Japanese Art Inspired Woodcarving

Name/Title

Japanese Art Inspired Woodcarving

Description

Wooden plaque with Japanese motifs carved by U. S. Navy personnel during the occupation of Japan after World War II.

Context

After the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Marvin Veronee joined the Navy, graduated from UNC, and attended Midshipmen's School at The University of Notre Dame before shipping to the Pacific. Veronee served as an officer on the USS Doyen, then was transferred to train as a naval gunfire liaison officer, ultimately providing naval gunfire cover to the marines on Iwo Jima. Veronee went ashore with 70,000 Marines at Iwo Jima as a Navy gunfire officer and served there for 36 days. The then 19-year-old called in fire from warships stationed off the coast. While on Iwo Jima, he escaped a Japanese banzai charge (suicide attack) and saw the original raising of the American flag on Mount Surabachi that created the iconic photograph.

Acquisition

Accession

2024.32

Source or Donor

Marvin Davis Veronee

Acquisition Method

Donation

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1945 - circa 1952

Update Date

October 30, 2024