Fred Reidenbach, a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and the Battle of Iwo Jima, visited with junior Marines Wednesday at RDU as they transitioned from training to their first duty stations. The USO of North Carolina hosted Reidenbach at the USO center in Terminal 2, where he greeted the young service members.

Reidenbach, who is now 97, was a 22-year-old Marine Sergeant on Iwo Jima when the 36-day battle began on February 19, 1945. His visit to RDU brought together Marines old and young and allowed them to celebrate their commitment and dedication to the Marine Corps, signifying the Marines Corps’ time-honored tradition of passing experience and knowledge from the old to the young.

This year marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, a U.S. amphibious assault to capture the Japanese-held island of Iwo Jima. This 36-day battle resulted in a hard-fought American victory that caused many casualties, and this battle remains an iconic symbol of the American and Marine Corps’ fighting spirit.