Pendleton commemorates Battle of Iwo Jima

Hundreds gathered to honor and remember those lost during World War II on the sands of Iwo Jima 65 years ago.

The heartfelt ceremony at Camp Pendleton’s South Mesa Club, Feb. 20, paid tribute to the nearly 7,000 that sacrificed their lives during the 35-day battle.

“I watched the entire invasion unfold,” said 85-year-old Robert L. Bergen, former Navy corpsman and Iwo Jima veteran. “I don’t think a day has gone by that I haven’t thought of that place.”

American forces defeated more than 22,000 entrenched Japanese soldiers, according to Headquarters Marine Corps’ Historical Branch. This victory...