Research Paper On The Battle Of Iwo Jima

The Battle of Iwo Jima occurred in the midst of World War II. The battle was fought between Japan and America. This started because America needed a base by the Japanese coast. America sent over three marine divisions, the third, fourth, and fifth marine divisions, to fight the Japanese forces. The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought in Iwo Jima, Japan which is an island about seven hundred fifty miles away from Tokyo, Japan. That is why the battle is known as the Battle of Iwo Jima. There were strong commanders that were involved in the Battle of Iwo Jima. The United States Commander was Commander Clifford B. Gates. He was the Commander of the Marine Corps from 1948 to 1951. The Japanese leader was General Commander Tadamichi Kuribayashi. He made preparations and strategies to fight the Americans. He wanted the Japanese to fight entirely underground, the strategy called for “no Japanese survivors,” and that each soldier should kill 10 Americans before they themselves get killed. Other leaders for America included General Holland Smith, Officer Graves B. Erskine, and Admiral Marc Mitscher. And for Japan, it was Admiral Raymond A. Spruance and Emperor Hirohito. This battle went down as the bloodiest battle for the Marines in history.

This battle consisted of naval and air bombardment. The battle was fought in a network of dugouts, caves, underground installations, and tunnels. Japan used one of their strategies by not fighting above ground. After about a month of fighting, the U.S. Marines wiped out the Japanese forces. The United States used about sixty-eight hundred tons of bombs. That added up to about twenty-two thousand shells used. The Americans conquered the island. The battle of Iwo Jima gave the U.S. a place in American lore with the publication of a photo showing the U.S. flag being raised in victory. The battle ended on March 16th when the island was declared secure and all resistance was seized by March