 It's been 67 years since the Battle of Iwo Jima, but it's an event that will never be forgotten. Every year, World War II veterans visit the island to remember fallen friends and pay respects to the heroes that gave their lives many years ago. However, for some veterans, this is only their first time visiting. I better get it done because I went down to Washington, D.C. to see the memorial, which took quite a while. World War II memorial took quite a while to get it up. I thought, you know, I don't know how much time I have left on this earth. I thought I'd like to have a closure. Many of the veterans also reminisced about their time on the island. There's not a reason why. There's just to do or die. I didn't know what, where we were coming. I did, all I knew is where I came from. We didn't have no idea where we were going or what we were going to do, actually, till we got here. I knew one thing. It was cooler here where I was going than it was in Guam because they gave me a jacket. I helped lay out the graves. My job as a surveyor was a pretty gruesome thing to see. Looked like a wheat field with all the crosses and the stars. Hey, God bless the men who fought, suffered and died on this island of Iwo Jima. That's a lot of people when it looks like a wheat field. That bothered me. Return to this island around, not as adversaries, but as peace-loving people. Now, almost 70 years later, these veterans are content touring the island, remembering the bravery of the men they served with and fought against. Airman First Class William Branch, Iwo Jima, Japan.