six Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi, 80 years ago. The battle was a pivotal strategic confrontation involving approximately 70,000 American troops and lasting from February 19 to March 26, 1945, aimed at gaining a foothold for a further invasion of mainland Japan. The campaign resulted in nearly 7,000 American and about 20,000 Japanese fatalities, with remains of many Japanese soldiers yet to be accounted for.