A Memorial Day feature about a former Navy Seabee who served in World War II and fought in the battle of Iwo Jima. Utilized in-person interview, journals and military documents.

George Jacques with a portrait of himself (center) and his sons who also served Ron in the Army (l) and Les in the Coast Guard. (Tom Killips/The Record)

TROY — The 133rd Battalion Log Book of the U.S. Navy Construction Force describes the invasion of Iwo Jima as “black hell.” One of the more iconic battles of World War II, the invasion and eventual takeover of the Japanese island of Iwo Jima began on February 19, 1945, and spanned 26 days of explosions, air raids, sniper fire and warfare in the darkness of night.

A year and a half earlier in August of 1943, seven Troy natives were commissioned by the 133rd Battalion to join the fight in World War II.

Peter Falco, Daniel Hennessy, Anthony Maslott, Howard McAlonie, Abbot Hope, Edward Mangione and George Jacques began their more than two-year journey at Camp Peary near Williamsburg, Va., for training. Referred to as Seabees, the Construction Battalion of the Navy entered active battlefields to quickly build bases, establish safe water supplies, pave roads and a wide variety of other construction and engineering projects.

Much of the attention in regard to the Battle of Iwo Jima is focused on the Marine branch of the military, but the Seabees were heavily involved, and suffered a record number of casualties. According to the official Seabees Web site, the 133rd Battalion suffered 245 casualties with an additional 191 enlisted and 12 officers wounded in action.

Jacques remembers working one day on Iwo Jima and entering the Marines 4th Division cemetery where casualties were buried before being transported home, when he saw a marker with the name of Herbert Moxey, a Seabee from St. Louis, Mo. Moxey, who Jacques said was a husband and father, had formed a friendship with Jacques while they trained together stateside.

Continue reading Clip: ‘Troy boy’ reflects on Iwo Jima, looks ahead