Battle of Iwo Jima

February 19 – March 26, 1945 · Pacific Theater

Phases

1. 1Feb 19 — Ashore on the Black SandFebruary 19, 1945
2. 2Feb 23 — The Flag on SuribachiFebruary 20–23, 1945
3. 3Mar — The Meat GrinderFebruary 24 – March 16, 1945
4. 4Mar 26 — The Cost of Eight Square MilesMarch 16–26, 1945

February 19, 1945

After 74 days of bombardment — the longest of the Pacific war — the Marines wade into volcanic ash that swallows boots and vehicles whole. The beaches are eerily quiet: Kuribayashi has ordered his 21,000 men, dug into sixteen miles of tunnels, to hold fire until the shore is packed. Then the island erupts. There is no front line; the enemy is beneath. By nightfall 30,000 Marines are ashore, and 2,400 are already down.

• ➤4th & 5th Marine Divisions — Onto the black-sand terraces of the eastern beaches
• ➤28th Marines — Cuts the island’s neck to isolate Suribachi
• ●Mount Suribachi — every yard of beach in its sights
• ●Airfield No. 1 — the reason for everything