February 19, 1945: 30,000 U.S. Marines land on Iwo Jima.
At 8:30am, the order, “Land the Landing Force,” sent the first wave of Marines towards the deadly shores. Once ashore, the Marines were bedeviled by the loose volcanic ash. Unable to dig foxholes, they were sitting ducks for the hidden Japanese gunners.
Heavy fire made it impossible to land men in an orderly manner. Confusion reigned on the beaches.
The battle was unique in its setting. One hundred thousand men fighting on a tiny island one-third the size of Manhattan. For 36 days Iwo Jima was one of the most populated 7.5 miles on earth.
Mt. Suribachi, the 550-foot volcanic cone at the islands southern tip, dominates both possible landing beaches. From here, Japanese gunners zeroed in on every inch of the landing beach.
Blockhouses and pillboxes flanked the landing areas. Within, more heavy weapons stood ready to blast the attacking Marines. Machine guns criss-crossed the beaches with deadly interlocking fire. Rockets, anti-boat and anti-tank guns were also trained on the beaches.
The US sent more Marines to Iwo than to any other battle, 110,000 Marines in 880 Ships. The convoy of 880 US Ships sailed from Hawaii to Iwo in 40 days.
“Easy Company started with 310 men. We suffered 75% casualties. Only 50 men boarded the ship after the battle. Seven officers went into the battle with me. Only one–me–walked off Iwo.” – Captain Dave Severance, Easy Company Commander (the Flag Raising Company)
More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US History.
In 36 days of fighting there were 25,851 US casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded).
Of these, 6,825 American(s) were killed. Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished.
Pictures/Narratives found at www.iwojima.com.
Semper Fi.
That is all.
Curtis Lowe 