Comments on: Letters From Readers - November 2007 - World War II http://www.historynet.com/letters-from-readers-november-2007-world-war-ii.htm?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=letters-from-readers-november-2007-world-war-ii From the World's Largest History Magazine Publisher Wed, 15 Feb 2012 02:15:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: David Johnson http://www.historynet.com/letters-from-readers-november-2007-world-war-ii.htm#comment-387647 David Johnson Wed, 08 Dec 2010 15:34:18 +0000 #comment-387647 Thanks to all the men who lived the horrors of Iwo Jima. This Country owes you a debt that can never be paid. Burt Rutan was with my uncle. Stan Shofner when he was killed on the beach. It is a comfort for his Family to finally find someone who knew him and was there as he passed from this world. If it truly matters send everyone’s pictures that it is suppose to be along with the picture in question and ask the FBI to match the faces. They have that ability, or let it be everyone’s picture for they are all heroes Thanks to all the men who lived the horrors of Iwo Jima. This Country owes you a debt that can never be paid. Burt Rutan was with my uncle. Stan Shofner when he was killed on the beach. It is a comfort for his Family to finally find someone who knew him and was there as he passed from this world. If it truly matters send everyone’s pictures that it is suppose to be along with the picture in question and ask the FBI to match the faces. They have that ability, or let it be everyone’s picture for they are all heroes

]]> By: Steve Coffey http://www.historynet.com/letters-from-readers-november-2007-world-war-ii.htm#comment-80577 Steve Coffey Wed, 24 Jun 2009 17:01:22 +0000 #comment-80577 “I’m Alive and Well, Thank You” (May 2007) I have been searching the internet for false claims to this photo for a few weeks now, only because I believe it is my duty. I, also, am not trying to disprove anyone that claims to be the injured marine in the photo, but I must inform everyone that it is in fact my grandfather, Robert O'Neil. Please inform the webmaster to change the names as it would only be right. proof : http://saipanandiwojima.com/Heroism_Remembered.html “I’m Alive and Well, Thank You” (May 2007)

I have been searching the internet for false claims to this photo for a few weeks now, only because I believe it is my duty. I, also, am not trying to disprove anyone that claims to be the injured marine in the photo, but I must inform everyone that it is in fact my grandfather, Robert O'Neil. Please inform the webmaster to change the names as it would only be right.

proof : http://saipanandiwojima.com/Heroism_Remembered.html

]]> By: Jon Madden http://www.historynet.com/letters-from-readers-november-2007-world-war-ii.htm#comment-33786 Jon Madden Fri, 13 Feb 2009 08:46:22 +0000 #comment-33786 In reference to “I’m Alive and Well, Thank You” (May 2007) in which you claim Bert Rutan as the wounded Marine in the photo and the subsequent claim of another family that they believe the Marine is actually George Smyth. I think I have some proof that neither man is indeed the wounded Marine. I have a copy of the photo in question given to me by my aunt. It is actually a photo of my grandfather, Martin Smith, being assisted by Frank Ward on 2/19/1945. My grandfather was shot in the jaw by sniper fire. Mr Ward saw the photo days later, got a copy, and mailed it to my grandfather while he was recuperating in the hospital in Hawaii. The top left of the photo has this hand written message: To: Smitty From: Frank Ward CoB 1st Bn 28 Marines 5th Marine Divsion Iwo Jima 2/19/45 I first discovered the acknowledgement on James Bradley's website under the Epilogue section that refers to Bert Rutan as being the wounded solider being assisted by Arthur Reynolds. I sent Mr. Bradley scans of the photo with the inscription. My emails were ignored. It wasn't until I researched the two names of Rutan and Reynolds together that I discovered this link. It is not my intention to try and discredit or disrespect any person involved in the above claims. My grandfather, much like Mr. Bradley's father, never spoke much about his experience on Iwo Jima. And I feel he too would say the real heroes of that battle never came home. I do hope that this will finally shed some light on the true identity of the men in the photo. Thank You, Jon Madden In reference to “I’m Alive and Well, Thank You” (May 2007) in which you claim Bert Rutan as the wounded Marine in the photo and the subsequent claim of another family that they believe the Marine is actually George Smyth. I think I have some proof that neither man is indeed the wounded Marine. I have a copy of the photo in question given to me by my aunt. It is actually a photo of my grandfather, Martin Smith, being assisted by Frank Ward on 2/19/1945. My grandfather was shot in the jaw by sniper fire. Mr Ward saw the photo days later, got a copy, and mailed it to my grandfather while he was recuperating in the hospital in Hawaii. The top left of the photo has this hand written message:

To: Smitty
From: Frank Ward
CoB 1st Bn
28 Marines
5th Marine Divsion
Iwo Jima 2/19/45

I first discovered the acknowledgement on James Bradley's website under the Epilogue section that refers to Bert Rutan as being the wounded solider being assisted by Arthur Reynolds. I sent Mr. Bradley scans of the photo with the inscription. My emails were ignored. It wasn't until I researched the two names of Rutan and Reynolds together that I discovered this link. It is not my intention to try and discredit or disrespect any person involved in the above claims. My grandfather, much like Mr. Bradley's father, never spoke much about his experience on Iwo Jima. And I feel he too would say the real heroes of that battle never came home. I do hope that this will finally shed some light on the true identity of the men in the photo.

Thank You,

Jon Madden

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