Battle of Iwo Jima – IOTW Report

Battle of Iwo Jima

h/t Doc.

in 1945, more than 60,000 Marines and Sailors of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed on Iwo Jima, a volcanic island in the Pacific, after three days of naval and air bombardment.

Awaiting them on the eight square miles of sand and rock were 21,000 Japanese defenders, dug into reinforced caves and bunkers. Over the course of the next five weeks, U.S. forces would sustain more than 27,000 casualties and performed such acts of gallantry that 27 Marines and Sailors received the Medal of Honor.

The capture of Mount Suribachi, the highest point of the island, on Feb. 23, 1945, produced one of the most memorable and significant images of the Second World War, and in the history of the Marine Corps. Associated Press photographer and honorary Marine Joe Rosenthal won the Pulitzer Prize for his famous image of six Marines of the 5th Marine Division raising the national ensign.

14 Comments on Battle of Iwo Jima

  1. MY UNCLE BECAME A NAVY MEDIC AROUND THE BEGINNING OF WWII, FIRST WAVES AT TINIAN, SAIPAN, AND IWO

    FAMILY AT HOME PRAYED AND PRAYED

    DROPPED OFF TOO EARLY AT IWO, WENT TO THE BOTTOM WITH ALL HIS GEAR THINKING SO THIS IS WHERE I DIE??

    NO, HE WENT ON TO SAVE MANY, LOST FRIENDS, DRAGGED MANGLED BODIES TO THE BEACH, KILLED JAPS UP CLOSE, EVENTUALLY CAME HOME TO “ADJUST” TO THE NEW LIFE, BUT NEVER DID FULLY

    RIP, UNCLE SAM, TRUE PATRIOT, GREAT AMERICAN, HERO TO MANY

    32
  2. Cool beans, Benito. I have a great uncle who fought in the pacific. He came back to Mare island or Treasure island…whichever was the disembarkation station for the Marines of the pacific. (4th)

    He stole some navy flags that spell out TGIF. I still have them. Then he went home to Mississippi and drank himself to death by 51′.

    Never spoke a word about the Wah to anybody.

    18
  3. ¡BENITO THE BOMBED BEANER!

    Yea, they use to call it “Battle Fatigue”, now the call it something else. My pops had it. Managed it poorly but got through it. Tougher men back then if you understand where I’m going with this.

    16
  4. I’d like to say I was proud of my dad’s behavior in WWII, but I can’t. But I’m damn sure proud of every other American that put himself in harms way for the good of our country and for the good of the world. The Pacific Theatre, European Theatre had to have been hell. How did those young men and women do it?

    7
  5. Amazing that two of the Marines that raised the flag on Mount Suribachi were misidentified until just a few years ago. Neither one of them came forward during their lifetimes to claim credit for being part of the most famous photograph in the Pacific War. Anyone who wants to learn more about these incredible Americans should read “Strong Men Armed” by Robert Leckie. It is a great book about the United States Marine Corps and their brutal war against the Japanese Empire.

    9
  6. BENITOA

    WE DO NOT HAVE “MEDICS”. We have , as the man responsible for this is called, DOCS! Title, mr I have several Ivy League sheepskins, is CORE MAN. – NOT CORPSE MAN! OK I am biased. I never voted for the billionaire real estate tycoon; who became a “community organizer” in ’08.

    4
  7. The personal stories above are what makes this site special. Thanks for sharing them guys. I read in Proverbs last night that “humility comes before honor.” That exactly defines the greatest generation that is just about gone.

    3
  8. Neighbor (now deceased) ran wire at Iwo. Made him a very high priority target, but he survived. Knew nothing of his WW II experience till his funeral as he never talked about it. Went on fishing trips with him and lived next door with never a peep about his experiences. They detailed some of his service when they buried him with honors. Picked up some of the spent brass for his and my kids…

    2

Comments are closed.