Iwo Jima (Island Week)
(It’s Island Week all this week at GGSS, which means we’ll mostly be posting about Islands. Catchy name, huh?)
The tiny volcanic island of Iwo Jima, part of the Ogasawara Islands, is just over 1000km south of Tokyo. It was the location of the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the deadliest battles of WWII, and you can still see wrecked ships along the coastline.
Iwo Jima’s Mt. Suribachi was also where the famous “Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima” photograph was taken. Supposedly the most reproduced photograph in history, it was used as the inspiration for the USMC War memorial in Washington.
Thanks: SnowManson, John, Stephan Segraves, Thomas, Tyler Casella & Peggy
All I can say, after looking at the pictures of Iwo Jima, is how strange it is that thousands of people died over such a piece of nothing.
Yeah, c’mon, they lost how many men over this rock?! And how does one manage to fit a mountain (Suribachi) on an island that small?
Ooh, another shipwreck (I think): Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
Oh. This is how, apparently. Sorry for the double post.
http://www.gerritsenmemories.com/images/photos/military/suribachi05.jpg
In answer to Tim’s question, about 7000 American troops, 22,000 Japanese were killed in the battle for Iwo Jima.
The reason such a tiny piece of nothing was fought over so viciously was that it was considered a vital location for refuelling US long range bombers heading for Japan. The Japanese also had fighters based there which they were using to intercept the bombers, so the island was considered strategically important for both sides.
Thanks mike
This place is the very definition of “godforsaken rock”.
Hardly a soul in sight… a single helicopter on the tarmac… half a dozen vehicles on the whole island…
Maybe the officers club is obscured by clouds…
Looks like it’s still just a refueling stop, and little else. Probably a favorite post for Generals to assign their most hated rivals to…
Neat book on Iwo Jima is “Flags of our Fathers” which tells the back story of each of the guys in the famous flag raising picture.
This wreck is weirdly morphed into the shoreline of the Island:
Placemark: Google Maps / Google Earth
On a different note, if you zoom out in “Map Mode†everything is written in Japanese (?) characters. I noticed that (a long time ago) that foreign countries are listed using their native names or as in this case, characters. Is there a way to get “translate†the Google maps?
Iwo Jima was important because it was an emergency landing area for bombers returning from raids on the Japanese mainland. Countless B-29s landed on Iwo after suffering battle damage or on their way to the mainland because of mechanical problems.
Here are some pictures from the island itself: http://hotair.com/archives/2006/08/23/photos-from-iwo-jima/
Over 7,000 died to save “countless” B-29 crews, doesn’t seem worth it to me.
Jeff,
It is sad to see folks like you (not trying to be unkind in any way) who have no understanding of what had to take place to secure victory in WWII. War is atrocious in any and every way. But like Iraq, some sacrifices have to be made. May we honor their sacrifices. Here is an article by Zell Miller about what if iwo Jima was fought today: http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20041011-085231-5401r.htm
Iwo Jima battle is very significant to both sides. Japan wanted to prove a point that the taking of a Japanese possession would cause the invader unacceptable losses. Japan wanted to prevent easier access to the bombing of Japan. They were already suffering terribly from B-29 attacks.
America’s time table left room for the invasion of a island on the road to Japan.
They wanted to keep pressure on Japan and keep them off balance.
Tactics used by Japan at Iwo Jima is the modern blue print on how to fight American forces in the modern age. They cannot win the battle, but they can sway American and world public opinion. Make American troops suffer unacceptable battle losses. SOUND FAMILAR? Only America’s resolve to stay the course and follow thru on higher moral grounds will insure that small conflicts do not become larger conflicts.
Question becomes is the conflict worth the price. Obviously no. That is the easy answer. But one only has to ask the 6 million Jews that died in concentration camps during World War 2, or the countless millions that suffered in the Japanese occupation in Asia. The dead can not answer, they were victims of evil regimes. So who speaks for them. Who will speak for future victims?
Battle of Iwo Jima, only battle that United States Marines suffered higher causalities than their enemy. Iwo Jima was tailor made for defense. And the Japanese commander was brilliant in defense in this action.
What is significant is that both sides knew it was a loss cause for Japan. Yet Japan fought to the death. It indicated a very modern lesson, the American military can not be defeated in a pitched battle, that fighting underground is a very good way to wear down the American combatants. And that ultimate victory can be achieved by winning in the press and public opinion.
Also it should indicate why America chose to use two atomic bombs. If we use Iwo Jima battle facts as a worst case example. 27,000 American casualties, and nearly 7,000 deaths in the battle.
Invasion of Japan was estimated at 1 million American causalities. Using this as a worst case scenario. Using Iwo Jima stats, 260,000 deaths of American combat troops for the invasion of Japan. Double the amount of actual American deaths in World War 2. Rightfully so American leadership demanded that the enemy pay the price for this war rather than American citizens.
It is easy to see why America made the choice it did. Enemy deaths or the death of it’s own troops.
It is also easy to see that war is a terrible waste. Remember the terrible losses in World War 2 (50 million deaths by some estimates) occur because evil prevailed when good people did nothing. Germany and Japan leaders started a conflict that they believed they could win and nations of the world allowed it to escalate to the terrible conflict we call World War 2.
We must do three things.
Be thankful for all of the great sacrifices of our fighting troops. Support them!
Never allow future and present conflicts reach the level of a third world war.
World members must act as a concerned community and never allow evil states or movements to ever succeed or be awarded by using terror tactics again.
Mark, I applaud your writing. It is sad that we live in a world that has war and many innocent lives are victims of the evil. But, it is also sad to know there are countless people, such as Peter, who are not schooled on the reason these sacrifices have been made. The only thing I can say to them is enjoy your freedom to search the internet.
Dropped into this site while browsing for Iwo Jima maps. I spent a year on the island in the 60’s as a technician at the US Coast Guard navigation station at Kitano Point on the north end. Interesting to see that area is now being taken over by jungle growth.
Mark, thank you for the insightful comments. Actually walking those “God forsaken rocks” can make you feel very thankful for our hard won freedoms - “freedom is not free.”
The analogies that some commenters are making between WW II and, implicitly, Iraq are dubious at best. They do little to illuminate whether the reasoning behind the invasion of Iwo Jima stands up under the perspective of history. Does it? Was it worthwhile to sacrifice so many lives for this island? What were the alternatives?
WW II was fast moving, with major strategic shifts taking place within months, on a global scale. This was truly a World War, completely different from the very limited war being conducted in Iraq. The American public was essentially unanimous in its support of the war after the attack on Pearl Harbor, and it remained so throughout the relatively brief war. Had it stretched on for many more years, with no progress in sight, public opinion likely would have shifted.
None of the above takes anything away from the heroism and sacrifices of every person who fought in WW II — and every other war, including the Iraq war.
Actually 9,821 marines diedon Iwo JIma and 20,000 were wounded. Out of about 22,000 Japenese only 1,083 survived.
Here is an article by Zell Miller about what if iwo Jima was fought today: http://www.washtimes.com/op-ed/20041011-085231-5401r.htm
Srry to double post but Iwo Jima was worse than what that article said. And the death and wound count was wrong. I acutally know an Iwo Jima veteran.
all i got to say is that for u people who think that the island was worth nothin, is that at that time it was a very strategical point. right now it might not be anything, but if we didnt take Iwo Jima in WWII than the outcome of the war could have been much different, and Japan would have not been as weak from that attack
I am recently doing a project on Iwo Jima and have learned many interesting facts about this small historical island. I can gurentee you that this island is worth seeing. I can’t wait to see it myself.
was in 8th wave,ran up that beach past dead and dieing marines and marines stuck on the beach to get to number one air feild and dug in.was knocked in to a deep shell crater by a body hiting me that was blown in front of me.that was on my way to number one air field.was not hurt then.but later was wounded.am in flags of our fathers book.
8th wave i think not sure.18 at that time.and it was worth every marine that was killed to help them fly boys that were flying them bombers over japan.they were the real heros.24th marines.
For you, who think that so many died for a rock, or abunch of nothing, it’s obvious that you are seriosly lacking in your historical education. You must be young and liberal. You sound like you think your very educated and well informed. Then you wrote your stupidity about Iwo Jima, and proved otherwise.
Interesting comments.
I think the comparisons between WW II and Iraq and a bit on the inane side. There are vast differences that should be obvious to the casual observer. (By the way, what does being young, well-educated and liberal have to do with anything?)
WW II, as noted, was global and had the support of the US population as well as many others. Iraq is small, of questionable importance globally, and certainly hasn’t had anything to do with “fighting terrorism,” as some like to believe.
Iwo Jima was a “fit” for the time and place and the strategies being used - which were global in scope. For the time and place it seems to have been the right thing to do. Is anyone going to equate Iraq with Iwo Jima? Please. Having said that, it in no way detracts from today’s solidiers (warfighters as the technojaborwacky types like to say).
M
Iwo Jima was a fight that should not have been fought. The US Navy controlled the Pacific all the way to Japan. Iwo Jima should have been by-passed completely, as we had already destroyed Japans navy. The soldiers on the island were isolated and alone. The US only wanted this island as an emergency landing strip for the bombers returning from missions on Japan. 20,000 casualties and 7,000 Marines killed, all so a few cripelled. When the tally of 27,000 plus American casualties is wieghed against the actual number of bomber crews saved. It just didn’t make sense. Another discrace to the fact is that, the US Government actually gave the island back to Japan, and have now renamed it. Iwo Jima was a waste of time, goods and supplies that could better had been used elsewhere. Also, war with Japan was “declared” as our Constitution clearly stipulates. The United States Marines are not the worlds police force. Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq? Marines take an oath to protect America. Any Marine, Sailor, Airman, Soldier or other, who blindly goes off to these undeclared wars or police actions to tell and force other people how to live deserve to die. 7,000 Marines who gave the ultimate sacrafice on Iwo Jima are this countries last true heros.
Correction to incomplete sentence; Should have read:::: 20,000 casualties and 7,000 Marines killed, all so a few crippelled bombers had a place to land wasn’t worth the price paid.
My son bought a box of “stuff” at a garage sale. In it is a map of Iwo Jima,”Special Air and Gunnery Map” and shows troop movements as they happened etc. We have had a person from the Air Force Academy look at it, and he feels it is a treasure. They would like us to donate it, but we would like to know what it would be valued at..how do we get a value on it?
“The United States Marines are not the worlds police force. Korea, Vietnam, and now Iraq?”
We went into Korea as a task force from the UN. We were asked to go and help.
Iwo Jima was significant for several reasons.
1. It was a landing strip for damaged bombers
2. Iwo served as an early warning base for Japanese fighters. The radar stations there gave them 2 hours to get fighters up.
3. Taking Iwo would be a base for long-range fighters to escort bombers
4. Iwo Jima was considered part of the Japan, so attacking and taking Iwo Jima would be like landing on Japanese soil and would demoralize the enemy
5. Iwo Jima and Okinawa were two invasions that gave the US a sense of what would happen if they did invade Japan.
7000 deaths in a war with several million casualties is not much. I’m not saying that any death worthless. Its not. 7000 deaths compared to 55,000 at Gettysburg. Iwo Jima hardly was the worst battle.
Just wanted to update. Iwo is not covered by anything that could be described as jungle growth. Maybe savana shrubbery. Two sides are black beach (and you can’t even call it sand), sulfer pits, the mountain, and small trees and tall grass. That is all the island has nowadays, plus the one airstip that I believe is not civilian accesable, not positive on that one, I rode an LCAC in. The tunnels are still there, along with some blown out tanks and much of the national artillary. What really surprised me was the Japanese landing stratagey. All of the ships and boats they used to get supplies to the island where beached to make offload easier, and left as obsticales for the landing force. But we attacked the other side, so that didn’t help much. Retreat or escape was never part of the plan or even possible. I must say that being there for a commoration ceremony was definately an impressive and weighty experiance, one that I count myself lucky to have experianced. If I figure out how to I’ll post pictures.