Emphasis Preaching Journal

During World War II, by early 1945, B-29s were able to bomb Japanese cities and industries, but they could not protect forces invading Japan. Bases closer to Japan were needed to supply fields for fighter aircraft, which could cover a troop landing. Iwo Jima was only 750 miles from Tokyo and would be an invaluable base for fighter planes and an emergency landing field for bombers going to or returning from Japan. For 74 consecutive days, the Allies bombarded the island before 30,000 Marines went ashore on February 19, 1945. But the Japanese had turned Iwo Jima into a fortress defended by 23,000 picked soldiers. As a result, some of the bloodiest fighting of the war followed. It was nearly a month before the island was secure in American hands. By then 21,000 Japanese had been killed with only 200 taken prisoner. American losses were staggering. Outside the temporary cemetery on Iwo Jima, where thousands of men were initially buried, an unknown Marine carved a slogan on a rock: "When you go home / Tell them for us and say / For your tomorrow / We gave our today."

In his trial, crucifixion, and death Jesus gave himself for us in order that we might live not only tomorrow, but also forever.