G. K. Butterfield: “During World War II, the island of Iwo Jima was strategically located. It contained three airstrips which had been used…”

“During World War II, the island of Iwo Jima was strategically located. It contained three airstrips which had been used to stage kamikaze attacks on American ships. The island was home to three airstrips which had been used to stage kamikaze attacks. Allied generals believed that, if captured, the kamikazes would have to operate from Okinawa and Kyushu while at the same time providing American fighters airstrips close enough to Japan to escort B-29s during missions on the mainland. Iwo Jima became the first native Japanese soil invaded by Americans in World War II, with approximately 60,000 Americans and 20,000 Japanese participating in the battle. On February 19, 1945, U.S. Marines landed on Iwo Jima at 8:59 a.m., after 10 weeks of bombing from carrier-based planes and medium bombers. A total force of 70,000 Marines were assembled for the invasion against a force of 27,000 Japanese. What followed was some of the most vicious fighting of the entire war. On an island barely 8 square miles in size, the Japanese forces constructed over 800 pillboxes and 3 miles of tunnels. The volcanic ash on the island severely complicated landings. On February 23, 1945, Mike Strank, Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, Ira Hayes, Rene Gagnon and John Bradley raised an American flag atop Mount Suribachi.”