MMA's salute to IWO JIMA

About 20 U.S. Marine Corps veterans who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima were honored Thursday on the 64th anniversary of the first day of fighting.

The half-day "Salute to Iwo Jima" at Marine Military Academy in Harlingen included live music, free food and a parade of more than 300 impeccable cadets.

MMA president and retired Brig. Gen. Stephen Cheney said that remembering Iwo Jima is "Marine history - it's real history - history that should never be forgotten."

About 30,000 lives, including those of 6,000 Marines, were lost on Iwo Jima, Cheney said.

Warren Musch, who joined the Marine Corps in 1942, traveled from Illinois to Harlingen for the first time to be part of the salute.

Musch was one of three men in a unit of 10 who lived through the battle.

"I was in intelligence and I knew where our work was and it was hard for me to tell my men that they had to go to Iwo Jima," Musch said, recalling his experience.

"It was the first dry-foot landing I ever made in the Marines," Musch added. "We were greeted by gunfire. But we knew we had a job to do and we were trained to do it."

Musch said he was honored by the MMA salute and that such events are necessary.

"It's wonderful to acquaint younger people with what took place in our history," Musch said. "So many lives were lost that you'd think people would remember not to get into conflicts again."

Another Marine Corps veteran who fought at Iwo Jima, Armando Ramirez, came from San Antonio to attend the parade. Ramirez also enlisted in 1942.

"It's about time they take time to honor Marines and everyone else," Ramirez said.

An emotional Ramirez said his memories of Iwo Jima include fighting as a young man in his early 20s and saving a fellow soldier's life.

"We went there with a purpose," Ramirez said. "It was worth it because if we didn't do it, (the Japanese) would've come in here to the U.S. Somebody had to stop them."

As a special note, Cheney also announced MMA's Capital Campaign Dollar's for Scholars, which aims to raise $30 million for scholarships for young men who want to attend the academy. The goal is to raise the money by April 2012.

The campaign has been in a "silent phase" for about one year and has already raised $7 million, Cheney said.

Cheney said MMA will award the scholarships to deserving students and continue to develop disciplined, morally strong and college-ready
individuals.