Preparing for the Rain on Iwo Jima Isle

About the Book

Preparing for the Rain on Iwo Jima Isle follows the life and military service of Marion Frank Walker, who was born and raised in a peaceful small town in southern Indiana during the Depression years.  Frank was just 16 years old when America received that now legendary "wake-up call" on December 7th, 1941, as planes from Japanese aircraft carriers bombed and torpedoed the U.S. naval fleet stationed at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii.  In Frank's words, "The world as we knew it changed overnight."  Thus began the U.S. military involvement in World War II.  Eager to serve his country, Frank managed to graduate from high school mid-term of his senior year, and at 17 years old became a proud member of the U.S. Marine Corps.  The desire to serve and protect his beloved country would soon send him to the bloody battlefield of Iwo Jima.  At 19 years old, he crawled through the volcanic ash that had turned purple from the blood of his fallen comrades, and saw gruesome sights that no person should ever have to witness.  Frank is in the posed picture of the flag raising at Iwo Jima as photographed by Joe Rosenthal. He went on from there to become a part of the occupation force at Fukuoka, Japan.  After reading of his experiences during this deeply troubling time in history, Frank and his surviving comrades only ask that the people of America remember the sacrifices that have been made for their freedom and that their fallen comrades be remembered. 

About the Author

Marion Frank Walker was born July 9th, 1925, at North Salem, Indiana, and moved with his family to Seymour, Indiana, when he was six years old. After completing high school ahead of schedule, he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 17 years old.  Boot Camp was at San Diego, California, and then on to Camp Pendleton in Oceanside.  From there he was shipped to Camp Tarawa, Hawaii.  Even though he was a cook, he received the same training as everyone else, plus more, since he also became a flamethrower operator.  After many months of training, he and his comrades boarded the USS Missoula which transported them to the island of Iwo Jima.  The events of that battle are well-known in our history.  At 0630, he climbed down the Jacob's Ladder onto the Higgins boat, and at 0900, they hit the beach.  He was part of Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Division, and their target was Mt. Suribachi on the green zone.  He survived the entire 36 days of the bloodbath so aptly dubbed, "Hell on Earth."  The survivors of that gruesome battle left the island on March 26th, 1945, having landed on February 19th, 1945, leaving behind nearly 7,000 comrades who had been killed.  Finally it was over, and then it was back to Hawaii to re-form and go into Japan.  He was on the high seas when the atomic bombs were dropped and then became a part of the occupation force at Fukuoka, Japan.  After spending nine months in Japan, he was finally discharged in the fall of 1946, at 21 years old, having seen and experienced far more than any human being should ever have to endure.