Iwo Jima Research Paper

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Iwo Jima



On December 8th, 1941 the United States of America declared war on the Empire of Japan in response to its attack on Pearl Harbor the prior day. Congress drafted the “Declaration of War” an hour after the acclaimed “Infamy Speech” of Franklin Roosevelt.
The method to be employed by the U.S military in its quest to defeat the Japanese in the Pacific was to be known as the “Island Hopping” strategy. This strategy would allow the United States to gain military bases and secure the many small islands in the Pacific region. It was a long and tedious process to go from island to island, but nevertheless the Marines were able to accomplish their mission. As they approached the main land of Japan, one island was an obstruent for establishing …show more content…

During both the preparation and the battle for Iwo Jima, Lieutenant General Kuribayashi displayed that he was one of Japan’s finest leaders and tactician. In preparation for the Americans invasion, Lieutenant General Kuribayashi chose to focus his defense on the northern part of Iwo Jima covering two-thirds of the end, instead on the southern beaches –where he predicted the Americans would land. Also, instead of the beaches, Kuribayashi decided to place large artillery spots deeper into the island (Symonds, 184). The Japanese also expected a great air and naval bombardment from the Americans in which prompted the construction of a vast network of tunnels and bunkers to protect them. Not only did the tunnels provide protection from the bombing raids, but also gave the Japanese a tactical advantage when the battle began with the Marine. The reason for that was because they were able to maneuver their way through the island using the tunnel network they had constructed without being detected. This was one of the many dilemmas’ the Marines faced when they landed on the beach…not knowing the enemy’s strength and location. Despite the defenses and tactical advantage, Kuribayashi realized that Japan would not defeat the United States, simply because of the mass of forces the U.S would deploy. This was another reason he decided not to focus his efforts on the southern …show more content…

The battle of Iwo Jima ended up lasting 36 days and resulted in over 26,000 American casualties. This was the only battle in the Pacific Campaign where the American casualty toll was greater than that of the Japanese. The Japanese death toll ultimately added up to 18,844, with 216 taken as prisoners, and 3,000 still hidden under the network of hidden tunnels and caves.
There still remains a dispute to this day on whether that the tiny island and its three airstrips were worth 26,000 casualties. Nevertheless, the brave soldiers who took the courage to step out onto that volcanic ash formed the basis for a reverence of the Marine Corp and embodied the American free, national

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