Michigan Millitary - Michigan Pride

“When you go home, tell them of us and say: ‘For their tomorrows, we gave our todays!’” Marine Warrior — John Maxwell Edmonds at the battle of Iwo Jima.

This poignant quote, spoken by a participant in Operation Detachment, embraces the death of 5,885 Marines and 888 Navy personnel during a battle that raged for thirty-five long weary days!

The United States began the operation with the strength of 70,000 “boots on the ground” men opposing 22,786 Japanese! Total involvement, which included the Navy, was 110,000. The American planners of Operation Detachment had envisioned the operation as “a short, decisive battle” but in truth it became the costliest battle in the history of the U.S. Marine Corps.

The Japanese had placed Lt. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi in charge and his preparation for the coming battle was awesome! He had been assigned to command the garrison on Iwo Jima May 1944. Having previously served in the United States as a “deputy defense attaché”, he actually considered the United States “the last country in the world that Japan should fight.”

When he arrived on Iwo Jima he began a stunning reorganization of the Island’s defense system. When additional troops a huge construction program began. The innovative program included tunnels, caves, gun emplacements, piliboxes, bunkers, command posts, supply areas, ammunition stores and medical facilities. Nearly everything underground! If not underground, it was connected to the vast tunnel system and heavily camouflaged! And still, in spite of that monumental preparation, after 35 days of ferocity, 21,703 Japanese deaths were recorded!

Iwo Jima, eight square miles dominated by the 600 foot high Mount Suribachi at the southern tip, was considered to be an important and strategic island for America to have control over. It had two airfields and was actually considered to be a part of metropolitan Japan even though it was 650 miles from Japan proper. Taking it would have a great demoralizing effect on Japanese citizens! It would remove the threat of Japanese planes rising from Iwo Jima to run interference with American planes and ships. Also, because it was within “fighter range” of Tokyo, American possession of the small island would enable the B-29 bombers coming for bombing runs over Japan to have fighter escort for protection. It was envisioned that it could also be an important place for wounded planes to stop for emergency repairs. Iwo Jima a small island, reeking of sulfur, layered deep in volcanic ash, no safe drinking water and yet because of the use the Japanese had made of it, considered to be a vital necessity for US occupation!
Cont.

Planners of the “operation” thought the beaches “would provide a minor obstacle only.” The frogmen who did reconnaissance felt the assault forces would have trouble getting off the beaches. The frogmen were right! In fact, many of the men did not even make it to the beach!

It was now accepted that this “taking of Iwo Jima” was not going to be a cakewalk! Lt. Gen. Holland M. Smith, Commander, Fleet Marine Force Pacific, stated: “This is going to be a rough one, we could suffer as many as fifteen thousand casualties here.”

Fritz Enger, from the USS Stanly spoke of the Iwo Jima bombardment: “The Stanly was ordered along with other Destroyers to go to Iwo Jima to bombard the coast before sending in the troops. We bombed all day for sk days and went out at night to load ammunition all night. We never got much rest!” Read the rest of Fritzs’ story found in this book titled: I Was A Tin Can Sailor.

Fifteen foot high terraces of soft volcanic ash frustrated the advance of the Marine invading force. Equipment bogged down unable to move and the Marines came up against an unexpected Japanese ally — the island’s hydrography. This hydrography, combined with the steep beaches, was actually a constant plunging surf and strong undertow! The two combined to seriously damage many of the Higgins Boats. Admiral Hill and his chief Beachmaster, Captain Carl “Squeaky” Anderson tried to lessen the problems on the beach by using the experimental “Marston Matting” which was successful when expeditionary airfields were fabricated. But here, although it did improve traffic on the beach at first, soon became chewed up as the hundred’s of tracked vehicles tried maneuvering on the beach. Then another problem became apparent! The Japanese had not mined the beach proper — but the exits from the beaches had been mined heavily!

Another advantage that America used to a great extent, were the Navajo Code Talkers, part of the American ground communications, along with walkie-talkies and SCR-610 backpack radio sets. The Japanese, noted for being able break any code quickly, were frustrated when they learned that these “guttural” sounding voices speak