“Do What I Do, Shoot When I Shoot”: Surviving Hell On Iwo Jima

Frank Mirabella joined the Army in February, 1943, during World War II and became a Radar Operator. He was sent to the Pacific and arrived in time for the Battle of Iwo Jima. He was supposed to be on one of the last waves assaulting the beach, but when a Kamikaze hit the ship he was on, he found himself in the 3rd wave, one of the few Soldiers to land with the Marines. Fortunately, a Marine grabbed him and told him to do exactly what he did. In this interview, Frank Mirabella describes his training, and the process of shipping from Fort Dix to other bases on the east coast, and finally to California, Hawaii, and ultimately to Iwo Jima. He talks about the hell that was the battle for that Island. Pay attention for a touching story about the time he met actress Bette Davis, and how she helped a sad soldier who was going through a tough time.