In 1945 the Rochester Courier printed the letters of Hebert Taylor. In 1945 Hebert was a 19 year old Marine who survived the Battle of Iwo Jima and his letters were published after the battle. Hebert still lives in Rochester and I had the privledge of meeting with him and talking to him about his days as a Marine. Hebert is very proud to have served his country and still attends Marine Reunions throughout the Country. He is also an avid runner and plans on running the next Marine Corp Marathon. Hebert joined the Marines when he was only 17 years old, he missed his Senior year at Spaulding High School so he could serve his country. If you ask him about Boot Camp he will reply "that he REALLY hated the Drill Instructor... but he trained me well and taught me a lot". After Boot Camp, Hebert was assigned to Motor Transport, Hebert learned to drive evey vehicle that the Marines had, and during the battle of Iwo Jima he was driving Soldiers and Supplies to the front. He also was a witness to the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima which became the most famous picture in World War II. His memories of Iwo Jima are of many, many young American Men killed and surving the enemy shells by diggng a very deep foxhole. Hebert was discharged from the Marines shortly afer the war. He returned home to Rochester and married his sweetheart and raised a family.

Found Peace In Prayer In Foxhole On Iwo Jima

Rochester Marine never so scared in his life he writes parents; Taylor describes life on island wrested from Japs in epic battle

Pfc. Hebert Taylor, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ronald C. Taylor of 151 South Main Street, and a member of the Fifth Marine Division, is safe following the conquest of Iwo Jima, but it was plenty tough. He writes his parents, and his fiancee, Miss Barbara Hunt, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Hunt of Second Street.

In a series of three letters, the first written February 24, five days after he landed on Iwo Jima, he describes some of the conditions the Leathernecks were forced to overcome in what is said to be the most bitter battle in the 165 year history of the Marine Corps. This was Pfc. Taylor's first combat action.

The February 24 letter says in part:

NEVER PRAYED SO MUCH

"Well, Mom, I'm in and it's plenty hot around here. I suppose you know that I'm talking of Iwo Jima. D-Day was Monday the 19th, and I came in on the first day. Mom, I was never so scared in all my life as I have been here and I guess everyone else is too. when these shells and bombs drop around me thick as flies, I just pray and pray some more. I have never prayed so much in my life as these past six days. I had so many close calls that I still can't keep my hands from shaking. Things are much better now and we are starting to push the Japs back. The enemy shells are less now than they have been.

This is the first time I've had a few minutes to sit down and concentrate on writing a letter. I'm in a foxhole writing this and it is plenty deep, too with sandbags all around it, every time a shell drops we get up a dig deeper.

"This morning was the first time I washed my face and hands since getting off the ship and last night was was the first time I've got any sleep since I've been here. Five days and nights is a long time without sleep and everybody was exhausted. I feel pretty good now and am driving trucks. Up until last night I was in the Machine Gun section and I did not like. Rather be driving trucks.

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"Rats" are plenty tough

"Plenty of snipers around here. Right now the shots are buzzing around our heads. I wish I could see one of them. Those little rats are pretty tough on this island and let me tell you it is costing is plenty to take it. I used to say I wanted to get into combat to see what is was all about. Well, I've seen it and I think it is HELL, and that is putting it mildly. The worst part of it is when I see my buddies get it and then that funny feeling goes all through you. I hope the war will end soon. I'm getting sick and tired of it and I guess everybody else is too.

"The food is fair, the first couple of days I didn't eat much but we get quite a bit now......I don't want you to worry the worst is over now and by the time you get this letter the island will be secure. The Air Force is doing a good job on these Japs. They are strafing and bombing them all the time.

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WRITES FROM FOXHOLE

In a letter written to his father February 28, a letter which had been considerably cut by the field censor, Pfc. Taylor wrote:

"Right now I'm sitting down in my foxhole writing this by the light of my flashlight. My hole is about 6 feet deep and about 8 feet long and 5 feet wide, with plenty of sandbags around it. We've got a roof over it too with sandbags and dirt packed on it. We like to have plenty of protection from enemy shelling and we get plenty of it. It's been quiet the last few nights, but you can never tell. The other day I wrote Mom the worst was over, but I was plenty wrong. That night we got a barrage of shells that were too close for comfort. Shrapnel knocked out one of our trucks, but we got it fixed. That shrapnel does disastrous work.

"The island has been plenty tough, they say it's the worst battle the Marine Corps has had in 168 years and I can believe them. I sometimes wonder why these men have to die. Honest, war is hell and one has to see some of the stuff that goes on here to realize it.

"I ve got a few souvenirs, such as pieces of Jap planes, a little Jap bag, etc., Tomorrow Im going to try to get a Jap bayonet to go with the one you have. My buddy got one and they are like ours only have a hook on them. My buddy is out handing ammunition at present and I'm keeping the sack warm for him.

Right now I'm cooking for ten men and we have good meals. I make the coffee, open cans of meat, vegetables, jam, etc. and we manage to get enough to eat. They all think I make a good cook.

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Finds comfort in testament

Well Dad, I think I'll read a little from my New Testament and go to sleep. I read quite a lot from that lately, it makes me feel a little better. Take care of yourself and don't worry about me. This island is pretty near secured. They've got the Nips on the run up there now. It won't be long before we'll be back at a rest camp I think.

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Visited a Marine Cemetery

Pfc. Taylor third letter, written to his Mother March 11, says in part:

My foxhole buddy has just decided to go to sleep. He usually writes every night, but is disgusted with everything in general, so decided to sleep it off. He's probably thinking about his wife and folks at home.

Things are about the same here. We got a little shelling last night but it did not last long. The infantry is still fighting for one last piece of island up the other end. It seems to get tougher and tougher every inch they go. So many men have been lost trying to get this island, it's a damned shame. These little rats we're fighting are fanatics and that's just the word for them. I was down to the 5th Division Cemetery today and they have it fixed up nice, but sad. Honest Mom to take this island it really has cost us plenty. They say though, by taking this island, that it might shorten the war with Japan quite a little, I hope so anyway.

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No Place To Spend Money I guess I forgot to thank you for the dollar, but I had to laugh at receiving a buck over here. I couldn't give a buck away here if I wanted to. We get rations everyday that includes cigarettes, tobacco, candy, etc., so we cannot spend money. However, I'm holding on to it and it won't be long before I'll be at a place where I can spend it.

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Pfc. Taylor left Spaulding H.S. in his senior year to enter the service in January 1943, and trained at Parris Island. SC and Camp Pendleton, Colorado. He went overseas in August of last year.