Today in 1945, the Battle of Iwo Jima came to a close. After an epic five-week struggle, the Allied forces captured the island from the Japanese troops. More than 22,000 Japanese soldiers perished in the battle, and nearly 6,000 Allied troops lost their lives in the conflict. This decisive victory in the Pacific was a significant turning point in World War II, providing an airfield from which U.S. forces could launch strikes against the Japanese mainland. To honor those who lost their lives in the Battle of Iwo Jima, a Marine Corps Memorial depicting the famous flag raising is located in Arlington, Virginia.
Read more about the battle of Iwo Jima and the infamous picture of soldiers raising the American flag on Today in History – February 23
Leave a Reply