As the protective naval gunfire subsided to allow for the Marine advance, the Japanese emerged from their fortified underground positions to begin a heavy barrage of fire against the invading force. Coarse volcanic sand hampered the movement of men and machines as they struggled to move up the beach. Shortly after 9:00am, Marines of the 4th and 5th Divisions hit beaches Green, Red, Yellow and Blue abreast, initially finding little enemy resistance. More than 450 ships massed off Iwo as the H-hour bombardment pounded the island. Despite this, VADM Turner decided to keep the invasion date, 19 February 1945, as planned, and the Marines prepared for D-day. Unfavorable weather conditions further hampered its effects. Due to other operational commitments and the fact that a prolonged air assault had been waged on Iwo Jima, Navy planners authorized only three days of naval bombardment. In addition to the air assaults on Iwo, the Marines requested 10 days of pre-invasion naval bombardment. The 7th Air Force, working out of the Marianas, supplied the B-24 heavy bombers for the campaign. Prior to the invasion, the 8-square-mile island would suffer the longest, most intensive shelling of any Pacific island during the war. Initial carrier raids against Iwo Jima began in June 1944. Cates and the 5th Marine Division commander, Major General Keller E. Erskine the 4th Marine Division commander, Major General Clifton B. Under his command fell the 3d Marine Division commander, Major General Graves B.
The V Amphibious Corps was commanded by Major General Harry Schmidt, USMC. Smith, USMC, was assigned as the commanding general of expeditionary troops. Second in command of the Joint Expeditionary Force was Rear Admiral Harry W. Joint Expeditionary Force commander was Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner, USN. Spruance, USN, was the operation’s overall commander.
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CommandersĬommanders for the operation, code named Detachment, were assigned as follows:Īdmiral Raymond A. To the Japanese leadership, the capture of Iwo Jima meant the battle for Okinawa, and the invasion of Japan itself, was not far off. Nimitz, who said, “Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” The fighting that took place during the 36-day assault would be immortalized in the words of Commander, Pacific Fleet/Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas Admiral Chester W. The seizure of Iwo Jima was deemed necessary, but the prize would not come easy. The seizure of Iwo would allow for sea and air blockades, the ability to conduct intensive air bombardment and to destroy the enemy’s air and naval capabilities. bases in the Mariana Islands, the capture of Iwo Jima would provide an emergency landing strip for crippled B-29s returning from bombing runs. Because of the distance between mainland Japan and U.S. Iwo Jima, which means Sulfur Island, was strategically important as an air base for fighter escorts supporting long-range bombing missions against mainland Japan. Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.” The United States Marines by their individual and collective courage have conquered a base which is as necessary to us in our continuing forward movement toward final victory as it was vital to the enemy in staving off ultimate defeat.īy their victory, the 3d, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the V Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their country which only history will be able to value fully.
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