MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII -- On Feb. 19, 1945 Mike Mervosh stormed the beaches of Iwo Jima running head first into gunfire but only recalls striking fear into the enemy as he fought through the island.
Sixty-eight years later, a retired Marine Corps sergeant major, Mervosh, now 90, and several other World War II veterans, stormed another island. The group visited Marine Corps Base Hawaii, which was organized by The Greatest Generation Foundation for veterans, Dec. 6, 2013.
The Greatest Generation Foundation is a nonprofit organization, which is committed to honoring veterans of WWII. Due to the limited and decreasing number of them left, a main goal of the foundation is to gather veterans and their stories to share them with America’s youth for educational purposes.
The WWII veterans started their tour driving to various parts of the base but made an important stop at the Staff Noncommissioned Officer Academy. They spoke to Marines attending the resident Sergeants and Corporals Courses. Marines attending the academy gathered in one room where they gave standing ovations to six WWII veterans as the World War II veterans walked up to the front of the classroom.
They took seats in front of the classroom, then they introduced themselves and told a brief snapshot of what their war experience was like.
The final WWII veteran who hadn’t made his way into the classroom yet was “Iron Mike” or retired Sgt. Maj. Mike Mervosh. He served in combat throughout every enlisted rank. He enlisted in September 1942, and was awarded personnel decorations through WWII, and the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He earned 11 personal combat awards with 13 battle stars, 10 unit citations and numerous other campaign and service awards. Now, retired after 35 years of service in the Marine Corps and 19 and a half years as sergeant major, he spoke to the Marines about his experiences during WWII at the legendary Iwo Jima battle.
“Iwo Jima … been there, seen and done that,” Mervosh said. “If I had the chance, there’s no doubt in my mind I would do it all over again.”
Mervosh spoke to Marines about how he met the iconic Lt. Gen. Lewis Burwell “Chesty” Puller and his memories during the Battle of Iwo Jima.
“After the Battle at Iwo Jima, many people received every kind of award you could think of, all the way up to a Medal of Honor,” Mervosh said. “At the end of the battle all I received was a handshake and a pat on the back. That’s all I needed because everyone who was there that day is a hero. Uncommon valor was certainly a common virtue and there were no exceptions.”
After Mervosh and a few other veterans spoke to the Marines, the audience was given the opportunity to ask the veterans questions. Several photos and laughs were had by everyone while sharing stories of past experiences.
“It’s not every day you get to meet people who have experienced anything remotely close to what these veterans have,” said Sgt. Jake Prochnow, a section leader with Combat Assault Company, 3rd Marine Regiment, and a 22-year-old native of Milwaukee, Wis. “It’s motivating to hear their stories and talk to veterans from the greatest generation.”
The veterans packed up and went over to the Anderson Hall Dining Facility to eat with other Marines. Marines at the dining facility had the chance to speak and ask the veterans questions.
The tour was over after the veterans made one final stop to buy some Marine Corps apparel at the Marine Corps Exchange Annex. They filed onto the bus and went on to the next event to memorialize the bombing of Naval Station Pearl Harbor.