LSD Belle Grove, a LSM, and LVTs at an Iwo Jima beach, circa late Feb 1945(rudeerude)

Iwo Jima beach

August 30, 1945 - Aboard the USS Reeves, Commander of the USS Tang Richard O'Kane, despite being desperately ill, stands with USMC ace Major Greg &quot;Pappy&quot; Boyington and the CO of the ship. The field jacket hides his emaciated frame ,his weight at liberation was under 100 pounds. O'Kane was transferred immediately to the hospital ship Benevolence where a medical assessment rated his odds of survival at 50-50. He slowly recovered from a life threatening fever, malnutrition, dysentery and jaundice.

Liberated O'kane

LCVPs from USS Sanborn underway off Iwo Jima, in mid or late Feb 1945.