ICYMI: Sullivan Discusses Iwo Jima 75th Anniversary on Fox News
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) yesterday joined The Story with Martha MacCallum on Fox News Channel to discuss the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. Sullivan, a Colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve, is an original cosponsor of a Senate resolution recognizing the valor and heroism exhibited by America’s service members, led by the United States Marine Corps, in defeating Imperial Japan on the small island, resulting in more than 26,000 American casualties.
Transcript
MacCallum: Senator Dan Sullivan of Alaska is one of several lawmakers to put forth a bipartisan resolution to honor the 75th anniversary of Iwo Jima, that is the period we are in right now. He also serves as a colonel in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve currently. He is the only current serving [member] in the United States Senate. Senator, thank you so much for being here tonight.
Sullivan: Great to be on the show, Martha. Thank you.
MacCallum: Thank you so much. You obviously feel that it is so important that we remember these men on this anniversary. Why?
Sullivan: I want to thank you and I can't wait to read your book because it is so important that we understand our history. You get a chill looking at the humble hero Mr. Williams there, but it's so important to understand the values that built our great nation, and Iwo Jima signifies and symbolizes so many of those values whether it's honor, courage, commitment, unity of effort, and of course,perseverance and heroism. We need to teach more of that. And congratulations on your book. It's a great service. The Senate put forward a resolution to do something similar.
MacCallum: Thank you. It's interesting to note that Iwo Jima had more Medal of Honor recipients than any other battle that has been fought. That's how brutal it was, that's how many remarkable hero stories there were on that 8-mile square patch of island that I know you have been to before and you're going back, right?
Sullivan: Yes, I plan on going back with a group of senators and congressmen to commemorate the 75th anniversary. But you mentioned it, one-quarter of all Medals of Honor awarded during World War II to the Marine Corps were awarded at Iwo Jima. It's great to see Mr. Williams there. One thing, Martha, that I like to mention on the bigger picture [is that] our country and the U.S. military in particular has done more to liberate humankind from oppression than literally any other force in the world. Hundreds of millions of people have been liberated because of our military and our country, and Iwo Jima was a proud part of that. I think it's important for younger generations of Americans to know that.
MacCallum: I do too, and I hope they read the book and I hope they listen to the resolution you're putting forth. What do you think is the most important value that these men represent that you want our young people to understand?
Sullivan: I think obviously there’s obviously the courage and commitment and perseverance -- that was obviously one of the most vicious battles. [There were] one hundred thousand U.S. and Japanese soldiers and Marines on that tiny island and we persevered in unity of effort. I think the flag-raising on Mount Suribachi by the Marines still symbolizes, even to this day, this great unity that our military often brings to everybody. And, as you know when you mentioned in your book, three of the six [Marines] who raised that flag didn't make it off the island. They were killed in action a few days later. So, sacrifice too.
MacCallum: Thank you so much, Senator. Senator Sullivan. Thank you for what you’re doing. Great to have you here.
Sullivan: Thank you, Martha.
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