japanese tank commander with his type 97 chi-ha tank

tank commander

Major Yoshitaka Horie, as staff to Lt. Gen. Todamichi Kuribayashi, was responsible for control of arms and supply traffic to Iwo Jima.  He was Iwo’s “Emergency Supply Officer.”  before the american invasion of iwo jima many american pilots were captured there and Major Horie always treat then the best that he could and this atitude was disliked many of his fellow officers, The Major would survive the campaign to become its chief Japanese chronicler.  Thanks to him, the world knows more of the Japanese side of the Iwo jima battle than any of the other island battles, 

Major Yoshitaka Horie 

japamese army officer Lieutenant General Kyoji Tominaga shaking hands with raiders of the Kaoru Special Attack Corps  before leaving to a mission against a USAAF landing strip on Leyte (oct 1944)