Iwo Jima 1945
Iwo Jima is an island with an area of just eight square miles. It is located between Hawaii and Japan. Starting in June of 1944, under Japanese Imperial Army Lt. Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi, it took Japanese forces several months to construct the extensive tunnel and fortification network on Iwo Jima.
The defenses, designed to counter American air superiority, included over 11 miles of tunnels, 1,500 rooms, camouflaged artillery positions, and interconnected bunkers. The fortifications were designed to make the island a "death trap," with positions in Mount Suribachi and the northern plateau built to withstand heavy naval and air bombardment.
The defenses, designed to counter American air superiority, included over 11 miles of tunnels, 1,500 rooms, camouflaged artillery positions, and interconnected bunkers. The fortifications were designed to make the island a "death trap," with positions in Mount Suribachi and the northern plateau built to withstand heavy naval and air bombardment.
The Japanese strategy was to create an underground, "defense-in-depth" system that was virtually invisible to aerial reconnaissance. This allowed them to get past the pre-dawn U.S. Naval gun and bombardment, and wait for Marines to land before opening fire.
The American invasion of Iwo Jima was led by Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, with 1,700 ships and Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher (Task Force 58) providing naval support. Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC, commanded the V Amphibious Corps (3rd, 4th, 5th Marine Divisions). Officially known as Operation Detachment, its objective was the invasion of Iwo Jima to capture its airfields.
The American invasion of Iwo Jima was led by Vice Admiral Raymond A. Spruance, with 1,700 ships and Rear Admiral Marc Mitscher (Task Force 58) providing naval support. Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC, commanded the V Amphibious Corps (3rd, 4th, 5th Marine Divisions). Officially known as Operation Detachment, its objective was the invasion of Iwo Jima to capture its airfields.
The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions launched the invasion of Iwo Jima, on February 19, 1945, landing under intense fire on black, volcanic ash beaches. The beaches were impassable, with 15-foot-high volcanic sand embankments that bogged down tanks and vehicles. But frankly, as Marines came ashore, they had no idea that the worse was yet to come.
Departing from traditional, immediate beach defense, Kuribayashi's strategy focused on a long-term, subterranean defense designed to turn the island into a "meat grinder". Kuribayashi ordered his forces to hold their fire during the initial Iwo Jima landings on February 19, 1945. He wanted to allow the Marines to crowd the beaches and clog the area with equipment.
Japanese Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi waited until he knew the U.S. Marines were crowded and bogged down in the deep sad on the beach. It was then that he ordered his forces, deeply entrenched in bunkers and a network of tunnels, those roughly 22,000 Japanese troops in his command hidden in the complex underground tunnels and fortifications, to ran down fire and inflict immediate, severe casualties to the Marines landing on the beach.
This deliberate strategy aimed to maximize casualties by firing from hidden, entrenched positions only after the landing zone on the beach was heavily congested, had a devastating impact on the Marines. As Marines pushed past the shoreline, Japanese artillery, mortar, and machine gun fire erupted from camouflaged positions in the surrounding high ground. The delayed, intense fire was murderous and caused massive casualties on the beaches. So much so that it brought the initial assault to a halt.
On February 19, 1945, the first waves of U.S. Marines went ashore at 8:30 am. The first day set the stage for one of the most savage and costly battles in Marine Corps history, aiming to secure the island for B-29 bomber emergency landings. On that first day, the soft, black volcanic sand made movement difficult, causing vehicles and troops to get stuck under heavy fire. What the Marines faced were Japanese defenders, who waited until the beaches were packed with Marines and equipment before they opened fire with machine guns, mortars, and artillery fire.
To make the bloody carnage worse, Marines faced "bone-chilling" cold rain that turned the volcanic ash into a sticky, "gluey black sludge," that hampered their movement and fouled their weapons. Tank battalions, naval gunfire, and air strikes were essential for attacking fortified Japanese positions, but progress was slow. At first, the tanks bogged down in the sand and were slow to get into the fight.
Of course, while this was going on, naval gunfire pummeled the island, as air strikes hit elusive Japanese positions. The Japanese, contrary to previous battles, did not launch chaotic banzai charges. Instead, they remained in hidden bunkers and tunnels, inflicting heavy casualties with coordinated artillery and mortar fire from the slopes of Mount Suribachi.
Marines managed to advance off the beaches despite the chaos. And while that first day saw Marines getting hit the hardest on that beach, some units reached the edge of Airfield Number 1 by noon. On that first day, when some Marines didn't even make it off the beach and out of that sand, there would be over 2,400 U.S. casualties.
Of them, more than 550 Marines were killed in action, and more than 1,800 Marines were wounded. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions suffered heavy, immediate losses, with 15-foot volcanic sand banks stalling vehicles and creating a bottleneck for incoming troops. On that first day, on Day 1 of the battle, the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines alone lost 22 officers and 500 riflemen. And yes, legendary Medal of Honor recipient Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was killed on that first morning. And that was only Day One of the battle.
What some might not realize is that the Battle of Iwo Jima included the Japanese launching major kamikaze attacks on U.S. Navy vessels offshore. They attacked the carrier USS Saratoga whcih was severely damaged by multiple kamikaze hits, and they severely damaged the escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea -- which ended up sinking on Day 2.
On the second day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines faced brutal conditions as they attempted to expand their precarious beachhead against a deeply entrenched enemy. On Day 2, Marines still struggled against "bone-chilling" cold rain and the island's unique volcanic ash, which made movement for both men and tanks nearly impossible.
Day 2 of the battle saw a high casualty rate largely due to the "black volcanic sand," which made it nearly impossible for Marines either dig foxholes for cover or get off that beach. That meant the Marines on that beach were exposed to withering Japanese fire.
After landing 30,000 Marines on the first day, the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions focused on widening their positions and pushing toward the island's airfields. That's especially true when we keep in mind that the enemy tactic was that of attrition from underground fortifications. And while the second day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Marine faced a grueling and costly advance against entrenched Japanese positions, the fighting on Day 2 set the tone for what would become a 36-day "war of attrition" where progress was often measured only in yards.
Day 2, February 20th, 1945, was a day that saw Private First Class Jack Lucas, who had famously lied about his age to enlist in the Marine Corps at age 14, earn the Medal of Honor for his brave action of throwing himself on two Japanese grenades to save his fellow Marines.
On Day 2, the 28th Marines began their assault toward Mount Suribachi. The advance on Mount Suribachi was steady, and progress was measured in yards due to heavy Japanese mortar and machine-gun fire from the volcano's slopes. And yes, on Day 2, the 28th Marine Regiment successfully cut off Mount Suribachi from the rest of the island. That was a critical step toward its eventual capture three days later.
Many units reported heavy losses as they attempted to move inland. For example, some battalions reported hundreds of men missing or being "bypassed" in the chaotic volcanic ash. The Japanese resistance was so strong that it necessitated the early commitment of the 3rd Marine Division, which was held in reserve and was supposed to be deployed much later in the fight.
While this was taking place on Iwo Jima, offshore, Japanese coastal batteries and early kamikaze-style attacks kept our ships busy defending themselves while still trying to supply fire support for the Marines onshore. By Day 2, the escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea was sunk, and ships engaging with the enemy over the first 48 hours had already accounted for hundreds of sailor casualties.
Day 3 of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Wednesday, February 21, 1945, was characterized by deteriorating weather and more Japanese kamikaze attacks against the supporting naval fleet. It was the day that the 21st Marines, part of the 3rd Marine Division, began landing on the island to reinforce the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. Marines of the 4th and 5th Divisions continued their grueling advance through soft volcanic ash.
And as for the 28th Marines, supported by heavy naval and artillery bombardment, they continued their grueling push toward the base of Mount Suribachi. The Marines were fighting through what they nicknamed the "Meat Grinder" and towards the slopes of Mount Suribachi, experiencing relentless mortar and machine-gun fire. By the end of that day, the 28th Marine Regiment had successfully cut off Mount Suribachi from the rest of the island, setting the stage for its capture two days later.
Marines moved slowly through the extremely difficult "black ash sand that swallowed an individual's foot up to the ankle". Weather conditions were cold and rainy, hampering air support and slowing the movement of supplies from the beaches to the front lines. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions faced intense, entrenched Japanese resistance, making slow progress across the volcanic, heavily defended, and treacherous terrain.
As for the Japanese forces, the defenders, under General Kuribayashi, were deeply entrenched in tunnels and bunkers, refusing to surrender and forcing a slow, bloody advance. The Japanese remained largely underground by utilizing an extensive network of tunnels and bunkers to direct mortar and machine-gun fire onto the exposed Marines.
On February 19, 1945, the first waves of U.S. Marines went ashore at 8:30 am. The first day set the stage for one of the most savage and costly battles in Marine Corps history, aiming to secure the island for B-29 bomber emergency landings. On that first day, the soft, black volcanic sand made movement difficult, causing vehicles and troops to get stuck under heavy fire. What the Marines faced were Japanese defenders, who waited until the beaches were packed with Marines and equipment before they opened fire with machine guns, mortars, and artillery fire.
To make the bloody carnage worse, Marines faced "bone-chilling" cold rain that turned the volcanic ash into a sticky, "gluey black sludge," that hampered their movement and fouled their weapons. Tank battalions, naval gunfire, and air strikes were essential for attacking fortified Japanese positions, but progress was slow. At first, the tanks bogged down in the sand and were slow to get into the fight.
Of course, while this was going on, naval gunfire pummeled the island, as air strikes hit elusive Japanese positions. The Japanese, contrary to previous battles, did not launch chaotic banzai charges. Instead, they remained in hidden bunkers and tunnels, inflicting heavy casualties with coordinated artillery and mortar fire from the slopes of Mount Suribachi.
Marines managed to advance off the beaches despite the chaos. And while that first day saw Marines getting hit the hardest on that beach, some units reached the edge of Airfield Number 1 by noon. On that first day, when some Marines didn't even make it off the beach and out of that sand, there would be over 2,400 U.S. casualties.
Of them, more than 550 Marines were killed in action, and more than 1,800 Marines were wounded. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions suffered heavy, immediate losses, with 15-foot volcanic sand banks stalling vehicles and creating a bottleneck for incoming troops. On that first day, on Day 1 of the battle, the 3rd Battalion, 25th Marines alone lost 22 officers and 500 riflemen. And yes, legendary Medal of Honor recipient Gunnery Sergeant John Basilone was killed on that first morning. And that was only Day One of the battle.
What some might not realize is that the Battle of Iwo Jima included the Japanese launching major kamikaze attacks on U.S. Navy vessels offshore. They attacked the carrier USS Saratoga whcih was severely damaged by multiple kamikaze hits, and they severely damaged the escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea -- which ended up sinking on Day 2.
On the second day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines faced brutal conditions as they attempted to expand their precarious beachhead against a deeply entrenched enemy. On Day 2, Marines still struggled against "bone-chilling" cold rain and the island's unique volcanic ash, which made movement for both men and tanks nearly impossible.
Day 2 of the battle saw a high casualty rate largely due to the "black volcanic sand," which made it nearly impossible for Marines either dig foxholes for cover or get off that beach. That meant the Marines on that beach were exposed to withering Japanese fire.
After landing 30,000 Marines on the first day, the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions focused on widening their positions and pushing toward the island's airfields. That's especially true when we keep in mind that the enemy tactic was that of attrition from underground fortifications. And while the second day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Marine faced a grueling and costly advance against entrenched Japanese positions, the fighting on Day 2 set the tone for what would become a 36-day "war of attrition" where progress was often measured only in yards.
Day 2, February 20th, 1945, was a day that saw Private First Class Jack Lucas, who had famously lied about his age to enlist in the Marine Corps at age 14, earn the Medal of Honor for his brave action of throwing himself on two Japanese grenades to save his fellow Marines.
On Day 2, the 28th Marines began their assault toward Mount Suribachi. The advance on Mount Suribachi was steady, and progress was measured in yards due to heavy Japanese mortar and machine-gun fire from the volcano's slopes. And yes, on Day 2, the 28th Marine Regiment successfully cut off Mount Suribachi from the rest of the island. That was a critical step toward its eventual capture three days later.
Many units reported heavy losses as they attempted to move inland. For example, some battalions reported hundreds of men missing or being "bypassed" in the chaotic volcanic ash. The Japanese resistance was so strong that it necessitated the early commitment of the 3rd Marine Division, which was held in reserve and was supposed to be deployed much later in the fight.
While this was taking place on Iwo Jima, offshore, Japanese coastal batteries and early kamikaze-style attacks kept our ships busy defending themselves while still trying to supply fire support for the Marines onshore. By Day 2, the escort carrier USS Bismarck Sea was sunk, and ships engaging with the enemy over the first 48 hours had already accounted for hundreds of sailor casualties.
Day 3 of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Wednesday, February 21, 1945, was characterized by deteriorating weather and more Japanese kamikaze attacks against the supporting naval fleet. It was the day that the 21st Marines, part of the 3rd Marine Division, began landing on the island to reinforce the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions. Marines of the 4th and 5th Divisions continued their grueling advance through soft volcanic ash.
And as for the 28th Marines, supported by heavy naval and artillery bombardment, they continued their grueling push toward the base of Mount Suribachi. The Marines were fighting through what they nicknamed the "Meat Grinder" and towards the slopes of Mount Suribachi, experiencing relentless mortar and machine-gun fire. By the end of that day, the 28th Marine Regiment had successfully cut off Mount Suribachi from the rest of the island, setting the stage for its capture two days later.
Marines moved slowly through the extremely difficult "black ash sand that swallowed an individual's foot up to the ankle". Weather conditions were cold and rainy, hampering air support and slowing the movement of supplies from the beaches to the front lines. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions faced intense, entrenched Japanese resistance, making slow progress across the volcanic, heavily defended, and treacherous terrain.
As for the Japanese forces, the defenders, under General Kuribayashi, were deeply entrenched in tunnels and bunkers, refusing to surrender and forcing a slow, bloody advance. The Japanese remained largely underground by utilizing an extensive network of tunnels and bunkers to direct mortar and machine-gun fire onto the exposed Marines.
By the end of the third day on Iwo Jima, February 21, 1945, U.S. Marines sustained exceptionally high casualties, with over 3,000 Marines killed or wounded since the initial February 19 landing. It's true. The initial amphibious assault on February 19 alone saw thousands of casualties, and by Day 3, the fight was already considered one of the bloodiest in Marine Corps history.
February 21, 1945, was the third day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, and U.S. Marines faced a two-front struggle involving brutal cave-to-cave combat on land and devastating kamikaze attacks at sea. Marines of the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions continued their slow, yard-by-yard advance through volcanic ash and heavily fortified Japanese pillboxes. Of course, at the same time, Marine engineers were also at work under heavy mortar fire to clear anti-boat mines that were disabling M-4 Sherman tanks and blocking inland movement.
Day 3 was the day that Corporal Hershel "Woody" Williams landed on this day with the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines. He would go on to earn the Medal of Honor for his actions two days later, using a flamethrower to single-handedly destroy seven Japanese pillboxes.
Japanese coastal defense guns remained active, striking the destroyer USS Pensacola six times and causing significant damage. All in all, during this battle, it's believed roughly 21,000 Japanese defenders remained largely entrenched in tunnels and caves, despite the ongoing naval bombardment.
On February 22, 1945, Day 4 of the Battle of Iwo Jima, while the overall operation had originally been planned to last only four days, the fierce Japanese resistance meant that by this date, the Marines were still locked in a brutal struggle for the island's key heights.
Day 4 saw the advance on Mount Suribachi by the 28th Marine Regiment (5th Marine Division) to continue its grueling push to isolate and scale Mount Suribachi at the southern tip of the island. Despite heavy rain and constant mortar fire from Japanese positions, they managed to surround the volcano by the end of the day, setting the stage for the famous flag-raising the following morning.
In the center and north of the island, the 4th Marine Division fought to expand the beachhead and push toward Airfield No. 1. Progress was measured in mere yards as Marines used flamethrowers and demolition charges to clear an intricate network of Japanese pillboxes and tunnels. Elements of the 21st Marine Regiment (3rd Marine Division) began landing to reinforce the 4th and 5th Divisions, who had already suffered thousands of casualties.
The primary objective of Day 4 was to capture Mount Suribachi and Airfield No. 1. Marines of the 28th Regiment (5th Marine Division) successfully completed the isolation of Mount Suribachi at the southern tip of the island. While the 5th Division focused on Mount Suribachi, the 3rd and 4th Marine Divisions began the grueling "Meat Grinder" phase, attacking heavily fortified Japanese positions in the north, such as Hill 362 and the airfields. Hill 382 was the highest point in the north, riddled with hidden antitank guns and machine-nestled crevices.
What the Marines in the "Meat Grinder" were up against were Japanese defenders deeply entrenched in caves and bunkers using interlocking fields of machine-gun fire. So by this stage of the Battle of Iwo Jima, thousands of Marines were already killed or wounded.
To make matters worse, heavy rain and choppy seas hampered the delivery of supplies and the evacuation of the wounded. In fact, the heavy rains on February 22nd hampered movement and air support, but also turned the volcanic ash into a thick, slippery mire that slowed the evacuation of the wounded to a crawl.
By the end of Day 4, U.S. casualties had surpassed 4,500, including approximately 1,000 killed. And of course, as it was from the start, the soft volcanic ash continued to bog down vehicles and tanks.
The following day, February 23, 1945, Day 5, America would see the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi by the 28th Marines. With intense Japanese resistance as they tightened their grip on the base of Mount Suribachi, Marines pushed into the island's rugged northern interior.
Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima was a crucial Japanese fortress, featuring tunnels and artillery that commanded the landing beaches. The peak had dominated the landing beaches with Japanese artillery fire. It provided Japanese forces with a high-ground observation point, allowing them to fire on U.S. Marines landing on the beaches.
February 21, 1945, was the third day of the Battle of Iwo Jima, and U.S. Marines faced a two-front struggle involving brutal cave-to-cave combat on land and devastating kamikaze attacks at sea. Marines of the 4th and 5th Marine Divisions continued their slow, yard-by-yard advance through volcanic ash and heavily fortified Japanese pillboxes. Of course, at the same time, Marine engineers were also at work under heavy mortar fire to clear anti-boat mines that were disabling M-4 Sherman tanks and blocking inland movement.
Day 3 was the day that Corporal Hershel "Woody" Williams landed on this day with the 1st Battalion, 21st Marines. He would go on to earn the Medal of Honor for his actions two days later, using a flamethrower to single-handedly destroy seven Japanese pillboxes.
Japanese coastal defense guns remained active, striking the destroyer USS Pensacola six times and causing significant damage. All in all, during this battle, it's believed roughly 21,000 Japanese defenders remained largely entrenched in tunnels and caves, despite the ongoing naval bombardment.
On February 22, 1945, Day 4 of the Battle of Iwo Jima, while the overall operation had originally been planned to last only four days, the fierce Japanese resistance meant that by this date, the Marines were still locked in a brutal struggle for the island's key heights.
Day 4 saw the advance on Mount Suribachi by the 28th Marine Regiment (5th Marine Division) to continue its grueling push to isolate and scale Mount Suribachi at the southern tip of the island. Despite heavy rain and constant mortar fire from Japanese positions, they managed to surround the volcano by the end of the day, setting the stage for the famous flag-raising the following morning.
In the center and north of the island, the 4th Marine Division fought to expand the beachhead and push toward Airfield No. 1. Progress was measured in mere yards as Marines used flamethrowers and demolition charges to clear an intricate network of Japanese pillboxes and tunnels. Elements of the 21st Marine Regiment (3rd Marine Division) began landing to reinforce the 4th and 5th Divisions, who had already suffered thousands of casualties.
The primary objective of Day 4 was to capture Mount Suribachi and Airfield No. 1. Marines of the 28th Regiment (5th Marine Division) successfully completed the isolation of Mount Suribachi at the southern tip of the island. While the 5th Division focused on Mount Suribachi, the 3rd and 4th Marine Divisions began the grueling "Meat Grinder" phase, attacking heavily fortified Japanese positions in the north, such as Hill 362 and the airfields. Hill 382 was the highest point in the north, riddled with hidden antitank guns and machine-nestled crevices.
What the Marines in the "Meat Grinder" were up against were Japanese defenders deeply entrenched in caves and bunkers using interlocking fields of machine-gun fire. So by this stage of the Battle of Iwo Jima, thousands of Marines were already killed or wounded.
To make matters worse, heavy rain and choppy seas hampered the delivery of supplies and the evacuation of the wounded. In fact, the heavy rains on February 22nd hampered movement and air support, but also turned the volcanic ash into a thick, slippery mire that slowed the evacuation of the wounded to a crawl.
By the end of Day 4, U.S. casualties had surpassed 4,500, including approximately 1,000 killed. And of course, as it was from the start, the soft volcanic ash continued to bog down vehicles and tanks.
The following day, February 23, 1945, Day 5, America would see the raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi by the 28th Marines. With intense Japanese resistance as they tightened their grip on the base of Mount Suribachi, Marines pushed into the island's rugged northern interior.
Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima was a crucial Japanese fortress, featuring tunnels and artillery that commanded the landing beaches. The peak had dominated the landing beaches with Japanese artillery fire. It provided Japanese forces with a high-ground observation point, allowing them to fire on U.S. Marines landing on the beaches.
Capturing it was essential to destroying the interlocking network of caves and tunnels, effectively neutralizing the Japanese defense of the island. So yes, capturing Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, was vital for securing the island.
And yes, if you've heard that there were two flag raisings, it's true. There were two flag raisings. The first flag raising was when a small American flag was initially raised by 1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier and his 40-man patrol, significantly boosting the morale of the troops below -- but the small American flag was deemed too small.
And yes, if you've heard that there were two flag raisings, it's true. There were two flag raisings. The first flag raising was when a small American flag was initially raised by 1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier and his 40-man patrol, significantly boosting the morale of the troops below -- but the small American flag was deemed too small.
To remedy that situation, about three hours after the first smaller flag went up, a larger 4’x8’ flag was used on Mount Suribachi. Lt. Schrier ordered the new flag be raised at the same time the first flag was lowered. And while six Marines hoisted the new flag into place, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, Sgt Bill Genaust, and Pvt Bob Campbell captured the moment on film. That second, larger flag was a lot more visible across the island.
Believe it or not, some initially thought it was a posed photo. But it was, in fact, entirely spontaneous. The six Marines raising the flag were Sgt Strank, Cpl. Block, PFC Sousley, PFC Hayes, Cpl. Schultz, and Cpl. Keller. Three of those six Marines, Sgt Strank, Cpl. Block and PFC Sousley were killed in action on Iwo Jima.
During the first 5 days of the Battle of Iwo Jima from February 19 to 23, 1945, Marines sustained over 5,300 casualties within just the first three days. The initial landing alone resulted in roughly 2,400 killed or wounded. The high casualties during the battle were suffered immediately upon landing on February 19, 1945. By the time the flag was raised on Mount Suribachi on Day 5, thousands more were lost to intense, entrenched fire.
While the flag raising didn't stop Japanese resistance from the tunnels and dugouts on Mount Suribachi, it wasn't meant to. It was strategic, and the flag raising also gave a needed boost to the morale of everyone there. Let's keep in mind that by Day 5, only a third of the island had been touched.
And yes, while the southern end of the island at Mount Suribachi was being secured, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions continued to push north toward the island's airfields and the main Japanese defensive lines. Marines moved from the open beaches into the northern plateau, where the terrain was jagged rock formations and more caves.
The Japanese northern sector defense was a mutually supporting defensive system consisting of areas known to Marines as "The Meat Grinder," "Turkey Knob," and "The Amphitheater." Because of Kuribayashi's idea to construct 11 miles of tunnels, Marines would clear a pillbox, move past it, and then get shot in the back by Japanese soldiers who had re-entered the position through other underground tunnels.
Part of the danger for Marines had to do with how Japanese troops emerged from tunnels and then disappeared. Because standard Marine infantry tactics failed against reinforced concrete and deep caves, Marines had to use a slow, deadly combination of flamethrowers, known as the "blowtorch," to suppress enemy fire, along with explosive satchel charges, called the "corkscrew," to hopefully seal cave entrances permanently. The Marines' "Corkscrew and Blowtorch Tactics," as it became known, worked pretty well.
Of course, the biggest problem for the Marines was that the Japanese were not on the island, but in it. That means that the Japanese troops were deep in their underground bunkers, which were nearly impervious to the massive U.S. Naval gun and air bombardments.
This forced Marines to root out defenders in high-risk, close-quarters combat. And yes, it was close quarters, since the Japanese defenders were ordered to hold fire until Marines were in close range for ambushes. And no, with Japanese troops ducking in caves and popping out of others, and the close-quarter combat, there were no "front lines" in the traditional sense.
Of course, the biggest problem for the Marines was that the Japanese were not on the island, but in it. That means that the Japanese troops were deep in their underground bunkers, which were nearly impervious to the massive U.S. Naval gun and air bombardments.
This forced Marines to root out defenders in high-risk, close-quarters combat. And yes, it was close quarters, since the Japanese defenders were ordered to hold fire until Marines were in close range for ambushes. And no, with Japanese troops ducking in caves and popping out of others, and the close-quarter combat, there were no "front lines" in the traditional sense.
For Marines on Iwo Jima, the enemy could appear from just about any crack in the volcanic rock. The Marines fighting in "Bloody Gorge" saw savage fighting. It was a narrow, final defensive pocket where the last organized Japanese resistance held out until late March.
Kuribayashi's strategy on Iwo Jima was to kill as many Marines as possible. He encouraged his troops with his "Kill 10 Rule." His slogan, "Each man will make it his duty to kill 10 of the enemy before dying".
Kuribayashi's strategy on Iwo Jima was explicitly designed to maximize American casualties, turning the battle into a slow, agonizing, and costly fight, rather than seeking a direct win. He wanted to force the Marines to fight for every inch of the island. He wanted the Marines to pay for every inch of that island with their blood.
Kuribayashi's approach using the volcanic terrain to his advantage resulted in over 25,000 American casualties, including nearly 7,000 Marines killed. This made Iwo Jima one of the costliest battles for the Marines in World War II.
Instead of defending the landing beaches, Kuribayashi had his men build a deep interconnected network of over 11 miles of tunnels, bunkers, and camouflaged artillery positions inland and in the north. He banned the standard, what he saw as "reckless banzai charges," instead ordering his soldiers to fight from hidden positions to inflict maximum casualties on the Marines as long as they could.
Some say his goal was to make the cost of victory so high that it would deter, or at least delay, an American invasion of the Japanese home islands. What it did do was get the U.S. Navy and the Joint Chiefs in Washington to truly consider using an atomic bomb instead of facing this sort of battle times a hundred if they invaded Japan.
What was the fighting like? Close-quarter, surprise, savage, ficious, a "no-quarter" environment. In fact, after reading about what went on there for those 36 days, it's obvious that the fighting on Iwo Jima can be characterized by an extreme "no-quarter" environment. The brutality was driven by the Japanese "fight to the death" doctrine and the Marines who experienced Japanese "fake surrenders" in previous battles.
The result was a brutal battle, which lasted from February 19 to March 26, 1945. It was a five-week battle of attrition where surrender was rare. And even by early March, when the island was largely secured, that didn't stop a major, coordinated "Banzai Attack" launched on the night of March 8 by Japanese Imperial Army Capt. Samaji Inouye. The attack on Airfield No. 2 is said to have caught Americans off guard. What followed was a ferocious Marine close-quarters counterattack that resulted in the death of nearly all Japanese attackers.
Then, on March 25, 1945, a final desperate act 300-man Japanese force launched another, even more, silent, and effective, surprise attack against U.S. Army pilots, Seabees, and Marines. Japanese forces launched surprise nighttime, infiltration-style "Banzai charge" targeting the troops asleep at Airfield No.2's bivouac area.
The 5th Pioneer Battalion and Army Air Corps pilots on the western side of Airfield No. 2 had turned in for the night. Most were unarmed because they had already turned in their weapons. The troops who turned in their weapon were scheduled to leave Iwo Jima during the day.
The stealth assault, which was sometimes called a "Silent Banzai" because the Japanese troops didn't scream "Banzai" when they made their charge, was aimed at creating maximum casualties to the airfield's support units and pilots. The 90-minute attack resulted in 56 American troops being killed and 116 Army airmen and Marines being wounded, many were killed and wounded in their tents while asleep.
This final, desperate action solidified the "no-quarter" reality as Marines proceeded to root out and kill the enemy in one final push. They sealed off or destroyed the remaining caves with flamethrowers and explosives, often killing the defenders inside.
At 09:00 on March 26, 1945, after the final pocket of resistance was cleared, the island was formally declared secured. The conclusion of the 36-day battle was marked by a sentimment of "no-quarter" that intensified after that last Banzi attack.
There were 27 Medals of Honor presented to those who fought there. Of the 27 Medals of Honor awarded for actions during the Battle of Iwo Jima, 14 were presented posthumously. These medals were awarded to 22 Marines and 5 Sailors. And of those 5 Sailors, 4 were FMF Corpsmen. And here's something else to note, while these Medals of Honor awards account for over 25% of all Medals of Honor given to Marines during World War II, the 27 awards represent the highest number of Medals of Honor awarded for a single battle in United States history.
To understand the scale of losses during these early days, the overall final statistics for the 36-day battle are as follows: Over the 36-day battle, 6,821 to 7,000 Marines were killed in action and 19,217–20,000 wounded, with a significant percentage occurring in the first few days. There were also 209 U.S. Navy personnel, FMF Corpsmen and Navy Surgeons attached to the Marines, who were killed in action. The 4th Marine Division, operating on the right flank, was particularly hard-hit during these early days, eventually losing nearly half its strength — 9,098 casualties — by the end of the 36-day battle.
As for the Japanese, out of a garrison of roughly 21,000, nearly all were killed. And believe it or not, since their code forbade them from surrendering, only about 216 were taken prisoner by the end of the main fighting.
The capture of Iwo Jima was strategically vital for America's advance toward Japan. which served as a vital air base for B-29 bombers on missions to bomb Japan. It provided emergency landing strips for B-29 bombers and a base for fighter escorts to support long-range bombing missions over the Japanese home islands. And yes, it saved the lives of many airmen. By some estimates, securing the airfield on Iwo Jima saved the lives of more than 27,000 airmen.
Think about that for a moment. Securing the mountain helped pave the way for taking the rest of the island, which was necessary for securing airfields for emergency landings of B-29 bombers. Iwo Jima served as a critical, emergency landing base for over 2,400 crippled B-29 bombers returning from raids over Japan, saving an estimated 27,000 crewmen.
As for our Marine Corps legacy, the event, described by Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, was seen as a defining moment for the Marine Corps' endurance and ferocity in combat.
U.S. Navy Fleet Adm. Chester Nimitz, commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said of the battle, "Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue." He also said, "If there had been any question whether there should be a Marine Corps after this war, the Battle of Iwo Jima will assure that there will always be a Marine Corps."
As for its iconic symbolism, the flag-raising photo, captured by Joe Rosenthal, became a defining image of the war. The iconic flag-raising photograph symbolized American resilience and triumph in the Pacific, boosting morale after the war-weary nation's earlier, devastating losses. Taking Iwo Jima had a huge impact on the war effort at home, and the photo of U.S. Marines raising Old Glory on Mount Suribachi represented American determination and camaraderie. In essense, that photo captured the American will to prevail through heartache and struggle.
Tom Correa
