Pete Hegseth hails warrior ethos between US and Japan at Iwo Jima memorial

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth hailed the “shared warrior ethos” between the US and Japan Saturday on Iwo Jiwa, where he attended a memorial service for those who died in the bloody and pivotal World War II battle on its 80th anniversary.“Over 80,000 Marines, soldiers, and sailors from our two countries fought at Iwo Jima. More than 26,000 died here.

Today, we revere their courage. Today, we remember their valor and sacrifice,” Hegseth said during the service.Iwo Jima embodies “our shared devotion to the nation, and to duty and our shared reverence for the men of valor who preceded us,” continued Hegseth, who was joined by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, his Japanese counterpart, Gen Nakatani, and other officials at the Reunion of Honor event.Six veterans — all around 100 years old — also attended the memorial for the battle which was fought from Feb.

19 to March 26, 1945.Charles Cram, a Navy corpsman, was shot in the leg by a Japanese sniper a few days after landing on the remote island — where some 250 Marines were also killed in that short span.“I felt some sadness in my heart that I realized that this is one of the futilities of war,” said Cram, 99, who brought a flag he took from an Japanese soldier and gave it to an official at the service.

Hegseth said the alliance between the two nations — more critical than ever amid increasing threats by China — is the “cornerstone of freedom, prosperity, security and peace in the Indo-Pacific.”“The U.S.-Japan alliance shows how yesterday’s enemy has become today’s friends,” he added.In February, President Trump hosted Ishiba at the White House and spoke about their need to secure the region via their relations with allies, including with Australia, India, South Korea and the Philippines.Trump sees Japan as an integral part in keeping US interests safe in the Indo-Pacific as China has been flexing its muscles in the South China Sea, a major trade route.Hegseth who is on his...