The Pacific island of Iwo Jima was home to fierce fighting during World War II. The Japanese held the island until early 1945. The island was strategically important because, if occupied by the United States, it could serve as a base for U.S. fighter planes and long-range bombers. On 19 February, two Marine divisions landed on the island, followed shortly thereafter by a third Marine division. The Japanese military defenders protected themselves from long-range bombardment by constructing an elaborate system of tunnels and by hiding in underground caves. In the battle, over 21,000 Japanese troops were killed and over 1,000 captured. By contrast, U.S. casualties totalled 28,000, including nearly 7,000 killed. After the American victory, …

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Citation: Richert, Lucas Paul. "US troops land at Iwo Jima". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 01 October 2008 [https://staging.litencyc.com/php/stopics.php?rec=true&UID=3153, accessed 26 November 2024.]