County of memorial: San Diego County
Location of memorial: Hochmuth Ave, James L. Day Hall Museum, MCRD , San Diego
Artist: Unknown
Erected: July 15, 2005
Erected by: 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines
This slice of Black Walnut has had the image, replica of Rosenthal's photo, carved in a bias relief.
Text of accompanying Plaques:
Iwo Jima Battle Statistics
• Location: Iwo Jima, which means Sulfur Island, is a miniscule volcanic island, measuring just 7.5 square miles,
located 650 miles from Tokyo
• Strategic Importance: The capture of Iwo Jima and the construction of a U.S. airbase there was necessary for
several reasons. It would eliminate Japanese bombing raids and early warning radar interceptions, provide B-29
bombers with fighter escorts and enable greater payloads at longer ranges. It would also provide an emergency field
for crippled B-29s returning from Tokyo and protect the flank of the pending invasion of Okinawa.
• Force Commanders:
⚬ USN: Admiral Raymond A. Spruance commanded the Fifth Fleet; Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner commanded
the Expeditionary Forces; Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill commanded the Attack Force and Rear Admiral William H.P.
Blandy command the Amphibious Support Force.
⚬ USMC; The Marine landing force, the V Amphibious Corps, under command of MajGen Harry Schmidt, USMC, was
comprised of Marines from the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions. LtGen Holland McTyeire Smith, USMC served as
the Commanding General, Expeditionary Forces.
⚬ Japanese Commander: General Tadamichi Kuribayashi commanded the Japanese garrison
• Force Strength:
⚬ American Forces: 110,000 Marines ans sailors on 880 ships were sent to Iwo Jima. More than 70,000 of them
participated in the battle.
⚬ Japanese Forces: 22,000 estimated.
• Duration: Om Monday, 19 February 1945, the order "Land the Landing Force" sent the first wave of Marines ashore.
On 26 March, after fighting day and night for 36 days, the lat pocket of Japanese resistance was declared secure.
• Casualties:
⚬ American Forces: Total: 28,686; KIA + MIA 6,821; WIA 19,217; Battle Fatigue 2,648
⚬ Japanese Forces: Total: 21,000 estimated; KIA 20,867; Prisoners 1,083
• Roll of Honor: Twenty-Seven Medals of Honor were awarded to twenty-two Marines and five Navy personnel
- more than any other battle in our country's history.
• Legacy:
⚬ After the battle Admiral Chester Nimitz, observed, "Among the Ameicans who served on Iwo Jima, uncommon
valor was a common viture."
⚬ Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the 2nd flag raising on Mt. Suribachi is the most widely reproduced photograph of all
time. However, only 3 of the 6 Marines who planted the flag survived the battle.
⚬ By war's end, 2,400 crippled B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 airmen made unscheduled landings on Iwo Jima.