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By Paula Green
By now, most of us are familiar with the historic military Marine photo of Iwo Jima. This month, we commemorate 80 years since the flag-raising atop Mt. Suribachi on February 23, 1945. But what was the significance of that tiny Japanese island, and how did it affect the war effort?
Shortly after it attacked Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Japan gained control over much of Southeast Asia and the Central Pacific. The Japanese sphere of control was extensive and needed to be dealt with. The United States assumed command of Allied forces in the Pacific theatre and mounted a counteroffensive incorporating a strategic combination of land, air, and naval assaults. On February 19, 1945, the United States invaded the volcanic island.
Iwo Jima, located 750 miles off the coast of Japan, contained three airfields that could serve as a staging facility for a potential invasion of mainland Japan. On February 21, the Japanese executed a kamikaze attack on U.S. Navy vessels, badly damaging several ships. Despite the naval hardships, the U.S. Marines continued to press forward on land, and on February 23, they secured Suribachi.
Marines twice raised the American flag on Suribachi’s summit. The second flag raising was photographed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press, and his photograph became one of the most famous combat images of World War II.
The six flag raisers were Cpl. Harlon Block, Navy Pharmacist’s Mate John Bradley, Cpl. Rene Gagnon, PFC Franklin Sousley, Sgt. Michael Strank, and Cpl. Ira Hayes. Three of these men—Strank, Sousley, and Block—were killed before the battle for Iwo Jima was over.
The Americans finally secured victory on Iwo Jima on March 26, 1945, after both sides had paid a devastating toll in lives. After the battle, Iwo Jima served as an emergency landing site for more than 2,200 B-29 bombers, saving the lives of 24,000 U.S. airmen. Securing Iwo Jima prepared the way for the last and most significant battle in the Pacific: the invasion of Okinawa.
The Iwo Jima flag-raising is significant because it symbolizes American victory and resilience during WWII. This historic photo signifies the capture of a key strategic point on the island, and it served as a rallying point for troops and the American public during a brutal five-week battle. The image is now a part of the U.S. Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. It is a lasting tribute to the Marines who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Sources: www.nationalww2museum.org/sites/default/files/iwo-jima-fact-sheet, www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/battle-of-iwo-jima, www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Iwo-Jima,
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