Sixty years ago this month, two armies clashed on a small, volcanic island in the Pacific. Casualties on both sides were horrendous. When the battle ended 36 days later, 27 men would be awarded the Medal of Honor, many posthumously.

United States’ forces would suffer 25,851 casualties (6,821 deaths). Their sacrifice would result in saving the lives of an estimated 29,000 airmen.

An image captured in 1/400th of a second would become the most sought after picture in history. It would gain a Pulitzer Prize for the photographer and defined the courage, determination and victorious spirit of a soon to be extinguished generation.

The taking of the island of Iwo Jima, located approximately 650 miles from the Japanese mainland, was strategically important to the prosecuting of the Pacific campaign for four reasons.

First, it would eliminate the radar station on the island, which acted as an early warning system and gave the mainland a two-hour notice of approaching bombers.

Second, the island had two airfields with a third under construction. These fields were used to launch fighters to intercept and neutralize the approaching B-29s.

Thirdly, once under American control, squadrons of P-51 Mustangs could be launched from the island to escort and provide protection for B-29s heading over the Japanese mainland.

Lastly, the island would serve as a refuge for disabled B-29s that could not make it back to their bases on Guam, Tinian and Saipan.

In 1944, knowing the Americans were coming, Tokyo appointed Maj. Gen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi to defend the Island. Upon arriving, he installed an elaborate tunnel defense in which he could move troops from one end of the island to another without ever appearing on the surface. He also learned from the Nazis how the Americans had stacked up on the beach during D-Day. From this he devised a strategy of waiting until the Marines bunched up on the beach and then opening up on them to ensure maximum casualties. He also instructed his troops to kill 10 Marines before they died.

On Feb. 19, 1945, at 9 o’clock, the assault on the island began. For three days, the naval shelling and bombing laid waste to the surface of the island, but had little or no effect on the Japanese. Three Marine divisions, the Third, Fourth and Fifth, took part in the attack.

Kuribayashi waited, as planned, for the units to bunch up on the beach. He then rained down fire onto them, causing heavy casualties. This would launch the nightmare that was Iwo Jima.

On the fifth day of the battle, Feb. 23, Lt. Harold Schrier was ordered to take a 42-man patrol up Mount Suribachi. He was given a small flag and instructed that if he made it to the summit, he was to raise the flag at the highest point. His patrol went up the mountain, taking no fire. Upon reaching the summit, the flag was raised. At that point throughout the island and on the ships at sea, a cry went up “the flag is up.” Ships blew their horns. Lew Loury, a photographer for Leatherneck magazine, recorded the event.

A few hours later, a larger flag was sent to the summit with the instructions it was to replace the smaller flag. Five Marines and a Navy corpsman found a pipe and secured the flag to it. Upon raising it, Joe Rosenthal, a photographer for The Associated Press, snapped a picture recording what became a highly sought after, award-winning photograph. This raising went unnoticed by the troops on the island and the sailors at sea.

Today in Washington, D.C., a memorial stands in recognition of not only the bravery and sacrifice of the men who fought this battle, but also as a tribute to all the men and women who have served and are currently serving in the armed forces of the United States.

A quote from Adm. Chester Nimitz is engraved on the memorial. It reads, “Uncommon valor was a common virtue.”

Today, on the battlefields of Iraq and Afghanistan, our patriotic sons and daughters are engaging another ruthless enemy. Their courage and determination shows that, like our forefathers, uncommon valor is still a common virtue.

Robert E. Macdonald is the Americanism officer for the Marine Corps League, Central Maine Detachment and VFW Post 9150 and American Legion Post 210.