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World War II: Battle of Iwo JimaBy Cpl. Wayne CampbellUnited States Marine Corps
The anniversary of the famous flag rising on Mount Suribachi is Feb. 23, and retired Sgt. Maj. Ed Schnug, an Alexandria, Va., native who was visiting New River with the 2nd Marine Division Association Jan. 29, doesn't remember too much about the landing, but he does remember the fog of war that overwhelmed the landing troops on Iwo Jima. "The landing was very confusing," said Schnug, who was a staff sergeant with 4th Marines Weapons Battalion at the time he landed on Iwo Jima. "The sand was so soft that we couldn't move anywhere. Everything just fell apart, and we lost a lot of troops." The 8-square-mile volcanic island of Iwo Jima, which means sulfur island, was strategically important to the United States in World War II as an air base for fighter escorts, supporting long range bombing missions against mainland Japan. Three days before the Marines landed on the beaches of the island, the Air Force and Army Air Corps bombarded the island in the longest sustained aerial offensive of the war. The attack had little effect on the approximately 22,000 Japanese defenders. At 2 a.m. Feb. 19, 1945, U.S. Navy battleship guns signaled the beginning of the attack. During a pause in the gunfire, 100 bombers attacked the island, followed by another barrage of naval guns. At 8:30 a.m., the Marines headed toward the shores with the objective of capturing Mount Suribachi, which guarded the beaches. Approximately 30,000 Marines from the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed at 8:59 a.m. The Japanese built more than 800 reinforced machine gun positions and three miles worth of tunnels throughout the island. The Marines faced heavy gunfire from the Japanese perched on Mount Suribachi, where they were able to fire on any position the Marines established. The steep terrain and rough volcanic ash of the island did not allow secure footing or the digging of fighting holes. By the end of the first day of fighting, 566 American men were killed and 1,755 wounded. The bloody battle of the island continued for several days. Schnug recalls being shot in the right leg on the third day of battle and being medically evacuated to a hospital ship, off the shores of the island. He remembers little else, including the capture of the island. On Feb. 23 at 8 a.m., a patrol of 40 men from 3rd Platoon, Echo Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, led by 1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier, assembled at the base of Mount Suribachi. The mission of the platoon was to take control of the crater at the peak of the mountain and raise the U.S. flag. As they reached the top, the patrol took defensive positions around the crater. At approximately 10:20 a.m., the flag was raised on a steel pipe at the peak of the mountain. For the first time in World War II, an American flag was raised over Japanese soil. The fight for control of the island lasted until March 25, for a total of 36 days of battle. The Americans suffered more than 26,000 casualties, including 6,800 deaths. Of the 22,000 Japanese defenders, only 1,083 survived the battle. By the end of the war, 2,400 B-29 bombers carrying 27,000 crewmen made unscheduled landings on the island. "The Marines who landed on Iwo Jima were very young and dedicated," said Schnug. "They knew that taking the island would give the Americans the advantage." Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines and Sailors of Iwo Jima, more than any other single operation during the war. Reader CommentsAdd your commentYou must be logged in to leave comments.  Contracting: A Sure Bet For Veterans July 10, 2009 If you are interested in working in contracting once you return to civilian life, the Federal Contractor Program can help you get a jump on your career. Use Your Military Training to Become an Operations Manager July 10, 2009 You can translate your supply chain know-how into a successful civilian career as an Operations Manager. All you need is a degree. Build a Career in Engineering July 10, 2009 Take your engineering skills to the next level with a bachelor's degree. It can help prepare you for a civilian job as an engineering manager. >> MILITARY NEWS ARCHIVE |
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