Eight square miles in size and located 750 miles from Tokyo, Iwo Jima was considered Japanese soil. Having realized the importance of Iwo Jima, Japan began fortifying the island in early 1944. Taking advantage of rough terrain, they created a network of concealed emplacements for artillery, mortars, and machine guns that covered the island in interlocking fields of fire.
Beginning on 19 February 1945, about 60,000 Marines faced an estimated 21,000 Japanese troops. After four days of intense fighting, Marines raised an American flag atop Mount Suribachi.
The fighting continued, lasting into March. Eliminating Japanese pillboxes and underground emplacements proved slow and arduous. Marines at times measured progress in yards. Navajo code talkers proved indispensable as they maintained secure communications during the battle.
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the Japanese garrison commander, suspected that they could not successfully defend the island, but he knew he could lead a long and costly battle. Kuribayashi committed suicide in his command post on March 23. Three days later, Iwo Jima was declared secure.
The Battle of Iwo Jima cost US forces 6,871 lives and 19,217 wounded. The Japanese toll was well over 18,000 dead. Back home, the few Japanese survivors were ostracized at times as they were deemed failures, having not fought to their deaths.