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World War II Veteran: Ben Colson
Duration: 11:11
Transcript (RTF)
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Collection: Iowa's WWII Stories
Ben Colson tells us that he grew up in the Marine Corps, enlisting at 17 and learning to obey. His first taste of combat was as part of the third wave on Iwo Jima with the 4th Marine Division 25th battalion. They lost about 500 men in 20 minutes there. Ben says they found hope and some courage on the 5th day, when the American flag was hoisted on Mount Suribachi. He hoped things would get easier after that, but they did not. Ben also tells us how well the Japanese had stocked those caves, and how difficult it was to get through their maze entrances.
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- Transcript (RTF)
Post Date: November 7, 2007
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