First Iwo Jima - then the Marriott

The surviving members of the 24th Regimental Weapons Company met at the Tulsa Marriott Saturday to catch up on old times.<br><br>They try to meet about every ten years or so and this is the third time

Sunday, September 22nd 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

The surviving members of the 24th Regimental Weapons Company met at the Tulsa Marriott Saturday to catch up on old times.

They try to meet about every ten years or so and this is the third time they've met in Tulsa..

Each time the Company meets there are fewer and fewer survivors. But the widows of the soldiers still show up to relive a time when the 24th fought its way across the Pacific.

In fact, this year's reunion host Rex Calvert was there for the famous flag raising on Iwo Jima. He says its an image he will never forget.

"Anytime that I see the flag, it gets to me right here, and any Marine will tell you that because it represents the things we fought for. We don't want anything for it we did it for our country."

Saturday"s reunion marked the group's 31st meeting since the end of the war.