"You can't see 360 degrees, and every crack and every crevice is potentially an enemy." (Video Interview, Part 2, 6:36)

Herb L. Hammond

Herb L. Hammond [detail from video] War: World War, 1939-1945 Branch: Marine Corps Unit: 3rd Platoon, C Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, 5th Marine Division Service Location: Quantico, Virginia; Camp Lejeune, North Carolina; Camp Pendleton, California; Camp Tarawa, Hawaii; Iwo Jima; Pacific Theater Rank: Captain Place of Birth: OR

Herb Hammond was part of a Marine engineers battalion that landed on the side of Iwo Jima's Mt. Surabachi opposite from most of the American forces that invaded the island in February 1945. Night time, he recalled, with the uncertainty of enemy intentions, was worse than daylight. Taking the mountain was only the beginning of the battle; the advance across the island uncovered an immense fortress unknown to U.S. intelligence, and thousands of Japanese soldiers who harassed the rear lines almost as much as the front.