Iwo Jima Day 2025 is on Wednesday, February 19, 2025: Battle of Iwo Jima?

Wednesday, February 19, 2025 is Iwo Jima Day 2025. Iwo_jima_location_mapSagredo.png Iwo_jima_location_mapSagredo.png

The Battle of Iwo Jima was the bloodiest battle in the United States Marine Corps history. The purpose of the attack was to take the airfield I think so they can prevent the Japanese from conducting air raids.

The Japanese tried a new tactic, instead of defending the beachhead landing, they allowed the United States Marine (not forgetting Naval Corpsmen and other personnel) to land and unload. As the Marines got closer, the Japanese open fire and supirised the Marines. The battle continue and on the 5th day, the Marines reach Mouth Suribachi. The made a flag raising and later that day made anpther flag raising with a bigger flag, that famous one by 5 Marine and a Navy Corpsman.

The battle continue on for 30 more days ending with a last banzai charge made by the remaining Japanese force into a Army Air Field.

To me, the battle might have been more successful if the Japanese officers have faith in General Tadamichi Kuribayashi's plan. I think this was the first battle where the invaders lost more than the defenders during the Pacific front of WW2.

Watch "Flags of Our Fathers" and "Letters from Iwo Jima".

Which was deadlier, Iwo Jima, or D-Day?

not to make a competition out of this, but here's some facts to ponder:

iwo jima: americans suffered around 37% casualties (26,000 killed/wounded out of 70,000) with the Japanese almost suffering 100% casualties.

d-day: of the 175,000 allies to fight, 10,000 casualties were taken. Germans had around 10,000 troops. depending on what accounts you look at, the Germans suffered 50-80% casualties.

so percentage-wise in terms of men deployed and casualties taken, Iwo Jima has the edge... but both were extremely bloody battles.

How long did the battle at Iwo Jima?

The Battle of Iwo Jima lasted 36 days.

The first day of the landings was February 19th, 1945.

By March 16th, the island was declared secure and all resistance had ceased by March 26th.

Military geniuses predicted a three day battle, an "easy time." Some of the nicest boys America would ever produce slogged on for thirty six days in what would be the worst battle in the history of the US Marine Corps.

The Allied forces suffered 25,000 casualties, with nearly 7,000 dead. Over 1/4 of the Medals of Honor awarded to marines in World War II were given for conduct in the invasion of Iwo Jima.

Most Japanese soldiers fought to the death. Of the 21,000 defenders, only 1,000 were taken prisoner.