With ultramodern B-29 Superfortress bombers arriving in greater numbers in the Pacific, US Army officials were eager to expand the strategic bombing campaign targeting Japanese infrastructure and industrial production. A problem loomed, as halfway between the Japanese home islands and American air bases in the Mariana Islands was a tiny island called Iwo Jima, thought to be a base for substantial fighter forces. By capturing its airfield, planners hoped to neutralize any threat to the B-29s and provide a safe haven for damaged bombers unable to reach their home bases.

In February 1945, two Marine divisions landed on Iwo Jima, where a formidable, well-led Imperial Army garrison awaited. Early objectives included Suribachi, a 550-foot ancient volcano that overlooked much of the island, and the main airfield just behind the landing beaches. Once Suribachi and the airfield were secure, the Marines would advance to an adjoining plain that led to more rugged terrain and a series of Japanese strongpoints.

All was quiet as the first waves came ashore, but once the landing beaches were packed with thousands of Marines, the Japanese unleashed a devastating barrage of artillery and mortar fire. With more than 2,000 men killed or wounded on the beaches, the Marines pushed forward, capturing the airfield and fighting their way to the base of Suribachi. Japanese bunkers ringed the mountain, leading to much hard fighting, but the Marines prevailed, silencing the Japanese heavy guns sprinkled across the face.

With Suribachi secure, the Marines battled northward across the plain, where the Japanese held commanding ground and pounded their attackers with artillery, mortars, and machine guns. The Marines clawed forward, absorbing terrible losses but ultimately subduing their foes. When the surviving Japanese refused to emerge from their caves and tunnels, the Marines used flamethrowers and explosives to root them out.

By late March, the battle was over, with ghastly results. American servicemen had become accustomed to suffering far fewer casualties than the Japanese, but on Iwo Jima, the 26,000 Marines killed, wounded, or missing on the island exceeded Japanese losses, which included all but 216 men out of a garrison of 21,000.