Foreword
The assault on Iwo Jima came as a smashing climax to the 16-month
drive that carried the amphibious forces of the United States across the
Central Pacific to within 660 miles of Tokyo. Striking first at Tarawa
in November 1943, American forces had swept rapidly westward, seizing
only those islands essential for support of future operations. Many
powerful enemy strongholds were bypassed and neutralized. By the
fall of 1944 the small but heavily fortified island of Iwo Jima, lying
midway between the Marianas and the heart of the Japanese Empire,
had assumed such strategic importance that its rapid seizure became
imperative. Neutralization would not suffice; Iwo must become an
operational United States base.
At Iwo Jima the amphibious doctrines, techniques, weapons, and
equipment which had proven so effective during the three previous years
of World War II received the supreme test. On that island more than
20,000 well-disposed and deeply entrenched Japanese troops conducted
an intelligent and dogged defense. There, more than anywhere else in
the Central Pacific, terrain and enemy defense preparations combined to
limit the effectiveness of American supporting arms, placing a premium
on the skill and aggressive fighting spirit of the individual Marine.
There can be no more fitting tribute than the well-known words of
Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, "Among the Americans who served on
Iwo Island uncommon valor was a common virtue."
Lemuel C. Shepherd, Jr.
General, U.S. Marine Corps
Commandant of the Marine Corps
Preface
Iwo Jima is the thirteenth in a series of
historical monographs prepared
by the Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters U.S. Marine
Corps, to present a factual account of Marine operations during World
War II. Upon completion of this series, the individual monographs
will be integrated into a final, definitive
operational history of World War II.
Grateful acknowledgment is made to the many individuals who
read and commented on the preliminary drafts of this monograph, and
to the historical offices of the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air
Force for the helpful services rendered.
Mr. John M. Wearmouth prepared the appendices and made an
outstanding contribution to this study by his painstaking research and
editorial work. Captain Lawrence C. Switzer, a participant in the
operation, wrote the preliminary drafts of Chapters III, IV, and V.
Maps and sketches were prepared by the Reproduction Section, Marine
Corps Schools, Quantico, Virginia. All photographs are official Marine
Corps unless otherwise noted.
T.A. Wornham
Brigadier General, U.S. Marine Corps
Assistant Chief of Staff, G-3