Our sole source of supply is rainwater. I have a cup of water to wash my face–actually, my eyes only, then Lieutenant Fujita [his aide] uses the water. After he is through with it, I keep it for toilet purposes. The soldiers, in general, don't even have that much. Every day, after I've inspected defense positions, I dream in vain of drinking a cup of cool water. There are a lot of flies. Also many cockroaches crawl all over us. They are very dirty. Fortunately, there are no snakes or poisonous reptiles.

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Security regulations prohibited Tom from telling Milly about his location or ultimate assignment, but when her husband's daily letters abruptly stopped arriving in January 1945 she knew her worst fears had been realized–he was headed for combat. Writing from a troop ship on course for Iwo Jima, Tom Kennedy, now a member of the 4th Marine Division, expressed his thoughts to his family. Milly didn't receive this letter until after the battle.

Hello my Sweethearts,

Well all I can say is that since I've been in the Marine Corps I've written letters in every position imaginable, sitting, standing, kneeling and lying down. Right now I'm sitting on the top sack in our compartment. I doubt if you know what the sleeping facilities are like, but there are rows of bunks and I'm on the top bunk, close to the ceiling.

It's interesting to see the reactions of the fellows as we move closer to our target. They try to keep busy and find things to do so that the hours will pass by faster. Some play cards, checkers, shoot dice, read, write, talk in gab sessions and play games. Anything to keep the mind occupied. I usually read or gab with some of the fellows. Mostly we discuss the forthcoming operation, our chances of beating the Japs in a short time, counterattacks.

I promise to write every day right up until the last minute, my Darling. I know you won't be getting these letters for a while, but I won't miss a day.

As an anxious Tom Kennedy neared Iwo Jima, General Kuribayashi learned of recent devastating defeats suffered by the Japanese Navy during the aerial battles over the Philippine Sea. The general realized he would get no support from naval forces, and that the men and weapons already on the island would provide its only defense once the Americans arrived.

In a letter to his wife, Kuribayashi voiced his concerns.

The enemy may land on this island soon. Once they do, we must follow the fate of those on Attu and Saipan. Our officers and men know about "Death" very well. I am sorry to end my life here, fighting the United States of America, but I want to defend this island as long as possible and to delay the enemy air raids on Tokyo. Ah! You have worked well for a long time as my wife and the mother of my three children. Your life will become harder and more precarious. Watch out for your health and live long. The future of our children will not be easy either. Please take care of them after my death.

In earlier correspondence, Kuribayashi had chided his children for poor spelling and penmanship. Now his letters reflected a more fatalistic tone as he prepared his family for the inevitable. To Yoko, his eldest daughter, and Taro, his only son, he described their dismal future.

The enemy landing on my island is merely a question of time. If the defense of this island fails, then Tokyo will be raided day and night. It is beyond words to describe the chaos, terror, heavy damage and confusion of an air raid. Those who live idly in Tokyo can't even imagine what it's like. Therefore, in case of a raid, the most important thing is to keep the family together. Anyone cut off from the family can die on the roadside. This actually happened in the great Kanto earthquake of 1923. You must work for your family with your mother as the central figure.

Regardless of school regulations, you must protect your home first. You don't have to obey the regulations scrupulously because the situation will be too serious to worry about the safety of a schoolhouse. Suppose you tried to go to your school to save it and your own home was destroyed and your mother killed? What would you do then? You must share the fate of your mother.

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