Iwo Jima

HAGERSTOWN Three days into the 1945 invasion of Iwo Jima, shrapnel hit Vern Brintzenhofe in seven places. "I'm one of the fortunate ones," Brintzenhofe said. Two hundred Marines landed with him during the first wave of the invasion. Seven hours later, only 84 men were left. About 10 of the men who took the beach 61 years ago joined Brintzenhofe in Hagerstown for a "mini reunion" of Iwo Jima survivors from the Fourth Marine Division Association. "We're all brothers in arms.

HAGERSTOWN - They were preparing to watch what has been said to be a very graphic war film. Those sitting in the theater Monday were familiar with the battle depicted in "Flags of Our Fathers. " A few are World War II veterans, and one fought in The Battle of Iwo Jima. But most of those interviewed at the special screening of the film at Hagerstown 10 Cineplex theater said they weren't there to see another war film. They've seen them all. And they weren't there for the memories.

karenh@herald-mail.com They believed the U.S. Marine Corps' rigorous training would keep them alive. Good fortune and friends stood the test of time. "Somebody had to do it, and we were just 17-year-old kids with nothing to do," World War II veteran Vern Brintzenhofe of Hagerstown said during a reunion of some of his fighting comrades at the Days Inn in Hagerstown. The 17-year-olds who joined the U.S. Marine Corps more than 60 years ago are octogenarians, members of a hardy, but dying breed of warriors.

George Robert Lott, 86, of Hagerstown, Md., and formerly of Long Island, N.Y., died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. He was the loving husband of Lois; loving father of Stephanie Prianti (Richard), Amanda Shenstone (Mark), and predeceased by son, James; loving grandfather of Jaime, Leah, Esperanza, and predeceased by granddaughter, Laurel; loving great-grandfather of Chloe; uncle to many nieces and nephews; and predeceased by sister, Alice, and brothers, James and Charles. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving on D-Day, first wave at Normandy, Omaha Beach, on June 6, 1944, and D-Day, Iwo Jima, in February 1945.

HAGERSTOWN - Vernard Brintzenhofe's license plate frame says it all: "Not Mean, Not Lean, Still a Marine. " Active and committed at the age of 81, Brintzenhofe has his eye firmly on the future and how he can continue to serve his country and his fellow man. Recently, he was looking back - as well as surprised - when his name was announced as the 2006 Marine of the Year by the Bulldog Detachment of the Marine Corps League. "I had three other guys that I thought would get it," Brintzenhofe said.

MARCH 12, 1925-APRIL 12, 2011 Vernard Leroy "Vern" Brintzenhofe, 86, of Hagerstown, passed away Tuesday, April 12, 2011, at his home. Born March 12, 1925, in Struthers, Ohio, he was the son of the late Homer and Christine (Gallugher) Brintzenhofe. He was a member of the Beaver Creek Christian Church, where he served as a deacon. He joined the Marines in 1942. After basic training at Paris Island, S.C., he was assigned to the 1st Aviation Engineers, Fleet Marine Force.

Mr. Marvin Stanley Levy, 84, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., formerly of Baltimore, Md., died Monday, March 14, 2011, due to complications of pneumonia. Marvin was born Oct. 14, 1926, in Baltimore, the son of the late Harry and Sarah Levy. He was preceded in death by his beloved first wife of 47 years, Sherry Levy, in 1989, and his parents. He graduated from high school in Baltimore, where he won a scholarship to the Maryland Institute Of Arts. Marvin was a veteran of World War II, serving in both Iwo Jima and Guam.

OCT. 29, 1920-JULY 6, 2009 FALLING WATERS, W.Va. - Carl Wayman King, 88, of Falling Waters, passed away July 6, 2009, at City Hospital. Born Oct. 29, 1920, in Cottageville, W.Va., he was the son of the late Cecil King and Eunice Manahan King. Carl proudly served his country in the U.S. Navy during World War II as an electrician's mate, third class. He was credited with saving the lives of 75 survivors of a small tanker during the height of a raging typhoon off of Iwo Jima.

Arnold F. Gozora, 88, of Williamsport, Md., passed away peacefully from this life on May 15, 2012, surrounded by his family, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born Jan. 23, 1924 in Hope Lawn, N.J., he was the son of the late Paul Gozora and Catherine (Ference) Gozora of Perth Amboy, N.J. Arnold graduated from Middlesex vocational school, Perth Amboy, N.J., as an electrician. He retired from Mack Trucks, Inc. in 1987 after 37 years of service.  He was a member of American Legion Post 202, Knights of Columbus, Golden Bulldogs, and United Auto Workers Local 171. Arnold was an avid golfer, fisherman and Baltimore Orioles fan. He was a devoted family man and was always there to support and "cheer on" all family members in their activities.

Crena Anderson wasn't at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7, 1941. But the 88-year-old Halfway resident will be linked to that day for the rest of her life. She said her first and second husbands were stationed at Army bases in Hawaii during the attack, although the two young soldiers didn't know each other at the time. “I'm proud of what they did - very proud,” Crena said at her home earlier this week. “They must have been scared to death.” Crena said she married her first husband, Marvin Spencer, shortly after they met while he was home on leave in 1944.

Carl Edward Davis, 86, of Dawsonville, Ga., passed away Friday, Nov. 2, 2012, at his residence following an extended illness. Born Dec. 29, 1925, in Hagerstown, Md., to the late Roy and Zola Davis, he had been a resident of Dawsonville since 1996. Serving from 1944 to 1946 during World War II, he was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, 5th Marines, 24th Infantry, Casual Company on Iwo Jima. He retired in 1992 from Lockheed, where he worked for more than 30 years as an aircraft engineer.

Arnold F. Gozora, 88, of Williamsport, Md., passed away peacefully from this life on May 15, 2012, surrounded by his family, at Meritus Medical Center near Hagerstown. Born Jan. 23, 1924 in Hope Lawn, N.J., he was the son of the late Paul Gozora and Catherine (Ference) Gozora of Perth Amboy, N.J. Arnold graduated from Middlesex vocational school, Perth Amboy, N.J., as an electrician. He retired from Mack Trucks, Inc. in 1987 after 37 years of service.  He was a member of American Legion Post 202, Knights of Columbus, Golden Bulldogs, and United Auto Workers Local 171. Arnold was an avid golfer, fisherman and Baltimore Orioles fan. He was a devoted family man and was always there to support and "cheer on" all family members in their activities.

George Robert Lott, 86, of Hagerstown, Md., and formerly of Long Island, N.Y., died Saturday, Dec. 24, 2011. He was the loving husband of Lois; loving father of Stephanie Prianti (Richard), Amanda Shenstone (Mark), and predeceased by son, James; loving grandfather of Jaime, Leah, Esperanza, and predeceased by granddaughter, Laurel; loving great-grandfather of Chloe; uncle to many nieces and nephews; and predeceased by sister, Alice, and brothers, James and Charles. He was a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, serving on D-Day, first wave at Normandy, Omaha Beach, on June 6, 1944, and D-Day, Iwo Jima, in February 1945.

Vernard "Vern" Brintzenhofe joined the U.S. Marine Corps in 1942, fresh out of high school in Ohio. His military career took him all over the world and most notably to Iwo Jima with the 4th Division. Vern survived the World War II battle for Iwo Jima in February 1945, but was evacuated to a hospital on Pearl Harbor after being wounded on the third day of the invasion, said son-in-law Wade Moore. He was awarded a Purple Heart. After a three-month recovery, Vern rejoined the 4th Division in Maui, Hawaii.

It was a privilege to serve with Medal of Honor recipient To the editor: I read with a lot of interest a letter to the editor written by Paul H. Inskeep published in the Feb. 27 edition of The Herald-Mail. The letter dealt with the Battle of Iwo Jima fought during World War II. This letter brought back some memories I had of an ex-Marine I had served with in the U.S. Air Force after the war. I was stationed at Lowry Air Force Base in Denver where I met a Pvt. Watson, whom I worked with and befriended.

Mr. Marvin Stanley Levy, 84, of Sierra Vista, Ariz., formerly of Baltimore, Md., died Monday, March 14, 2011, due to complications of pneumonia. Marvin was born Oct. 14, 1926, in Baltimore, the son of the late Harry and Sarah Levy. He was preceded in death by his beloved first wife of 47 years, Sherry Levy, in 1989, and his parents. He graduated from high school in Baltimore, where he won a scholarship to the Maryland Institute Of Arts. Marvin was a veteran of World War II, serving in both Iwo Jima and Guam.

FEB. 12, 1924-NOV. 13, 2009 MERCERSBURG, Pa. - Howard H. Bucy Jr., 85, of 7316 Buchanan Trail West, Mercersburg, Pa., died at 3:27 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, in the Chambersburg Hospital, after a lengthy illness. He was born in Williamsport, Pa., on Feb. 12, 1924. He later was a resident of Hagerstown, Md. Howard was the son of the late Howard H. Sr. and Aldean L. Dubler Bucy. He is survived by his wife, Ada E. (Betty) Alleman Bucy, whom he married on May 10, 1963.