Sincere Gratitude

Post date: Feb 19, 2019 11:47:45 PM

Fellow warriors and mentors,

Today, on February 19, 1945, many of you loaded onto LVT's and stepped into history and Marine Corps lore. I went this morning to the Iwo Jima Memorial located at the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen, Texas. I stepped inside the small museum there next to it and thought of you. I thought of the sacrifices that the Greatest Generation has made for our country. I thought of my grandfather who also served in the Marine Corps during World War II but on Saipan and Okinawa. My grandfather passed before I was born but my family followed in his footsteps and joined the Marine Corps. I also visited the grave of Mr. Robert Jeffries an Iwo Jima survivor whom I met before my unit deployed to Iraq and 2004 and though extremely ill waited for us to get back before reporting to the eternal commandant. His wife said he just wanted to see us home before his duty ended. I was honored to carry him to his final resting place. I am honored to have had the privilege to have corresponded with some of you who served with Charlie Company 1/23 in World War II and I am eternally grateful for the knowledge and history you have provided me.

Semper Fidelis!

GySgt Rene F. Avendano Jr.