No World War II battle represents the fighting spirit of the US Marine Corps better than Iwo Jima. In terms of its combat brutality and staggering casualties, it was the worst battle in the history of the Corps.
The Marines’ 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions led the assault of Iwo Jima with key support from the Army and Navy. Pacific Fleet Commander-in-Chief Admiral Chester W. Nimitz said that among America’s fighters at Iwo Jima “uncommon valor was a common virtue.” The non-profit Stories Behind the Stars (www.storiesbehindthestars.org) has written memorials about each of the eighty-nine PA Marines in the 4th Division who sacrificed their lives during the March portion of the battle’s hostilities. Berks County was home to two of them: PVT Albert S. Angstadt and CPL John P. Garman.
Albert Sampsel Angstadt was born October 24, 1920 in Reading, PA to Wilmer Gilbert and Leah L Sampsel Angstadt. In 1930, the family, which also included daughters Catherine and Nancy, were living in Lower Alsace Township. Tragically, both parents died before the end of 1932.The head of the household became sister Catherine while Angstadt worked as a knitters helper in a hosiery mill to help support his sisters. On October 25, 1941, Angstadt married Ruth Emily Rhoads in Mt Penn, PA. They had at least two daughters, Carol and Sandra.
Angstadt registered for the draft on February 16, 1942. He was employed by the Berkshire Knitting Mills and was living in Reading, PA. Angstadt joined the Marines on June 10, 1944. He received training at Parris Island, SC and Camp Lejeune, NC before his assignment to Company D, 25th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division.
John Peter “Johnny” Garman was born on August 19, 1924 in Reading, PA to Peter and Helen Turchak (or Tureczek) Garman. His German-speaking parents were Austrian immigrants. His mother had three children from a previous marriage and two daughters, Irene and Mary, from her union with Garman’s father. Tragically, she died when Garman was two years old. Garman’s father supported the Catholic household as a cigar store proprietor and, later, as a laborer in a machine shop. Garman attended Reading High School with the class of 1942.
Garman enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserves in Philadelphia, PA on December 4, 1942. He trained at Parris Island, SC with the 12th Recruit Battalion and at Camp Lejeune, NC with the 2nd Separate Battalion before transferring to Camp Pendleton, CA for final preparations for overseas deployment. He was assigned to Company E, 2nd Marine Battalion, 24th Marine Regiment, 4th Marine Division. Garman was deployed to the Pacific Theater of Operations in February 1944. Garman participated in the battle of Saipan where he was wounded on June 19, 1944. He recovered and returned to his unit in time to take part in the battle of Tinian on July 24, 1944. After securing the Marianas Islands, the division sailed for Hawaii.
D-Day at Iwo Jima was February 19, 1945. Allied military planners anticipated an “easy time” conquering the enemy, predicting victory in a three-day battle. The reality was a gruesome slog of thirty-six days from February 19 – March 26, 1945 that historians have described as “throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete.” The island’s determined Japanese defenders had the most ingenious and deadly fortress in military history. Their miles of interlocking subterranean hideouts, concrete bunkhouses and pillboxes proved to be some of the most impenetrable defenses encountered by the Marines.
The 4th division arrived off the island on February 19 and commenced the assault. In the first two days, the division’s losses already totaled 2,011. By February 26, Angstadt’s and Garman’s unit began working its way into the enemy’s main defense line of prepared positions. For the next week, the 4th Division ground forward slowly, suffering bloody losses and engaging in the most savage type of close combat. As of March 3, 1945, it had lost 6,591 troops. On March 6, Angstadt’s unit went over to the attack against die-hard Japanese defenders in the Minami pocket. The 4th Division’s combat casualties rose to 8,094. On March 11, the twentieth day after the landing, the 4th Division reached the ocean and overcame enemy resistance. On the division’s right flank, the Japanese chose to make their last stand to exact as heavy a toll of Marines as they possibly could.
Angstadt and Garman were killed in action on March 9 and 2, 1945, respectively, during combat missions at Iwo Jima.
The ultimately victorious 36-day assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. Iwo Jima was the only US Marine battle where American casualties exceeded those of the Japanese. Enemy combat deaths, however, numbered three times as many as American deaths.
Angstadt’s remains were repatriated to the United States and were buried at Forest Hills Memorial Park in Reiffton, PA. Garman’s remains were recovered and were repatriated to the United States. He was laid to rest at Gethsemane Cemetery at Laureldale, PA.
Stories Behind the Stars memorials are accessible for free on the internet and via smart phone app at gravesites and cenotaphs. The non-profit organization is dedicated to honoring all 421,000 fallen Americans from World War II, including 31,000 from Pennsylvania. To volunteer or to get more information, contact Kathy Harmon at kharmon@storiesbehindthestars.org or visit www.storiesbehindthestars.org.
