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| The US Air Force pounded Iwo in the longest
sustained aerial offensive of the war. "No other island received as much preliminary pounding as did Iwo Jima." . . . Admiral Nimitz, CINPAC |
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| Incredibly, this ferocious bombardment had little affect. Hardly any of the Japanese underground fortresses were touched. Twenty-one thousand defenders of Japanese soil, burrowed in the volcanic rock of Iwo Jima, anxiously awaited the American invaders. | |
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| Historians described U.S. forces' attack
against the Japanese defense as "throwing human flesh against reinforced concrete." Easy Company started with 310 men. We suffered 75% casualties. Only 50 men boarded the ship after the battle. Seven officers went into the battle with me. Only one--me--walked off Iwo." . . . Captain Dave Severance, . . . Easy Company Commander (the Flag Raising Company) |
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| More US Marines earned the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima than in any other battle in US History. | |
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| in 36 days of fighting there were 25,851 US
casualties (1 in 3 were killed or wounded). Of these, 6,825 American boys were killed. Virtually all 22,000 Japanese perished. |
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| May these brave men be forever in our hearts and prayers. They made the ultimate sacrifice, they gave themselves, so we would know freedom. |
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U.S. Marine |
U.S. Marine Cpl. Ira Hayes b. 1/12/23 Sacaton, AZ d. 1/24/55 Bapchule, AZ |
U.S. Marine Sgt. Mike Strank b. 1919 Jarabenia, Czechoslovkia d. 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan |
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| U.S. Marine Cpl. Harlon Block b. 1924 Yorktown, TX d. 1945 Iwo Jima, Japan |
U.S. Marine Pfc. Rene Gagnon b. 3/7/25 Manchester, NH d. 10/12/79 Manchester, NH |
U.S. Navy - Corpsman John Bradley b. 7/10/23 Antigo, WI d. 1/11/94 Antigo, WI |
