Dr. Jared Frederick—I Hiked Iwo Jima: A Virtual Tour of the Pacific Battlefield

Join Dr. Frederick for this first-hand account of Iwo Jima as it appears today, 80 years after the battle. This program takes place at the Eisenhower NHS Speakers’ Tent.

In March 2023, after three years of Covid postponements, Dr. Jared Frederick had the rare experience of exploring perhaps the most famous World War II battlefield in the Pacific: Iwo Jima. He thoroughly chronicled his journey on film, capturing the terrain, artifacts, and cultural encounters along the way. During the course of the journey, he reflected on the experiences of his own grandfather—an Iwo Jima veteran who had a close call with death. The trip was also a meditation on the meaning of Iwo Jima, especially for the children and grandchildren of combatants who attempt to hike the imposing Mount Suribachi. Frederick’s visual presentation will include rich photos and anecdotes from an unforgettable expedition on the other side of the globe.

Dr. Jared Frederick is the author of numerous books, including Dispatches of D-Day, Hang Tough, Fierce Valor, and Into the Cold Blue. He has appeared on PBS, C-SPAN, and Turner Classic Movies. A former seasonal park ranger at Gettysburg National Military Park and Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, Frederick is now the host of Reel History on YouTube and a teaching professor of history at Penn State Altoona.