Iwo Jima

Photograph by Joe Rosenthal.  Raising of the US flag on top of  Mt. Suribachi (5 marines 1 Navy corpsman)

Iwo Jima was America's first attack on Japanese home islands.  The USMC invaded on February 19, 1945.  The Japanese had their army heavily stationed all through out the Island with 22,000 soldiers present.  The USMC's plan was to overtake 3 airfields.  The Marines were able to overcome the Japanese with tremendous Naval and Air support.  This was said to be the only United States Marine battle where our casualties exceeded the Japanese, all though the Japanese death rate was 3X ours.  There were 22,000 Japanese soldiers on the island at the beginning of the battle.  By March 26, 1945, the USMC had only 216 Japanese prisoners, the rest determined to be dead or missing.  This was one of the proudest moments and battles of the USMC history and will never be forgotten.