Pacific Valor Series: Joseph R. Julian
Each year at the Pacific Combat Zone, the National Museum of the Pacific War’s Living History Program holds two presentations of Pacific Valor—a battle re-enactment program that focuses on real life examples of heroism from the Pacific War. In 2025, presentations focused on two individuals, two Marines who gave everything for their nation. During the March presentation, Pacific Valor will honor the heroism of Marine Platoon Sergeant Joseph R. Julian.
Joseph R. Julian was born in Sturbridge, Massachusetts on April 3rd, 1918. In January of 1942, he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps Reserve. After his training, he served as a drill instructor. By February of 1945, Julian had been assigned as a platoon sergeant in C Company, 27th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. This is the unit he would be serving with when he earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima, where he would make the ultimate sacrifice on March 9th, 1945.
Marines from the Fifth Division climbing slope from Red Beach One at Iwo Jima, 19 February 1945. From the collections of the National Museum of the Pacific War.
For the 5th Marine Division, Iwo Jima would be its first time in combat, but the division itself contained many combat veterans. Many Marines within the division were in fact former Paramarines and Marine Raiders, leftovers from the dissolution of those two units in 1944. In fact, most NCO’s (Non-Commissioned Officers) within the 5th MARDIV were these Paramarines and Raiders, and combat veterans to boot. Julian was a rare exception, having only been a drill instructor prior to his assignment to the 5th MARDIV.
As for Iwo Jima, the name of this island was destined to become infamous. Literally translated to “Sulfur Island”, Iwo Jima sits roughly 750 miles away from Japan itself. For the Japanese, Iwo Jima had been their territory for hundreds of years and was even administered directly by Tokyo, unlike the majority of the islands in the Pacific War which had been recently captured. As such, Iwo Jima was considered as important as the Japanese home island themselves. Iwo Jima would have been a difficult island to capture even without fortification. The shifting volcanic sands made walking difficult, and made moving vehicles and supplies almost impossible . On top of already treacherous terrain, Iwo Jima was the most heavily defended island the USMC had yet encountered, with the Japanese digging 11 miles of tunnels connecting an intricate network of pillboxes, bunkers, trenches, and other defensive positions before the Marines landed.
A map detailing Japanese defenses on Iwo Jima, object ID F2007-599-001a_001. From the collections of the National Museum of the Pacific War.
The 5th Marine Division was one of three Marine divisions landing on Iwo Jima, alongside 3rd and 4th Marine Divisions. The invasion was slated for February 19th, 1945 and was codenamed Operation DETACHMENT. The 5th Marine Division was to land on beaches Green I, and Red I and II. Julian’s unit, the 1st Battalion of the 27th Marine Regiment, landed on Red II. After a desperate fight off the beaches, the division was able to isolate Suribachi by nightfall on the first day of fighting.
Hard days of fighting turned into hard weeks, and by March 9th, the 5th MARDIV had been in the meat grinder that was Iwo Jima for 18 days. Over these 18 days, 26 year-old P/Sgt. Julian had made a reputation for himself for going on one-man rampages against Japanese fortifications despite never seeing combat before the landings.
March 9th was a horrible day for Julian’s unit, with C Company of the 1st Battalion leading a costly attack against Japanese defenses, losing eight men killed and 14 wounded with no ground taken. Julian, wanting to force a breakthrough, began his final rampage against the Japanese defenders, described in his Medal of Honor citation:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as a P/Sgt. Serving with the 1st Battalion, 27th Marines, 5th Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces during the seizure of Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands, 9 March 1945. Determined to force a breakthrough when Japanese troops occupying trenches and fortified positions on the left front laid down a terrific machine-gun and mortar barrage in a desperate effort to halt his company's advance, P/Sgt. Julian quickly established his platoon's guns in strategic supporting positions, and then, acting on his own initiative, fearlessly moved forward to execute a one-man assault on the nearest pillbox. Advancing alone, he hurled deadly demolitions and white phosphorus grenades into the emplacement, killing two of the enemy and driving the remaining five out into the adjoining trench system. Seizing a discarded rifle, he jumped into the trench and dispatched the five before they could make an escape. Intent on wiping out all resistance, he obtained more explosives and, accompanied by another marine, again charged the hostile fortifications and knocked out two more cave positions. Immediately thereafter, he launched a bazooka attack unassisted, firing four rounds into the one remaining pillbox and completely destroying it before he fell, mortally wounded by a vicious burst of enemy fire. Stouthearted and indomitable, P/Sgt. Julian consistently disregarded all personal danger and, by his bold decision, daring tactics, and relentless fighting spirit during a critical phase of the battle, contributed materially to the continued advance of his company and to the success of his division's operations in the sustained drive toward the conquest of this fiercely defended outpost of the Japanese Empire. His outstanding valor and unfaltering spirit of self-sacrifice throughout the bitter conflict sustained and enhanced the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service. He gallantly gave his life for his country.
With Julian’s assault, the battalion was able to force its way into the Japanese defenses and take that section of the island. Even with this victory, the battalion continued to fight on the island for over two more weeks until the island was declared secure on March 26th, 1945. As for Julian, he was buried on Iwo Jima until after the war. His parents requested that his remains be reinterred at Long Island National Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York. His parents were presented with his Medal of Honor on November 16th, 1945 by the Secretary of the Navy.
Contributor
Grant Hanson, Living History Coordinator, National Museum of the Pacific War
