Feb 19, 1945 – Mar 26, 1945
One of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history. After the battle, Iwo Jima served as an emergency landing site for more than 2,200 B-29 bombers, likely saving the lives of 24,000 U.S. airmen. Securing Iwo Jima prepared the way for the last and largest battle in the Pacific: the invasion of Okinawa.
Marines and Navy personnel—sustained 24,053 casualties, with 6,140 of those being KIA, the highest single battle losses in Marine Corps history. Roughly one Marine or corpsman became a casualty for every three who landed on Iwo Jima.
My uncle, who taught me firearm safety and how to shoot, was a corpsman in the Pacific, serving in Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He came home physically ok, but emotionally changed forever.
One of the bloodiest battles in Marine Corps history. After the battle, Iwo Jima served as an emergency landing site for more than 2,200 B-29 bombers, likely saving the lives of 24,000 U.S. airmen. Securing Iwo Jima prepared the way for the last and largest battle in the Pacific: the invasion of Okinawa.
Marines and Navy personnel—sustained 24,053 casualties, with 6,140 of those being KIA, the highest single battle losses in Marine Corps history. Roughly one Marine or corpsman became a casualty for every three who landed on Iwo Jima.
My uncle, who taught me firearm safety and how to shoot, was a corpsman in the Pacific, serving in Guam, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa. He came home physically ok, but emotionally changed forever.
