Pasadena Public Library Newsletter

In the late fall of 1944, 20 year-old Tom Sewell was working in the local bank and helping out on his family's Georgia farm. WWII was raging overseas, and young men were either waiting until it was their turn to be drafted or enlisting in the service. Tom decided not to wait for his name to be called and enlisted in the US Marine Corp.

After completing boot camp and basic training in South Carolina, Tom went across the country by train to Camp Pendleton in California. After finally landing in Hawaii, he found out he was headed to the shores of Iwo Jima. The Marines were told they were walking into a rather routine battle on a small island outside of Japan. Securing the airspace on Iwo Jima would prove a huge advantage to the US troops. Little did Tom know that on that day, February 19, 1945, he would participate in one of the bloodiest battles of WWII.

Coming onto shore in the 5th wave of troops, Tom was forced to exit the boat earlier than expected, after the troops experienced a huge number of casualties. Bodies were strewn across the rocky beach. Although the air field that the Marines were after was only about a mile inland, it took days to get there from the beach

Every day, Tom and his fellow soldiers would fight to gain control of the island, at night digging foxholes into the volcanic rock to try and sleep in shifts with a partner. Four long days later, on February 23, as Tom was battling on the prized airstrip - he looked over his left shoulder and saw the US flag being raised on Mount Suribachi. It was tradition for the military to raise a flag on the highest ground once an area was taken, but this moment would be immortalized forever by military photographer, John Rosenthal.

The battle at Iwo Jima lasted a total of 26 days before the island was finally secured. Following his almost month-long inaugural battle, Tom and his fellow Marines were relieved from duty and were allowed to return to their base in Hawaii. After enjoying a brief respite and some continued training on US soil, word began to spread of Japan's surrender after the dropping of the Atomic Bomb. It was hard to believe - but the war had finally come to an end. Since Tom, like many soldiers, had enlisted for the duration of the war, he did not go back home yet - instead he got aboard a ship and headed back for Japan. For that next year, Tom and his fellow Marines would take part in the occupation of Japan. Finally, in June of 1946 - it was time to head back home. A ship ride from Hawaii, through the Panama Canal got him back to Virginia and ultimately to his sweetheart, who had patiently waited for Tom's safe return. The following month, they were married!

Fast forward to present day, Tom is blessed with 2 children, multiple grandchildren, including a new grandbaby born this June. Tom Sewell has called the Houston area home since 1948 - and Pasadena since 1959. His beautiful wife, Clarisse, was by his side until passing 9 years ago. Mr. Sewell still works at the Texas Citizen's Bank 3 days a week. In May, he was an honored speaker at the Pasadena City Council meeting and was asked to lead the Pledge of Allegiance. Tom was also featured in the Memorial Day edition of the Pasadena Citizen with a write up and photo spread. Everyone in Pasadena is very lucky to have such an American hero amongst us!