Iwo Jima Vets Reunite

With photos of movie stars from their generation behind them, three local veterans of The Battle of Iwo Jima met for lunch at the Patit Creek Restaurant in Dayton on Friday. Claro Bergevin, of Walla Walla (left), and Bob Budig and Owen Agenbroad of Dayton, all 90, continued an annual tradition that began in 1995 with 16 ex-marine Iwo Jima vets who met for lunch in Walla Walla. This was the group's first Dayton reunion. The three traded stories of their time in the Marines and their part in the infamous World War II battle against the Japanese in 1945. Agenbroad helped organize the first reunion 19 years ago of Marine veterans from southeast Washington and eastern Oregon. He believes that five are still alive - one Walla Walla veteran and one Pendleton veteran were unable to attend last week's lunch because of health problems.