that was considered by some to be a turning
point in the Pacific Ocean theater during World
for ultimate control of that volcanic island, located
some 750 miles south of Tokyo. Iwo Jima's three air-
strips, as well as its proximity to the Japanese main-
land, made it a prized location for the Allies to launch
attacks upon Japan.
Mount Suribachi. Associated Press photographer Joe
Rosenthal captured the moment, and the iconic photo
became one of the most recognizable and reproduced
images of the war.
Iwo Jima. His lifelong service
as a Salvation Army officer is
an
fl ag raising when he was aboard the
USS
bay. As the dead and wounded were brought
on board, Ernie's unhappy responsibility was to
assist in burials at sea.
prayed to God that if I should survive this war, I would
spend the rest of my life in Christian service."
ered by an American fl ag. Ernie played "Taps" as the
body was committed to the sea. Playing the bugle at a
burial was difficult for him. "You never get used to it,"
he says.
singer and soloist, he later became a Salvation Army
officer. His subsequent ministry is renowned in all four
territories of the United States, and his career eventu-
ally led him to National Headquarters. Ernie worked
closely with five different presidents, predominantly
Ronald Reagan, on public policy--particularly the ef-
fort to combat homelessness. He retired in 1990 to
emies, Ernie can't forget what man can do to his fellow
man. "I can still see everything. I remember Iwo Jima.