On Iwo Jima, Marines achieved a costly victory as they grappled with tenacious Japanese defenders dug into the island’s volcanic terrain. Americans faced even worse on Okinawa, the natural springboard for an invasion of Japan’s home islands.
Full Answer
How dangerous was the Battle of Iwo Jima compared to Okinawa?
For naval personnel Okinawa was extremely risky, while Iwo was not. On the ground, Iwo was the tougher fight when one considers, as other posters have, the relative sizes of the islands. H...
What happened on Iwo Jima?
Celebration erupted when the first Marine patrol reached the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, and raised a small American flag. A short while later, another detachment returned to the peak to replace the flag with a second, larger one. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment on film.
How did the US defeat the Japanese in Okinawa?
While US Marines overcame Japanese defenses in northern Okinawa by April 18, opposition in the south proved formidable. The Japanese anchored their defenses at historic Shuri Castle, supported by a series of well-defended high ridges. These defenses, and sporadic Japanese counterattacks, held up the American advance.
Is there a base on Iwo Jima?
I have been to Iwo Jima although it is now called Iwo To (sulfur island.) There is now a single airstrip which is orientated 07/25. That is seventy degrees from true north. It is maintained as a base for the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense force.
What was the battle of Iwo Jima?
The Battle of Iwo Jima. On Iwo Jima, site of a strategic air base located between the Mariana Islands and Japan, the Japanese carved out a network of underground fortifications aimed at turning the small volcanic island into a death trap for invading US Marines. When US Marine divisions invaded on February 19, 1945, ...
What happened to the US in Okinawa?
In Okinawa’s craggy southern reaches, US soldiers and Marines battered a Japanese fortress as kamikaze aircraft rained down on the invasion fleet.
Where was the second flag raised in Iwo Jima?
US Marines raise a second flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima, February 23, ...
Where did the US Marines defend against the Japanese?
While US Marines overcame Japanese defenses in northern Okinawa by April 18, opposition in the south proved formidable. The Japanese anchored their defenses at historic Shuri Castle, supported by a series of well-defended high ridges. These defenses, and sporadic Japanese counterattacks, held up the American advance.
How many people died in the Japanese invasion?
The US landing forces suffered 6,821 killed and 19,217 wounded. Although most in the 20,000-strong Japanese garrison were draftees, they refused to surrender, fighting tenaciously until only a few hundred remained alive to be taken prisoner.
When was the first American flag raised on Mount Suribachi?
Celebration erupted when the first Marine patrol reached the summit of Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945 , and raised a small American flag. A short while later, another detachment returned to the peak to replace the flag with a second, larger one. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment on film. Although the second flag raising was hardly noticed on Iwo Jima, Rosenthal’s dramatic photograph appeared on the front pages of newspapers around the country, and has become one of World War II’s most iconic images and among the most reproduced photographs in history.
When did the US invade Japan?
On April 1, 1945, more than 60,000 soldiers and US Marines of the US Tenth Army stormed ashore at Okinawa, in the final island battle before an anticipated invasion of mainland Japan. After a largely unopposed initial advance, US forces soon encountered a network of Japanese inland defenses.
Why was Iwo Jima important?
Iwo Jima, which means Sulfur Island, was strategically important as an air base for fighter escorts supporting long-range bombing missions against mainland Japan. Because of the distance between mainland Japan and U.S. bases in the Mariana Islands, the capture of Iwo Jima would provide an emergency landing strip for crippled B-29s returning ...
How long did the Battle of Okinawa last?
soldiers and Marines landed under heavy naval gunfire and aircraft support. The campaign lasted 82 days, ending with Allied victory.
What would the seizure of Iwo allow for?
The seizure of Iwo would allow for sea and air blockades, the ability to conduct intensive air bombardment and to destroy the enemy's air and naval capabilities.
Who said uncommon valor was a common virtue?
The fighting that took place during the 36-day assault would be immortalized in the words of Commander, Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who said, "Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.".