2. Reasons for the Invasion of
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima is an island in the pacific.
The American invasion of this island was part of
the island-hopping in the pacific.
There were several reasons for the invasion of
Iwo Jima:
To continue the B-29(bombers) raid on Japan
It contained airstrips the Japanese Kamikazes
used.
The airfields provided a base that could be
used as emergency landing strips for B-29s
coming from Japan.
3. Invasion of Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima began on February 19, 1945.
The Marines mission was to secure airfields on the island.
When they invaded, they had to climb Mt. Suribachi on
the southern island and it was really tough terrain.
Iwo Jima was mostly barren land and Japanese hid in
tunnels, attacking soldiers, then retreating.
This was the most intense fighting in the battle.
The marines had to climb through volcanic ash, carrying 100
pound bags.
4. Raising the Flag
By February 22nd, marines surrounded the mountain and
on February 23rd, they had captured it.
They raised an American flag at 10:20 AM.
They later brought a bigger flag.
It was raised by Ira Hayes, Mike Strank, Rene
Gagnon, Harlon Block, Franklin Sonsley, and John
Bradley.
A picture was taken by Joe Rosenthal, who won a Pulitzer
prize for it later.
The picture is the most reproduced photo of all time.
6. Invading the North End of
the Island
February 24th February 25th
Marines started to Marine division starts
invade the north end to attack center of
of the island but only Japanese line at 9:30
gained 500 yards AM. Brought in flame
because Japanese throwing tanks to kill
were able to stop Japanese, but the
their tanks. advance was very
slow.
7. Invading North End of Island
Continued
-February 28th
-Marines get on high ground looking over airfield #3, but need to
capture hills around it.
-March 4th
-The first damaged B-29 landed in the captured airfields.
8. End of the Battle of Iwo
Jima
March 25th
Resistance on the island continued until then. The
battle ended at Kitano Point.
The island was declared secure on March 26th.
The island was then used for landing spots for B-
29s that were raiding Japan.
9. American Casualties
Americans killed during Battle of Iwo Jima: 6,821
Americans wounded during the battle: 19,217
More U.S. Marines received the medal of honor in
the Battle of Iwo Jima than any other battle in
U.S. history.
10. Japanese
Casualties of Iwo Jima:
-Japanese prisoners of war from the Battle
1,083
-Japanese killed during the battle: an estimated 20,000
-Japanese strength on the island was underestimated by
U.S. forces.
12. Citations
quot;Battle of Iwo Jima.quot; History web pages. 25 Apr. 2009
<http://history.sandiego.edu/gen/WW2Timeline/LUT
Z/iwo.html>.
quot;The Marine Corps War Memorial.quot; National Park Service -
Experience Your America. 25 May 2009
<http://www.nps.gov/archive/gwmp/usmc.htm>.
quot;Battle of Iwo Jima.quot; Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 25 May 2009
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Iwo_Jima >.
American Nation in the Modern Era. New York: Holt, Rinehart and
Winston, 2005.