Agenbroad Returns from Iwo Jima
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April 10, 2014
A screen shot from Japanese TV of Agenbroad presenting his souvenir to the son of its original owner.
DAYTON - After 30 hours of airplane riding and an unforgettable day spent on Iwo Jima Island, Owen Agenbroad returned home to Dayton late last month.
"I got a bad case of TB (tired butt) syndrome," said Agenbroad, who will soon turn 91.
As The Times reported a couple of weeks ago, Agenbroad made the trip not only to revisit for the first time the island where he fought as a marine in the famous 1945 battle, which killed more than 10,000 American and Japanese soldiers. He also returned a souvenir he had collected there 69 years ago: a straight razor, includ- ing its box and sharpening stone. The items were returned to the son of their original owner, who died in the battle.
"The look on his face when I handed him the razor was worth the trip right there," Agenbroad said.
According to Agenbroad, the island, which is in an active volcanic area, has risen nearly 30 feet since he was last there. The beach where he landed is now a bluff, and he didn't attempt to make the climb down to the water.
The return of the razor to its owner's son was a celebrated event in Japan. "I was told it was the lead story on the national television news in Japan," Agenbroad said. "There were so many people and cameras around when I handed him the razor, my son couldn't even get a picture."
Agenbroad is happy to be back home in Dayton. When The Times talked to him, he and his wife Jan were getting ready to head to DeSales High School to watch the Dayton Baseball team play.
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