Reviews

What a great time and a great group of people. It was 3 years of waiting after COVID canceled the 2020 75th Anniversary Tour.

The wait was worth it, I got to go with my son, Alden, who is 13 years old. He got to have a blast and maybe he doesn’t realize it yet, but he got to meet the WWII veterans that were part of our trip. When he gets older and the last of them are gone, this will be a special moment for me and for him. We are forever grateful for them and for the heroes that never made it home.

It has been about a month since we got back and I am still recovering from all the stuff we saw and got to absorb. From abandoned air raid bunkers left by the Japanese Military, to tanks and LST’s in the water from the numerous D-Day type of invasions on Saipan, Guam and of course Iwo Jima.

Overall, the historians had unimaginable knowledge of not only the battles themselves, but who was in charge, who was relieved of command, and a host of other knowledge that put us in a place that we could imagine what it was like, of course without bullets flying at us.

I can only imagine what the other trips to Normandy and other historical sites might be like, but Iwo Jima in particular had significant meaning for my family and I want to thank all that went and made this trip of a lifetime possible.

Thanks SAHT for a great trip.

My son Ryan and I were on this tour in 2014. This was my first experience with SAHT, both of us were immensely impressed. If fact I have enjoyed 3 additional tours since then.
Starting on Oahu we viewed all of the key sights associated with the Japanese raid on Dec 7. Many of these were behind the scenes and not accessible to the average tourist.
From there we proceeded to Saipan. Tinian and Guam. All were very interesting and our guide Mr. Ron Drez was able to paint a picture of the fighting and historical significance that took place in every place we stopped. Driving across Tinian on what was in reality a ghost town compared to the frenzy of 1944 allowed you to transport yourself back to that time.
The high point of this trip was the time spent on Iwo Jima. Standing on top of Mount Surabaci accompanied by a handful of veterans was a humbling experience. Ryan and I watched as these men raised a flag exactly on the spot where the well known picture was taken. I was honored to be in the company of these heroes, sharing that experience with my son was priceless. Moments that neither of us will ever forget.
Like all SAHT tours all accommodations and arrangements were first class and amazingly organized.

I had been thinking about this Tour for five years and finally made a commitment to plan my calendar around this Extraordinary Opportunity this year. It so vastly exceeded my expectations on every level. Ron Drez and his wife, Judy, were both exceptional Guides and Hosts every step of the way. I thought I knew most everything about Pearl Harbor, but Ron’s connections and knowledge took us to places and stories that were all new, and added immensely to my historical body of knowledge. Amazing trips followed to Guam, Saipan and Tinian – places where my father had been during his service in WWII aboard the US Navy Attack Transport USS Oconto. The opportunity to retrace his journey was priceless.

The Crown Jewel Highlight, however was the Reunion of Honor flight and visit to Iwo Jima. Standing atop Mount Suribachi and walking along the Black Sand Invasion Beaches was a Lifetime Dream come true. The experience of being on Iwo Jima with the few remaining WWII Veterans who were there, along with young Marines serving today who hosted us on the island, made for one of the Best Days of my Life. Worth every penny and every day invested to get there! Thanks to Ron, Judy and Ambrose Tours for organizing and orchestrating an unforgettable Tour experience. I would do it again someday, without thinking twice about the decision.

My wife and I made the tour in 2016 and the post tour to Peleliu. This trip was incredible with access to normally closed areas on Ford Island and Hickam Field. Seeing the loading pits for the Enola Gay and Bockscar on Tinian and the enormity of North Field really helped to bring the size of the US commitment into perspective. Climbing the black sand beaches of Iwo Jima and then Mt Suribachi was followed by the opportunity to talk with survivors of the battle. On to Peleliu with its coral caves filled with Japanese saki bottles and seeing the relatively undisturbed leftovers of war was amazing. Ron Drez provided a lot of information and insight into the various sites. Highly recommend both the main trip as well as the Peleliu post tour. Only downside was heat and humidity on Peleliu, but that only helped to further elucidate the difficulties of that miserable battle. Thanks to Mark Lettow (earlier review) for bringing the flag for pictures atop Mt. Suribachi.

We took the Pacific Tour in 2016 and we still can’t stop thinking about it! It was the best travel experience of our lifetime. Saipan, Tinian, Guam, and Iwo Jima all provide lasting memories of the sites we saw and the things we learned. It was an adventure with moving experiences. We felt safe and comfortable the entire time. Our tour guides were friendly, knowledgeable, and gave us time to explore a little on our own as well. I was able to pay honor to my uncle who was a veteran of several Pacific battles before being killed on Saipan. I will be forever thankful that I was able to do that for our family. Pack smart and make room for a flag in your daypack!

Iwo Jima was deeply moving and exceptional. The historian’s observations and comments truly enhanced the struggles and memories of the is battle, which can never be over emphasized.

Ultimately PEOPLE made the trip. Our group was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, friendly and positive….Being able to converse and rub shoulders with the old gentlemen vets was one of the highlight. Our brief time on Iwo was historic, mythic, eerie, prayerful and extremely moving. Suribachi looming ominously over the killing fields and cold surf washing up on the iconic black sand beaches, it was an amazing, inspiring and challenging experience.

We enjoyed all of the tour, but in particular Iwo Jima, the island itself, and Tinian. It was such an honor to get to see it and especially to visit with the veterans about what it means to them.