Surviving Iwo Jima

Sandy Goldfarb, Mutual 12

Sanford “Sandy” Goldfarb is a feisty guy with an easy smile who is beloved in his Mutual 12 community, having served as a director for many years. He’s affectionately known “Dad” or “Pops” by his American Legion pals, some of whom are young enough to be his children.

When asked if surviving Iwo Jima was the high point of his life, he instantly and robustly yelled, “Hell yes!”

Only one in three Marines did. Iwo Jima, a tiny island that’s onetenth the size of Catalina, was the infamous site of the bloodiest battle of WWII. It happened 75 years ago this year (Feb. 19-March 26, 1945). The U.S. Armed Forces sent 70,000 troops to the island, using 880 landing vessels to take them to the beach. There were 22,000 Japanese soldiers waiting; the fight lasted for 36 days. The Japanese lost its entire force, with the exception of 200 men.

Sandy joined the Marines in 1942 and trained with the newly formed 4th Division at Camp Pendleton. He departed for the Pacific in January 1944. His first taste of combat came at Roi-Namur in the Marshall Islands chain. From there, Sandy fought at Tinian and Saipan before returing to Hawaii to train and refit for the invasion of Iwo Jima.

Sandy spent 36 days fighting on Iwo Jima. He was the forward observer, the eyes and ears of the artillery, telling shooters where to fire. He was then sent to Okinawa as a replacement for the 1st Marine Division. After the war, he served in Northern China, helping to disarm Japanese troops.

The decorated Marine was honored for his service by Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich at the Richard Nixon Presidential Library.

This year, he was invited to be honored at a 75th anniversary remembrance on the island of Iwo Jima, hosted by the National WWII Museum, New Orleans.

He was planning on attending with his son. But COVID-19 canceled the trip. “Still, I can’t complain,” he said. “I have had a great life. I served with pride, and I came out alive.”

Sandy Goldfarb, today