PFC ISRAEL O. LOPEZ, 977345 U.S.

MARINE CORPS 19 JULY 1920 KILLED IN ACTION 3 MARCH 1945 WORLD WAR II - BATTLE OF IWO JIMA A COMPANY, 1ST BATTALION, 23D MARINE REGIMENT, 4TH MARINE DIVISION

Israel Lopez was born in San Jose, Duval County, TX to Jose Maria (18931938) and Juana (Oliveira) Lopez (1897-1942). The 1940 Census shows Juana O. Lopez as head of household that included Israel, his sister Carmela and his cousin Omar Oliveira. Israel graduated from Benavides High School and grew up in a small farming/ranching community in San Jose, Duval County, TX. The Lopez families owned most of the farming and ranching acreage in the San Jose area. PFC Israel Lopez joined the Marine Corps sometime in May 1944. The Muster Rolls of Officers and Enlisted Men of the U.S. Marine Corps for 4th Training Bn, Infantry Training Regiment, Training Command, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, CA covering 26-31 July 1944 shows that PFC Lopez joined 26 July from the 2d Recruit Bn, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA and that he was on furlough 26-31 July 1944. The Muster Rolls for 1-31 October 1944 shows that PFC Lopez was sick in the U.S. Naval Hospital (Camp Pendleton, CA) from 15-19 October. Prior to transferring to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, his sister Carmela was able to visit with her brother in the Los Angeles area as related to me in an interview with relatives. The Muster Rolls for 1-31 January 1945 shows that PFC Lopez was assigned to 24Th Replacement Draft, 4Th Marine Division, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific. The entries next to PFC Lopez indicates to see footnote A which showed: Aboard USS Logan (APA-196): 1. Sailed for Kahului, Maui, T.H.; 211, anchored at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T.H.; 12-19, participated in loading exercises in vicinity of Maalaen Bay, Maui, T.H.; 20-26, anchored at Pearl Harbor, Oahu, T.H; 27, sailed therefrom 28-31 enroute. A letter sent to his sister from Hawaii contained a map of Pearl Harbor, PFC Lopez had annotated all the areas where he had trained and things accomplished on free time (Liberty call). The following correlates with the Marine Corps entry on the Muster Rolls and the map from PFC Lopez preceding! History USS Logan (http://www.rpadden.com/196/196_history.htm) shows: On the 28th December 1944, the Logan and other ships of TransDiv 45 left Pearl and moored next day to Pier 1, Kahului, on the island of Maui. For the next three days everyone was busy loading the men and equipment of the 23rd Regimental Combat Team, 4th Marine Division. On 1 January 1945, with the 86 officers and 1,300 odd men under Colonel W.W. Wensinger, U.S.M.C. aboard, the Logan moved from the east coast of Maui around to the Maalaea Bay area and practiced landings. Early on the morning of the 27th Task Force 51 moved majestically out of Pearl and headed for the forward area. After crossing the International Date Line, and fueling and provisioning at Eniwetok, the ships arrived at Saipan in the Marianas on the 11th of February. Here off Saipan and Tinian the Logan and her sister ships of Task Force 51 had their last dress rehearsal for the big show. The afternoon of February 16 the transports pulled out on the last short leg of their journey. Early on the morning of the 19th the Logan arrived at the lamb chop shaped little island of Iwo Jima. It was still dark but the island was outlined in a tracer-tinted red by the blasting battlewagon bombardment that had been going on for several days. The Logan was in the Transport area at 0640 and by 0643 troops were already crawling down cargo nets into the lazily lurching landing boats. When PFC Lopez loaded up in Pearl Harbor, he was at that point a member of A Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Marine Corps Regiment, 4th Marine Division. On 19 February 1945, the 5th Marine Amphibious Corps (consisting of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions) landed on Iwo Jima (Sulphur Island). When the battle was over, 6821 American Marines, Sailors, and Soldiers, along with an estimated 20,000+ Japanese defenders had died. This was Americas first landing on what was considered traditional Japanese territory. It was the beginning of the end. The following are partial sequences of events mostly for the 4TH Marine Division. The complete sequences of events for all Divisions are contained at:

http://www.historyofwar.org/articles/battles_iwojima.html#dday

D-Day: 19 February 1945 "This is going to be a rough one; we could suffer as many as fifteen thousand casualties here." Lt Gen Holland M Smith, Commander, Fleet Marine Force Pacific To their right, the 23rd Marines under Colonel Walter W Wensinger (4th Marine Division under Major General Clifton B Cates) had run into a series of blockhouses and pillboxes manned by Major Matsushita's 10th Independent Anti-Tank Battalion and Captain Awatsu's 309th Infantry Battalion. It was here that Sgt Darren Cole became the first of twenty-seven Marine Corps Medal of Honor recipients by single-handedly knocking out five pillboxes armed with just a pistol and grenades, before he himself was killed by a hand grenade. D+1: 20 February 1945 ". . . Iwo Jima can only be described as a nightmare in hell." Robert Sherrod, Combat Correspondent for Time-Life Meanwhile, the other three regiments (23rd, 25th, 27th) commenced their attack towards Airfield No. 1 with the right flank anchored on the Quarry and the left flank swinging northeast to straighten the line. Additional support arrived in the afternoon in the form of the brand new battleship, the USS Washington, which commenced bombardment of the Quarry with its 16in guns and caused a number of landslides, which blocked several caves. Despite fierce resistance, the Marines had captured most of Airfield No. 1 by mid-afternoon and had straightened their line out, although they had still not reached the intended D-Day 0-1 line. This was a blow to Kuribayashi who had not expected such a rapid advance, but he took comfort that the Marines had yet to reach his main defensive line and the bad weather was still hampering operations. As the second day drew to a close, heavy rain began to fall adding to the Marines' misery. D+2: 21 February 1945 "Each man should think of his defense position as his graveyard, fight until the last and inflict much damage to the enemy." Lt General Tadamichi Kuribayashi Despite the weather conditions, which continued into Wednesday, the 28th Marines planned to begin their final assault on Mount Suribachi while the remainder, from west to east, the 28th, 27th, 23rd and 25th Marines, would advance northwards across a broad front. Even such simple plans however, rarely develop as the commander wants and the weather quickly deteriorated to such a point that Admiral Turner was forced to close the beaches down again to everything except emergency traffic. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions started their advance northward supported by artillery, naval gunfire and carrier aircraft and ran into a network of well-hidden pillboxes and bunkers. The 5th Marine Division made reasonable progress supported by tanks and finally reached the D-Day 0-1 line but the 4th Marine Division could only advance some fifty yards in the rugged terrain around the Quarry and was suffering heavy casualties as it gradually cleared out the Japanese caves, pillboxes, bunkers, tunnels and blockhouses. D+3: 22 February 1945 "The Americans are beginning to climb the first terraces towards our defenses. Now they shall taste our steel and lead." Col Kanehiko Atsuchi, Cmdr, Mount Suribachi The advance to the north continued with Schmidt placing the 21st Marines (3rd Marine Division) in the center of the line between the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions just in front of Airfield No. 2 where Colonel Masuo Ikeda's 145th Infantry Regiment manned the strongest part of the Japanese defenses. The 4th Marine Division's cemetery was inaugurated near Airfield No. 1. Lt Gen Holland M Smith was counting the cost meanwhile of three days of battle with the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions suffering 4,574 casualties and the 0-1 line was only now being approached. Although the Americans didn't know it, worse was yet to come. D+4: 23 February 1945 "Those of us who are left fully realize that our hopes of repelling the Americans or living to return to our homeland and loved ones are out of the question. We are doomed. But we will fight to the last man." Major Yonomata The weather improved greatly and so Maj Gen Harry Schmidt and Maj Gen Clifton Cates moved their headquarters ashore (Maj Gen Keller Rockey coming ashore the previous day). They decided the let the 3rd Marine Division maintain the center with the 5th on its left flank and the 4th on the right flank. The Navy would continue to provide support and the tanks of all three divisions would be combined into a single command under Lt Col William Collins (5th Marine Division). A major offensive would be commenced the next day in an attempt to break the stalemate, but for the time being, D+4 would be a day of consolidation and replenishment. The exception to this was around Mount Suribachi. With the improvement in the weather the 28th Marines mounted a final assault and finding opposition surprisingly light, sent out a forty man patrol under Lt Hal Schrier, which moved up the northern slopes towards the summit and engaged a number of Japanese who attacked them with hand grenades. Finally at 10.20hrs the Stars and Stripes were raised on a length of pipe with Leatherneck photographer Lou Lowery recording the moment. The shout quickly went around the southern half of the island "the flag is up!" and troops cheered while vessels sounded their sirens. At around noon, a larger flag replaced the smaller one and the moment was recorded by Associated Press cameraman Joe Rosenthal and has since become one of the most famous pictures of World War II. D+6: 25 February 1945 "In the last and final analysis, it is the guy with the rifle and machine gun who wins and pays the penalty to preserve our liberty." James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy On the right flank, the 4th Marine Division faced a collection of four formidable defensive positions just to the east of Airfield No. 2 that

would collectively become known as the 'Meatgrinder'. The first was Hill 382 (named after the elevation above sea level) that had an extensive collection of pillboxes, caves, dug-in tanks, enfiladed artillery positions and bunkers on it. Four hundred yards to the south lay a shallow depression known as the 'Amphitheater' and just to the east of that was a hill called the 'Turkey Knob' on top of which was a huge blockhouse and an observation post. The fourth obstacle was the village of Minami, little more than rubble-strewn ruins destroyed by naval gunfire and studied with gun emplacements. This area was defended by Maj General Senda and his 2nd Mixed Brigade that included Baron Nishi's 26th Tank Regiment, now largely fighting on foot. The 23rd and 24th Marines, knowing little of what was up ahead, initially attacked the Hill 382 but hardly advanced after fighting all day, even after tank support arrived as the Sherman tanks were finding it difficult going in the deep volcanic ash. D+7: 26 February 1945 "Easy Company started with 310 men. We suffered 75 percent casualties. Only fifty men boarded the ship after the battle. Seven officers went into battle with me. Only one - me - walked off Iwo." Capt Dave Severence, E Company, 28th Marines. The 23rd Marines had moved through a minefield at the edge of the airfield and as they approached a ruined radio station at the foot of the hill, they were met by an intense artillery barrage and machine gun fire that stopped the advance in its tracks. It was obvious that the Marines had come up against the Japanese main defensive line and that the Japanese would be retreating no further. D+8: 27 February 1945 "I am not afraid of the fighting powers of only three American Marine Divisions if there are no bombardments from aircraft and warship. This is the only reason we have to see such miserable conditions." Lt General Tadamichi Kuribayashi On the right flank, the 4th Marine Division seemed to be bogged down against the formidable defenses of the 'Meatgrinder'. Five battalions were committed against the 'Turkey Knob' and Hill 382 with support from rocket firing trucks. The battle seesawed backwards and forwards all day and at one point some Marines managed to make it to the top of the Hill but a shortage of ammunition and vicious enemy counterattacks forced them to retreat. However, the Marines managed to complete an encircling action around the base of the hill after intense close quarters combat and decided to consolidate their gains. D+9: 28 February 1945 "There was nothing spectacular about the day's action, but death was everywhere and heroism was commonplace." Marine Correspondent On the right flank, the stalemate at the 'Meatgrinder' continued with the 4th Marine Division attacking with its 25th Marines against the 'Turkey Knob'. The 1st Battalion tried to sweep around in a flanking maneuver but heavy fire from the Japanese defenders foiled the attempt. By late afternoon the Marines had had to pull back to the very same lines that they had started from. D+10: 1 March 1945 "Fight the battle with the troops you have." Lt General Holland M Smith to Major General Graves B Erskine By this point, the combat efficiency of the three Marine divisions was becoming a matter of grave concern. Many units were suffering badly from the effects of the prolonged exposure to such intense combat and in many instances command at a company level had passed from Captain to Lieutenant to Sergeant. General Erskine was concerned that an entire regiment (3rd Marines) was still onboard troopships while the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions had all their combat elements on the island. On the right flank, the 4th Marine Division continued to concentrate their efforts on Hill 382 with the 24th Marines replacing the 23rd. The 24th Marines once again launched themselves into the attack but the advance was stalled by a hail of machine gun and mortar fire. It was helped by an intense artillery and naval gunfire barrage which kept the Japanese in their shelters but they quickly re-emerged to continue their defense and the advance stalled once again. D+11: 2 March 1945 "Oh God, not another Ridge." Marine, 5th Marine Division. On the right flank, the 25th Marines kept up pressure on both the 'Turkey Knob' and Hill 382. The 1st Battalion attempted pre-dawn infiltrations but they were driven back by mortar and machine gun fire. A number of Sherman tanks and flamethrower tanks (nicknamed 'Zippos') moved up in support and pounded the blockhouse at the top of the 'Turkey Knob' but the Japanese simply retired to the depths of their tunnels to wait out the barrage. D+12: 3 March 1945 "Iwo Jima is the most heavily fortified and capably defended island in the world. It will be a tough fight." Vice Adm Richmond K Turner, Cmndr, Task Force 51 The 4th Marine Division renewed its attacks on the 'Meatgrinder' and in attempt to gain some element of surprise, attacked without the benefit of artillery support. The 24th Marines attacked Hill 382 while the 23rd Marines assaulted the complex formed by the 'Turkey Knob', the 'Amphitheater' and Minami Village. The 24th Marines managed to advance some 350 yards and surround Hill 382 but both regiments were brought to a halt by fire from the blockhouse on the 'Turkey Knob'. Captain William J. Hodge, Commanding Officer, Company A, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marines wrote a handwritten letter to Carmela Lopez dated April 5, 1945 and read in part: Dear Miss Lopez, On March 3rd, this Company attacked a small ridge in the northern part of the Island. As we advanced, many enemy riflemen fired at us, but we continued the attack and captured the ridge late in the afternoon.

Your brother was killed that afternoon by enemy rifle fire as he approached the ridge. Before leaving the Island, I visited the Cemetery which is located near the beach where this Company landed. At the entrance, the Marine Corps Emblem is outlined with white rocks with the flag pole in the center. Your brother is buried in Plot 1, Row 27, Grave Number 1302 in the 4th Marine Division Cemetery. A small mound covers his grave, and a grave marker with his name, rank and serial number stands at the head of his grave. A Chaplain of his faith officiated at the burial ceremony. Aerial view (below) of the 3rd and 4th MarDiv Cemeteries on Iwo Jima, March 1945, the base of Mt Suribachi is just visible in the distance. The 4th MarDiv Cemetery is on the left of the picture, and the 3rd MarDiv Cemetery is on the right. USMC Photo.

All of the cemeteries on Iwo Jima were closed in 1947, and the remains of those buried there were repatriated for burial either in a National Cemetery or in private cemeteries. Next of kin were responsible for choosing a place of burial for their fallen Marines. http://www.ww2gyrene.org/Spotlight4_thedead.htm PFC Israel O. Lopez, USMC was repatriated to Benavides, TX and next of kin was Carmela Lopez (sister), Benavides. The San Antonio Express, Tuesday morning November 30, 1948 stated that the bodies were being brought back home. The wake for PFC Lopez was at Eduardo (Wally) Lopezs home in Benavides on January 11, 1949. There was a uniformed soldier standing guard at the entrance. The morning of the funeral (it had rained heavily) the procession started from Benavides and instead of going straight to San Jose via the usual (closest) route, the procession had to divert to EL Guajillo road and go all around through El Guajillo, and take the County Road to San Jose. Upon arrival in San Jose, the procession stopped and dismounted, the casket removed from the Moyer Mortuary Hearse, the military honor guard and the attendees followed the Casket through the mud and sludge to the burial place at the San Jose Cemetery! There, full military honors were provided! PFC Israel O. Lopez, Serial number: 974345, United States Marine Corps had traveled 7,790 miles from Iwo Jima to the final resting place where he was born and raised San Jose, TX on January 12, 1949.

Semper Fi, Marine! An American Hero, one of the members of 5th Marine Amphibious Corps that landed and fought in one of the most fiercest and bloodiest fighting of World War II in the Pacific. His name is proudly engraved on the Memorial of the Guadalupe G. Ramirez, American Legion Post #405 in Benavides, TX. Rest in Peace, Marine!

UNCOMMON VALOR WAS A COMMON VIRTUE

Additional Information Provided

Above: V-MAIL from PFC Lopez to his Sister Carmela dated 3 March 1945

Below: V-MAIL from PFC Lopez to his Sister Carmela 3 March 1945. written by Lester Schubert (Carmelas son)

Re-

Letter from Commanding Officer, A Co, 1stBattalion, 23d Marines

Letter from Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps

Letter from Regimental Chaplain 23d Marines

Death Certificate issued 14 January 1949

Military Medals, Ribbons, Citations Authorized/Issued to PFC Lopez:

Ribbons: Purple Heart, Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal WW II w/battle star, Victory Medal World War II

Medals: Purple Heart, Navy Unit Commendation, Asiatic Pacific Campaign, Victory Medal WW II. The Presidential Unit Citation has no medal issued. A ribbon is used and is placed on the right breast pocket of the uniform. THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY Washington The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to ASSAULT TROOPS OF THE FIFTH AMPHIBIOUS CORPS, REINFORCED UNITED STATES FLEET MARINE FORCE for service as set forth in the following CITATION: "For extraordinary heroism in action during the seizure of enemy Japanese-held Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, February 19 to 28, 1945. Landing against resistance which rapidly increased in fury as the Japanese pounded the beaches with artillery, rocket and mortar fire, the Assault Troops of the FIFTH Amphibious Corps inched ahead through shifting black volcanic sands, over heavily mined terrain, toward a garrison of jagged cliffs barricaded by an interlocking system of caves, pillboxes and blockhouses commanding all approaches. Often driven back with terrific losses in fierce hand-to-hand combat, the Assault Troops repeatedly hurled back the enemys counterattacks to regain and hold lost positions, and continued the unrelenting drive to high ground and Motoyama Airfield No. 1, captured by the end of the second day. By their individual acts of heroism and their unfailing teamwork, these gallant officers and men fought against their own battle-fatigue and shock to advance in the face of the enemys fanatical resistance; they charged each strongpoint, one by one, blasting out the hidden Japanese troops or sealing them in; within four days they had occupied the southern part of Motoyama Airfield No. 2; simultaneously they stormed the steep slopes of Mount Suribachi to raise the United States Flag; and they seized the strongly defended hills to silence guns commanding the beaches and insure the conquest of Iwo Jima, a vital inner defense of the Japanese Empire." For the President, JOHN L. SULLIVAN Secretary of the Navy

Israel Lopez BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Marine Corps HOMETOWN San Jose, TX HONORED BY Amando Gonzalez ACTIVITY DURING WWII KILLED IN IWO JIMA 1945, PURPLE HEART.

Israel O. Lopez BRANCH OF SERVICE U.S. Marine Corps HOMETOWN San Jose, TX HONORED BY Israel M. Lopez ACTIVITY DURING WWII 1ST BATTALION, 23RD MARINES, 4TH MARINE DIVISION. KILLED IN ACTION, IWO JIMA 1945.

Pvt. Israel Lopez

Branch of Service: U.S. Marine Corps Hometown: Alice, TX Status: KIA

Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego, CA, May 1944. right to left 4th individual is PFC Israel Lopez.

From Top, second row,

Left: Israel 1yr,7mos; Carmela, Israel (Lilia???) Los Angeles, CA area! 1945

Left: Carmela, Israel dance floor (1945); Israel & friends, Hawaii. Liberty call 1946

Israel is on the left on both pictures, Hawaii 1946

Task Force Left Pearl Harbor 27 Jan 1945, stop at Enewetak Atoll for refueling and loaded other equipment, arrived in Saipan 11 Feb 1945, trained and left 16 Feb 1945, arrived IWO JIMA, 19 Feb 1945, the start of the invasion.

Landings: GREEN: 1st & 2d Bn, 28th Marines RED: 1st & 2d Bn, 27th Marines YELLOW: 1st & 2d Bn, 23rd Marines BLUE: 1st & 3d Bn, 25th Marines Entries of the 4th Marine Division for March 3, 1945: After days of bloody battering, advances finally were made so that the Zap pocket at Turkey Knob was nearly isolated. RCT 25, however, was worn out, and on March 3, it was relieved by the 23rd Marines. The blockhouse on the cliff-top was partially reduced that afternoon. In spite of mined approaches covered by Zap fire, it was attacked by demolition teams and flame-thrower tanks. RCT 23 finally succeeded in cutting off Turkey Knop completely, and then mopping up began in the Minami area. The Division had broken the back of the Jap line, but at a terrible cost. As of March 3, it had lost 6,591 men. In spite of receiving a draft of replacements, the Divisions combat efficiency had fallen to 50%.

The direction of the Divisions attack now shifted to the southeast In order to move parallel to the terrain corridors. With the fall of Hill 382, the Amphitheatre was outflanked and by passed.

Burial 12 Jan 1949: The route taken from (A) Mr Lopez home in Benavides, TX to the San Jose Cemetery (D), San Jose, Tx. The red route was the preferred route; however, the yellow route through El Guajillo (B) was used due to rain.

TURKEY KNOB

YELLOW 1, PFC LOPEZ LANDING AREA

Iwo Jima landing 19 February 1945, PFC Lopez KIA Turkey Knob area Marine Corps Muster Rolls from Ancestry.com U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958 about Israel Lopezrael Lopez Name: Muster Date: Rank: Station: Israel Lopez Jul 1944 Private 4Th Training Battalion, Infirngregt, Training Command, Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Calif View original image

The following muster roll for 1-31 October 1944 shows that Pvt Lopez was sick in the U.S. Naval Hospital from 15-19 October. U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958 about Israel Lopez Name: Muster Date: Rank: Israel Lopez Oct 1944

Private 4Th Trngbn, 2D Inftrngregt, Training Command, Camp Station: Pendleton, Oceanside, Calif.

View original image

U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958 about Israel Lopez Name: Muster Date: Rank: Station: Israel Lopez Jan 1945 Private 24Th Repln Draft, 4Th Mar Div, Fmf, C/O Fleet Post Office, San Francisco, Calif. View original image

Information (links) Related to the Battle of Iwo Jima

Links used to put this tribute together 1. AMPHIB OPS-The Navy Dept Library- Iwo Jima 16 Feb to 16 Mar 1945 http://www.history.navy.mil/library/online/iwojima_cap.htm#index
2.

Iwo Jima Memories vivid after 60 years http://www.leatherneck.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-12675.html

3.

History of the USS Logan (APA-196): http://www.rpadden.com/196/196_history.htm

4. Picture of the USS Logan (APA-196) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Logan_(APA-196) 5. The use of landing craft in amphibious assault dates from World War II. The craft are carried aboard amphibious assault ships to the objective area. 3 LCM on an APA and each carry 80 troops= 240 troops! http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=4200&tid=1600&ct=4 6. Iwo Jima-A remembrance http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,NI_Iwo_Jima2,00.html 7. The Assault of Iwo Jima http://iwojimahistory.com/ 8. Iwo Jima's Costs, Gains, and Legacies http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/npswapa/extcontent/usmc/pcn -190-003131-00/sec7.htm 9. Iwo Jima-The Cemeteries http://www.ww2gyrene.org/Spotlight4_thedead.htm ========================================================================== A sermon given at the 5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima. Click on the URL 10 to read the complete sermon. After the fighting was over, Rabbi Gittelsohn was asked to give a sermon at an ecumenical memorial service dedicating the 5th Marine Division cemetery on Iwo Jima, but due to prejudice he only gave remarks at a small Jewish service. Here are his words. ``Here before us lie the bodies of comrades and friends, men who until yesterday or last week laughed with us, joked with us, trained with us, men who fought with us and feared with us. Somewhere in this plot of ground there may lie the man who could have discovered the cure for cancer. Under one of these Christian crosses or beneath a Jewish Star of David, there may now rest a man who was destined to be a great prophet, to find the way perhaps for all to live in plenty, with poverty and hardship for none. Now they lie here silently in this sacred soil and we gather to consecrate the earth in their memory. ``It is not easy to do so. Some of us have buried our closest friends here. To speak in memory of such men as these is not easy. No, our poor power of speech can add nothing to what these men have already done. All that we can even hope to do is to follow their example, to show the same selfless courage in peace that they did in war; to swear that by the grace of God and the stubborn strength and power of the human will, their sons and ours will never suffer these pains again. These men have done their job well. They have paid the ghastly price of freedom. Continue: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CREC-2007-05-23/html/CREC-2007-0523-pt1-PgH5688.htm