Battle of Iwo Jima

Video - February 19th is the Anniversary of the Marine invasion of Iwo Jima. Ground fighting on the Iwo Jima took place over approximately 35 days, lasting from the landings of February 19 to a final Japanese charge the morning of March 26, 1945.

The battle was marked by some of the fiercest fighting of the Pacific campaign. The Japanese Army positions on the island were heavily fortified, with vast bunkers, hidden artillery, and 18 kilometers (11 mi) of tunnels. The battle was the first American attack on the Japanese Home Islands and the Japanese soldiers defended their positions tenaciously.

Of the over 21,000 Japanese soldiers, 20,703 died and 216 were captured during the battle. The Allied forces suffered 27,909 casualties, with 6,825 killed in action. The number of American casualties was greater than the total Allied casualties on D-Day (estimated at 10,000, compared with 125,847 American casualties during the entire Battle of Normandy). Iwo Jima was also the only U.S. Marine battle where the American casualties exceeded the Japanese.

Over a quarter of the Medals of Honor awarded to Marines in World War II were given for conduct in the invasion of Iwo Jima. The Marines were commended with 24 Medals of Honor. An additional five Medals of Honor were bestowed upon five Navy servicemen and reservists.