Iwo Jima Remembered

60 years ago, the Marines stormed Iwo Jima and thus began a bloody month-long battle to claim an important piece of real estate. Blackfive has information here and here.

The island battles during WWII were brutal events that showed the Japanese that we were not to be denied. By this point in the war, Japan knew it was do or die and they refused to be taken alive, so they fought to the death in alot of cases. This sums up the attack:

The 36-day assault resulted in more than 26,000 American casualties, including 6,800 dead. Of the 20,000 Japanese defenders, only 1,083 survived. The Marines' efforts, however, provided a vital link in the U.S. chain of bomber bases. By war's end, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewman made unscheduled landings on the island. Historians described U.S. forces' attack against the Japanese defense as "throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete." In the end, Iwo Jima was won not only by the fighting spirit of the Marines, but by the meticulous planning and support provided by the Navy and Army through supply efforts, medical care, and air and naval gunfire. Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines and sailors, many posthumously more than were awarded for any other single operation during the war.

That, my friends, is a gallant effort by our armed forces. These were some tough men who fought with the spirit of an American, the spirit of the armed forces, the spirit of a US Marine.