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EXCERPT: 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.

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EXCERPT: Sunday, 4 March 1945, marked the end of the second week of the U.S. invasion of Iwo Jima. By this point the assault elements of the 3d, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions were exhausted, their combat efficiency reduced to dangerously low levels. The thrilling sight of the American flag being raised by the 28th Marines on Mount Suribachi had occured 10 days earlier, a lifetime on "Sulphur Island."

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NOTE: PART VI of this publication focuses on Iwo Jima operations.
EXCERPT FROM THE FOREWORD:
This book is the fourth in the five-volume history of Marine Corps operations in World War II. The story of Peleliu, Iwo Jima, and Marine artillery and aviation in the Philippines, as previously narrated in separate detail in preliminary monographs, has been reevaluated and rewritten to depict events in proper proportion to each other and in correct perspective to the war as a whole. New material, particularly from Japanese and other sources that has become available since the earlier monograph series was published, has been included to provide fresh insight into the Marine Corps' contribution to the final victory in the Pacific. The period covered by this history, essentially from mid-September 1944 to late March 1945, covers the continuation of the United States drive from the Central Pacific to the Western Carolines and the Volcano-Bonin Islands at the very doorstep of Japan.

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EXCERPT FROM THE FOREWORD: This concise narrative of the Marine battle for Iwo Jima and the vents surrounding the famous flag raisings atop Mount Suribachi s an updated revision of one of the most popular pamphlets ever produced by the History and Museums Division. Compiled from original records and appropriate historical works and printed as two separate reference pamphlets in 1962, the chronicle was combined into one volume in 1967. This revision of the 1967 pamphlet add significant new material on the two flag raisings on Iwo Jima as well as updated biographical material on some of the flag raisers. Also included because of the immense interest in the Marine Corps War Memorial, is a fact sheet on the construction of the Memorial, along with other pertinent information on the monument. In this 50th anniversary year of the final drive to victory in the Pacific, this pamphlet is dedicated to all of the heroes of Iwo Jima.