Today is the 70th anniversary of the start of the battle of Iwo Jima. On this day, in 1945, U.S. Marines landed on the beaches after months of naval and air bombardment. But what the Marines found was a well dug-in enemy, and that the shelling had minimal impact. The island's Japanese defenders were dug in deep, using a system of tunnels and bunkers with the volcanic rock.
The U.S. sent in 70,000 men to take on the nearly 18,000 strong Japanese force. The battle lasted 36 days and victory was achieved at a high cost. Nearly 7,000 U.S. Marines, or 10% of the force, were killed while another 20,000 were injured. It remains one of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history.
After the battle, the island served as a landing site for B-29 bombers. Strategists say securing the island saved the lives of 24,000 U.S. airmen and paved the way for the largest and final battle of the Pacific, the invasion of Okinawa.
On this anniversary, we honor not only the brave Marines who stormed the beaches and paid the ultimate price, but all veterans as well.
Honoring More U.S. Veterans
