Oral History Interview with Keifer Marshall, January 13, 2009 Page: 6
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guy on your right, and if it hadn't been for all those people on my right and left, I wouldn't be
here, and hopefully I helped save some other people like that, but it was so, it was just the
fighting was just unbelievable.
How many days were you on the ship and could see the shelling of the island before you went
ashore?
Keifer Marshall: Probably two.
Two days then at least.
Keifer Marshall: We didn't go in the 19th. We went the 21"t, and it was, we could see that. It
just obliterated the island.
What were the thoughts of you and your fellow Marines when you were on that ship knowing that
you were getting ready to go into battle? Maybe tell us what your thoughts were or what your
mindset was before you hit the beach?
Keifer Marshall: Well, really most people were pretty quiet, didn't do a lot of talking. But
those that were talking were talking to their best friend or buddy, and said you know, if
something happens to me, this is where I live and go tell these people about it. And it was
unbelievable, it really was. But the courage of people in that situation was also unbelievable,
and we didn't have anybody that quit. Everybody stayed with it completely.
Mrs. Marshall: He was on, he fell on the island of Iwo Jima for 45 days. Of course they
declared the island taken, but then they had -
They had to clear it.
Mrs. Marshall: The Division stayed more days to clean up. And then on this Cushman's
pocket and the history of the 3rd Marine Division, Keifer was talking about this Colonel
Obanyan, wasn't his name Obanyan?
Keifer Marshall: Captain Obanyan.
Mrs. Marshall: Captain Obanyan, they were only three or four left according to the 3'd MarineDivision history on the island.
Keifer Marshall: 9th Marine Division.
Mrs. Marshall: And the 3rd Marine Division.
Keifer Marshall: 9t' Marine was a regiment of the 3rd Marine Division.
Mrs. Marshall: Right. But there were only three or four out of his company that -
Keifer Marshall: What you need to remember is F Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marine. That's
what it was.6
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Marshall, Keifer. Oral History Interview with Keifer Marshall, January 13, 2009, text, January 13, 2009; Fredericksburg, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1606772/m1/6/?q=%22~1%22~1&rotate=270: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting National Museum of the Pacific War/Admiral Nimitz Foundation.