The Battle of Iwo Jima (Feb. 19-March 26, 1945) was a major battle in which the U.S. Armed Forces fought for and captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese empire.

The American invasion had the goal of capturing the entire island, which is about 5 miles long and 2 1/2 miles wide at its widest point. It included three airfields.

The five-week battle comprised some of the fiercest and bloodiest fighting of the war in the Pacific of World War II. More than 6,000 men, including 5,800 of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Divisions of the U.S. Marine Corps, gave their lives to capture Iwo Jima from the Japanese.

Of the 22,000 Japanese soldiers on the island at the beginning of the battle, only 216 were taken prisoner.

Iwo Jima was the only battle by the U.S. Marine Corps in which the overall American casualties (killed and wounded) exceeded those of the Japanese, although Japanese combat deaths were thrice those of the Americans throughout the battle.

After the heavy losses incurred in the battle, the strategic value of the island became controversial. It was useless to the Army as a staging base and useless to the Navy as a fleet base.

Three members of Post 22 American Legion-Lewiston who were at Iwo Jima are still alive. They are Henry Gilbert, U.S. Marine Corps, who was in the first waves of Marines and witnessed the raising of the U.S. flag on the top of Mount Suri Bachi. Henry Gervais, U.S. Marine Corps hospital corpsman, and George DeVoe, U.S. Army, were also there.

Jerry Der Boghosian, Adjutant, Post 22, American Legion, Lewiston

Copy the Story Link