Iwo Jima: Marine medic survives worst battle of WWII

By Internet Photojournalist John Myers

G.W. "Bill" Goodwin of Rockingham looks at the pocket diary he kept during his service in World War II.

Sixty years ago today, G.W. "Bill" Goodwin of Rockingham, NC, was on a rocky island in the Pacific in his 25th day in the worst battle of World War II -- and amazed he was still alive.
Now 84, Goodwin was a 24-year-old Marine medic when he went ashore at the beginning of the Battle of Iwo Jima, a small island off the mainland of Japan, on Feb. 20, 1945.
Of the 13 medics in his group coming ashore, Goodwin was one of only three still standing when his unit was pulled out at the end of the battle. Ten of the 13 were killed or wounded, as were one-in-three of the Marines in the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions in their six-week fight.
U.S. Marine Corps statistics show 6,821 dead and 19,217 wounded on Iwo Jima.
Goodwin served in the 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions on Guadalcanal, Guam and Saipan islands in the South Pacific as well as on Iwo Jima. He was awarded a Silver Star medal "for gallantry" during the Battle of Iwo Jima.

Iwo Jima memories

Goodwin said he had given little thought to Iwo Jima until the 60th anniversary arrived.

Ten of the 13 Marine medics who came ashore at Iwo Jima in Goodwin's unit were still in action when this group photo was taken early in the battle. Goodwin is first on the left, front row.

He said when he was discharged after the war, "I had a wife and baby boy waiting for me at home. I put it behind me. I never had any thought about the war until a few years ago."
As he was recently looking through some old photos and papers from his WWII service, Goodwin found a diary he had written that covered his time in service.
"If I have ever read it before a few months ago, I don't remember it," Goodwin said.
After reading it recently, Goodwin said, "There's a few things I wrote in there that I wouldn't say today."
His diary entries during the Battle of Iwo Jima begin the day his ship arrived offshore, one day after the Marines first went ashore on Feb. 19, 1945:

Iwo Jima diary

Feb. 20, 1945: "Sighted Iwo Jima. Oh but does this look bad. Hundreds of ships are shelling it and we can see tanks ashore. We heard they are having a tough time ashore."
Feb. 24, 1945: "Hit the beach at 3 p.m. and saw my first dead Nip. Drew mortar fire at the first air strip. We dug in for the night. My first night in a foxhole."
Feb. 25, 1945: "Crossed the first air strip and drew heavy enemy fire. Four men were hit. Set up aid station. There I treated my first wounded Marines."

Bill Goodwin, left, by chance ran into his brother Russell, while serving on Guam Island in the South Pacific in 1944. Russell served in the Navy on a submarine based on Guam. He died in 2004.

Feb. 27, 1945: "We are getting lots of mortar and sniper fire. Casualties coming in fast. Tonight they gave me a Jeep ambulance to drive back to the beach."
Feb. 28, 1945: "Have been crossing second air strip in ambulance. If the mortars fall any nearer they would be in my pocket."
Feb. 29, 1945: "Got rid of the ambulance and I am glad. I had some very close calls in it."
(There was no Feb. 29 in 1945, with it not being a leap year. Obviously Goodwin wrote the wrong date in his diary. He said he didn't have a calendar to consult during the battle.)
March 1, 1945: "Today we moved across the second air strip and set up. Were pinned down by sniper fire. Darling I was afraid I would never see you again." (Referring to his first wife Margaret, now deceased.)
March 2, 1945: "Tonight Palock (one of the medics) was hit. I took him to the beach. This is Hell."
March 3, 1945: "Thompson and I were sent up with the stretcher teams. He was on his first trip when he got it. He was a swell kid. This PM we were pinned down for two hours. We got a casualty from in front of the lines. My luck is still good."
March 4, 1945: "I know I will come through now, after last night."
(Goodwin said he was referring to surviving a particularly bad night attack launched by the Japanese. "The Japanese would charge our lines at night, screaming 'Banzai! Banzai!' Our boys just mowed them down.")

Bill Goodwin while serving on Guam Island in the South Pacific in 1944.

Bill Goodwin while serving on Guam Island in the South Pacific in 1944.

March 5, 1945: "Today we drew straws to see who went up (to the front line). Little Joe Ewing won. Tonight he was brought in with only one leg. Yeah war is Hell."
March 6, 1945: "Today I saw my best friend go up. Good luck Flynn."
March 7, 1945: "I worked all last night (treating wounded). I got to get some rest soon or crack up. Flynn is missing."
March 8, 1945: "We drew straws for line duty. Gee but that is nerve breaking. Hopkins 'Tex' won. Good luck Tex."
March 10, 1945: "Today we got some rest and some mail from my darling wife and mom."
March 12, 1945: "Today we moved up. From here we can see the ocean on the north side of the island. The end is in sight, but how so very far away. Today they found Flynn's body. What a shame. He had so much to live for."
March 15, 1945: "Drew straws again. Hood won. I can't go through that again."
March 16, 1945: "This AM Fitzgerald drew the short straw and went up. Tonight they brought him back. He was hit by grenade."
March 17, 1945: "Today the island was secured (officially)."
March 20, 1945: "I wish to hell someone would tell the Nips that this island is secured. They don't seem to know it. Out of 13 of us who came ashore, only 5 are left."
(Two more of the original 13 were casualities before Goodwin's unit pulled out from Iwo Jima on March 27, leaving him one of only three escaping unhurt.)
March 27, 1945: "These last few days have been tough. Twice I have been pinned down for half a day in my ambulance. My ambulance was hit twice -- once they hit my front tire. Today we pulled out. I hear the dogies (Army troops) are taking over. Yeah I have been lucky or maybe my prayers were answered. Maybe it's all over for us."

Bill Goodwin on the beach at Iwo Jima just before his unit pulled out.

Bill Goodwin on the beach at Iwo Jima just before his unit pulled out.

March 31, 1945: "Today we came back to the hospital ship. Gee it's good to be back here and today I got a shower and I almost feel like a human being again with my first shave and clean clothes."
April 1, 1945: "Easter Sunday -- I went to church this AM and to the cemetery this PM and saw my buddies' graves. Why does these things have to happen?"
April 6, 1945: "Today we boarded ship (U.S.S.T.T. Randall). Gee but I am glad to get off this rock. I thought so many times that I wouldn't. Yeah I am very thankful."

Missed famous flag raising

Goodwin said he didn't see the most famous incident of the Battle of Iwo Jima, the Marines raising the U.S. flag on the top of Mount Suribachi.
"I didn't know about it at the time. I never heard it mentioned until the battle was over."
He was discharged from the U.S. Navy in 1946 and came home to his wife and baby son.
He remarried after his first wife died of cancer 20 years ago and retired after working 30 years for Jefferson Pilot Insurance Co.
Still active at 84, he delivers meals daily for Meals on Wheels in Rockingham.
"I just thank the Lord that I got back home."