By Pacific Island Times News Staff
Seven World War II veterans will return to Guam and Okinawa next week in commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, with a reunion ceremony to be led by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
According to Eagle Society, which is organizing the trip, the visit will begin at the Battle of Guam site, where U.S. forces liberated the island in 1944. Travel continues to Iwo To (formerly known as Iwo Jima) for the anniversary and Reunion of Honor ceremony, and then to Okinawa, Japan, where they will join Walter LaSota, a Battle of Okinawa veteran.
“Next week’s ceremony brings together former enemies who are now the strongest of allies. More than 18,500 Japanese and 6,800 American lives were lost in the Battle of Iwo Jima, with the ceremony a solemn reminder of the enormous sacrifices,” Eagle Society said in a press release.
“Okinawa, the final and bloodiest battle of the war, saw more than 12,000 American and 100,000 Japanese and Okinawan lives lost. For many veterans, returning to the WWII sites offers a powerful opportunity for reflection, healing and closure.”
World War II veterans making this journey include CSM Delmar D. Beard (US Army) from Glendale, AZ; Joe Caminiti (USMC) from Bristol, CT; Capt. Ed Cavallini (USMC) from Seaside, CA; Charles Cram (US Navy) from San Diego, CA; Nils Mockler from Putnam Valley, NY; Frank Wright (USMC) from Lodi, CA; Lt. j.g. Patrick Zilliacus from Playa Del Rey, CA; and Walter LaSota (USMC – Okinawa Veteran) from Reading, PA.
Michael Davidson, Eagle Society’s founder, said the trips are designed to educate today’s leaders on American history, heroes and heritage.
Davidson has taken veterans to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, but this is the first journey of this scale in the Pacific.
“We’re losing our WWII veterans daily, and with them, I fear we’re also losing the hard-earned lessons they fought valiantly to teach us. Our Pacific War veterans, in particular, remind us that duty, honor, and country are not just words - they’re a call to action, especially amid rising geopolitical conflict and clashing worldviews,” Davidson said.
“This journey offers a profound opportunity to reflect, honor their sacrifices, and recommit to being better citizens. The Eagle Society is dedicated to
preserving these heroes’ stories, so future generations not only remember but apply their lessons to today’s challenges.”
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