The sacrifices of these men demonstrated the indomitable spirit of the young American Marines on Iwo Jima. All through the last days of battle the living Marines had been coming down to the cemeteries to acknowledge their debt to the dead. There they knelt or stood with bowed heads in prayerful farewell. Some of them decorated the graves of their buddies. Sometimes they carved crosses out of Iwo’s limestone. At other graves they laid Marine emblems or some last salute they had scratched on the bottom of a mess pan with the point of a bayonet. Sometimes inscriptions or designs were made by pressing cartridges into the sand. Some of these epitaphs said:
REACH DOWN, DEAR LORD, FOR THIS MARINE
WHO GAVE HIS ALL THAT WE MIGHT LIVE.
MONTY—A GOOD MARINE WHO DIED IN DEED
BUT NOT IN VAIN.
And then, as though out of the very heart of the nation, there came this cry of grief:
BUT GOD—FIFTEEN YEARS IS NOT ENOUGH!
In all, 4,189 Marines had been killed in action on Iwo Jima. With another 15,749 men who were wounded or put out of action in one way or another, the total cost had been 19,938 casualties. Yet, as heavy as the American losses were, only a handful of the 21,000 Japanese defenders survived. The death toll favored the attacking Americans by a ratio of more than five to one. This was an astonishing figure, because in war the attacker usually suffers far more than the defender. General Graves Erskine was mindful of this when he paid the last tribute to the fallen.
“Let the world count our crosses!” he said.
“Let them count them over and over. Then when they understand the significance of the fighting for Iwo Jima, let them wonder how few there are.”
The Marines had not only fought the most ferocious battle in Marine Corps history, but they were the victors of the most savage single struggle in the annals of American arms. But the brave young Marines who sailed away from Iwo Jima shared no feelings of triumph. They felt only a deep sense of sadness and loss. They would never forget the men they had left behind. Nor would the nation ever forget the name of that terrible, bloody place where the flag was flung to the foreign wind and the gateway to Japan torn open.
It was immortal now. It held equal rank with Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Belleau Wood and Guadalcanal.
Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz gave Iwo Jima its epitaph:
“Among the Americans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”
Order of Events in the Invasion of Iwo Jima
Nov. 24, 1944
B-29s from the Marianas conduct the first land-based aircraft raid on Tokyo
Dec. 8, 1944
Units of the United States Navy shell Iwo Jima. They return to shell the island again on Dec. 27, Jan. 5, and Jan. 24.
Feb. 15-16, 1945
Fifth Amphibious Corps leaves the Marianas after rehearsals for assault on Iwo Jima.
Feb. 16-18, 1945
Supporting naval forces conduct preinvasion bombardment of Iwo Jima with aircraft and gunfire.
Feb. 19, 1945
The 4th and 5th Marine divisions land on Iwo Jima and gain a foothold.
Seabees land to build roads to battle zone.
Feb. 22, 1945
The 3rd Division’s 21st Regiment is committed to battle in the 4th Division’s zone.
Japanese kamikazes attack support ships lying off Iwo Jima.
Feb. 23, 1945
The 28th Marines raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi.
Feb. 25, 1945
The last units of the 3rd division are committed to the battle.
The 4th Division enters the “Meatgrinder.”
Feb. 27, 1945
The 3rd Division overruns Airfield Number Two and Hill 199.
March 1, 1945
The 5th Division overruns Hill 362A.
The 3rd Division clears Airfield Number Three
March 3, 1945
Marines of the 5th Division capture Hill 362B.
March 4, 1945
The Meatgrinder is finally shattered by 4th Division.
The first B-29 lands on Iwo Jima.
March 6, 1945
Air Force P-51 Mustangs and P-61 Black Widows arrive on Iwo.
March 7, 1945
The 3rd Division makes a pre-down attack against Hill 362C, which is captured later that day.
March 8, 1945
Japanese launch banzai attack at night and are repulsed with heavy losses.
March 9, 1945
Marines of the 3rd Division reach the other end of Iwo Jima.
March 16, 1945
Last strong enemy opposition is eliminated in 3rd Division’s zone with fall of Cushman’s Pocket.
General Kuribayashi informs Toko of the impending loss of Iwo Jima.
March 19, 1945
The 4th Division takes ship for Hawaii.
March 26, 1945
Surviving Japanese launch a desperate early-morning attack against Marine and Army Air Force units near Airfield Number Two.
The Battle for Iwo Jima is officially declared over.
Note on Unit Strength
Squad = 10 men
Platoon = 40 men
Company = 200 men
Battalion = 1,000 men
Regiment = 3,000 men
Division = 20,000 men
Corps = 50,000 or more men
In the Marine Corps, four squads make up one platoon; four platoons and a headquarters section make up a company; three companies and a headquarters company make up a battalion; three battalions make up a regiment; and three regiments plus an artillery regiment make up a division.
A Marine division’s strength is usually about 20,000 men because, in addition to the “line” (infantry) and artillery regiments, there are many special units attached to the division. These special units include battalions of tanks, engineers, motor transport, and amtracks. In addition there are medical-aid, war-dog, rocket, communication, and intelligence units. Two or more of these big 20,000-man divisions form a corps of upwards of 50,000 men, because a corps also has its specialists of service and supply.
At Iwo jima the Fifth Amphibious Corps included three Marine divisions, the 3rd, 4th, and 5th. In all, this was a force of about 70,000 men.
These figures serve only as approximations, because military units always vary in size. A number of men are always sick, on leave, on loan to other units or going home after being discharged. In one campaign a division may need its tanks; in another, impassable terrain will make it necessary to leave the tanks behind. Thus an army, like the wars it fights, is an inconstant, changing thing.
Marines who Won the Medal of Honor on Iwo Jima
(* indicates that the award was given after death)
Name
Rank
Date
Reason for Award
*Berry, Charles Joseph
Corporal
March 3, 1945
Smothered grenade with his body to save his comrades
*Caddy, William Robert
Private First Class
March 3, 1945
Smothered grenade with his body to save his comrades.
*Cole, Darrell Samuel
Sergeant
Feb. 19, 1945
Fought his way to Airfield One and destroyed several pillboxes before he was killed
Dunlap, Robert Hugo
Captain
Feb. 20-21, 1945
Spent two nights in front of Marine lines, directing fire on enemy caves.
Chambers, Justice Marion
Lieutenant Colonel
Feb. 19-22, 1945
Exposing himself to enemy fire he inspired his men in assault on Quarry until he fell critically wounded.
Gray, Ross Franklin
Sergeant
Feb. 21, 1945
Wiped out six enemy positions and killed more than 25 enemy soldiers.
Harrell, William George
Sergeant
March 3, 1945
In dawn battle he saved his post, k
illing a dozen enemy soldiers, but lost both hands.
Jacobson, Douglas Thomas
Private First Class
Feb. 26, 1945
Destroyed 16 pillboxes and killed 75 Japanese in assault on Hill 382.
*Julian, Joseph Rodolph
Sergeant
March 9, 1945
In a one-man assault he smashed enemy positions with grenades, a rifle, demolition charges and a bazooka.
*LaBelle, James Dennis
Private First Class
March 8, 1945
Smothered grenade with his body to save his comrades.
Leims, John Harold
Second Lieutenant
March 7, 1945
Made two trips into enemy area to save wounded men from certain death.
Lucas, Jacklyn Harrell
Private First Class
Feb. 20, 1945
Fell on one grenade, pulled a second under him to save comrades.
*Lummus, Jack
First Lieutenant
March 8, 1945
Destroyed three pillboxes single-handedly. Despite serious wounds he led his men until blown up by land mine.
*Martin, Harry Linn
First Lieutenant
March 26, 1945
Rallied his men and fought off final enemy charge.
Mccarthy, Joseph Jeremiah
Captain
Feb. 21, 1945
Knocked out two pillboxes and inspired capture of ridge in front of Airfield Number Two.
*Phillips, George
Private
March 14, 1945
Smothered grenade with his body to save his comrades.
Pierce, Francis Jr.
Corpsman
March 15-16, 1945
Fought off enemy, treated injured even though wounded.
*Ruhl, Donald Jack
Private First Class
Feb. 19-21, 1945
After three days of heroic fighting, smothered a demolition charge to save his companion.
Sigler, Franklin Earl
Private
March 14, 1945
Despite wounds he led a fierce assault which destroyed a number of enemy positions; then he directed artillery fire and rescued wounded comrades.
*Stein, Tony
Corporal
Feb. 19, 1945
Killed 20 enemy in slashing d-day assault.
Wahlen, George Edward
Corpsman
Feb. 26, 1945
Wounded three times in saving injured Marines.
*Walsh, William Gary
Sergeant
Feb. 27, 1945
Led two daring assaults and then smothered a grenade with his body to save comrades.
Watson, Wilson Douglas
Private
Feb. 26-27, 1945
Destroyed a pillbox and then scaled a ridge and killed 60 Japanese while exposed to enemy fire.
Williams, Hershel Woodrow
Corporal
Feb. 23, 1945
In a four-hour assault smashed several enemy strongpoints with a flame thrower.
*Williams, Jack
Corpsman
March 3, 1945
Shot four times, died still treating Marines.
*Willis, John Harlan
Corpsman
Feb. 28, 1945
Died treating Marine and fighting a grenade battle.
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Robert Leckie, The Battle for Iwo Jima
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