Iwo Jima

These pictures were sent to me by my friend, Sgt. Jerry Lowe, who was a 19-year-old Marine when he landed on the island of
Iwo Jima on February 19, 1945, the fighting of which was to be some of most intense of World War II. Of the 22,000 Japanese
defenders on the Island, only 1083 survived. The United States lost 6821 men during the 3-week-long battle.
Twenty-seven Medals of Honor were awarded to Marines who fought in the battle.
The most famous picture from WWII was the flag raising on the summit of Mt. Suribachi. However, on the morning of 23 February,
a group of Marines raised a flag after reaching the summit. The flag was too small to be seen from the beach, so later that
afternoon a larger flag was raised. The picture of the second flag raising is the one that became famous. The photos of the
first flag are included in the gallery below. The photographs are from the official Marine Corps archives.
(Click on pictures for larger view)


Platoon 239 USMC 1944	Iwo Jima - 8 square miles of hell	Night before preparations	Destroyer's big guns	Beach bombardment

Prayer before the battle	Landing boats waiting for all boats to be loaded	Mt. Suribachi.	Headed for the beach	Bombarding Suribachi

Ready to move in	Move in ...	...behind the big shells	Lucky 13	2nd wave, supplies

The first wave hits the beach	Pinned down by Jap machineguns	Over the top	2nd wave lands	Death and destruction on the beach

This is where Jerry Lowe landed.	Near miss	The incoming was heavy on the beach.	Advance with caution.	Fire in the hole.

Marine flame thrower - "Devil's Breath"	The original flag raising on Mt. Suribachi	The second flag.	Victory, one foxhole at a time.	The price of freedom.

Giving thanks, and remembering the fallen	Japanese prisoner	Establishing...	...the beachhead.	It takes all sorts of equipment.

Admiral Chester M. Nimitz	This was a landing craft.	The enemy shelling...	...was heavy.	Souvenirs

	5th Marine Division Cemetery on Iwo Jima.	Pvt. Jerry Lowe, 1944	Jerry Lowe today