97-year-old Cedar Knolls vet recalls Iwo Jima

HANOVER - James Salerno never bragged about his time overseas.

He certainly could have.

Now 97 years old, the long-time Cedar Knolls resident received many decorations for his service, most notably a Silver Star given for his heroic actions fighting with the 5th Marine Division on the volcanic ash of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Salerno held the rank of sergeant when he was discharged from the Marines in 1946 following the war and collected a number of accolades for his service, including the Silver Star medal, four Bronze Stars, a Purple Heart and a letter signed by President Harry Truman.

His wife, Angela, and three sons, James Jr., Michael, and Gregory, still remember his war stories vividly and help him fill in the gaps, keeping Salerno’s exploits alive.

“He always told us these stories growing up, but never in a bragging way,” Gregory said. “It was his life before us. Growing up in the Vietnam War era, World War II wasn’t even in the history books yet. So we learned from him.”

Salerno still remembers the moment he decided to enlist.

“I was at the YMCA and these two Marines walked by and I liked those dress blues,” Salerno said. “I turned to my buddy and he said ‘why don’t we join the Marine Corps?’ And we did, but I hit the bad times.”

Salerno was on leave in Washington D.C. when Pearl Harbor was attacked and he volunteered for Carlson’s Raiders – one of the country’s first special operations units - after receiving the news.

Salerno recalled weeks spent fighting in island jungles where he ate nothing but rice, which he carried in a sock and cooked in his helmet.

“I hate rice now,” he said.

After fighting in the battles of Guadalcanal and Bougainville with the 2nd Raider Battalion, he joined the Fifth Marine Division - Company G, Third Battalion, 26th Marines - and headed to Iwo Jima. He had no idea how pivotal a battle it would be in the war.

“I didn’t think that much of it at the time,” Salerno said.

At 26 when the battle began Feb. 19, Salerno was essentially an old man amongst his platoon. And his 27th birthday  fell less than a week later on the 24th, one day after witnessing the first flag being raised (the second flag raised is the iconic image associated with the battle).

“I thought we took the island, but we were still fighting,” Salerno said. So the next day, his birthday, there was no cake. “They just said ‘it’s your birthday today,’ shook hands, that’s it.”

A few days later, his commander was killed in action and Salerno was put in charge.

A firsthand account written by First Sgt. Harold Harper attests to Salerno’s heroism in the line of fire. After Iwo Jima, Harper issued a statement about the March 1, 1945 attack, which took place at about midnight.

“Our front line positions were attacked by the enemy using hand grenades and small arms. This attack on that section of the line which was held by the third platoon was particularly strong and several casualties were suffered. Among these was the lieutenant platoon leader,” read the statement.

“Sergeant Salerno who was then acting platoon sergeant immediately and unhesitatingly took command of the platoon and beat off the attack inflicting many casualties of the enemy.”

“Due to a previous tour of duty in the front lines, the platoon at this time was composed mainly of replacements, none of whom had any previous combat experience. Sergeant Salerno’s courage and coolness was a source of great trust to the new men and the line remained intact throughout the night.”

“During the following morning Sergeant Salerno led his already depleted platoon in an attack on a very strongly defended area where his few remaining experienced men were successively knocked out of the fight. Despite this serious condition and the fact that he alone was running the platoon, Sergeant Salerno continued his attack and succeeded in reaching and holding the objective.”

“Sergeant Salerno was almost constantly moving among the positions of his men, inspiring them to great efforts by their accepted trust in him.”

Salerno led the platoon for the remaining 19 days of the battle. By the end, he was the only remaining member of the original platoon.

Fighting on ground made of volcanic ash, Salerno couldn’t even see what was ahead of him at times, and while he was in command he was shot by a sniper.

He made a full recovery, but a letter sent in April 1945 to his parents back home only stated he was wounding in action, offering no comforting details of his condition.

For his efforts during those weeks in charge, President Truman presented Salerno with the Silver Star medal, which Secretary of the Navy John Sullivan said was for assuming command after his platoon leader was killed.

“Sergeant Salerno immediately rallied his men to repulse the enemy and, on the following day, courageously led his platoon in and attack on a strong hostile position composed of many machine gun emplacements cut into solid rock,” wrote Sullivan.

“Although his group suffered severe casualties, Sergeant Salerno ably directed them in attaining their objective for the day and in holding it during the night against repeated enemy counterattacks. By his coolness, initiative, and personal bravery, he upheld the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.”

After almost seven decades, Salerno feels he has lived a full life.

Born in Summit, Salerno worked as a carpenter in Hollywood, Calif. following the war before returning to New Jersey in the early 1950s to marry his wife. He’s stayed put ever since.

For his service, Salerno also received Presidential Unit Citations, Navy Unit Commendations, the Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the WWII Victory Medal.

He received his bronze stars for the capture and defense of Guadalcanal, Iwo Jima, the consolidation of the northern Solomons, and the Treasury-Bougainville Operation.

The 71st anniversary of the start of the Battle of Iwo Jima is Feb. 19.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636;mizzo@GannettNJ.com