Historical Section, Division of Public Information
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps
1954
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Contents
Chapter Page Foreword iii Preface iv Background 1 Strategic Situation 1 History 2 Geography 4 Japanese Preparations 5 Plans and Preparations 19 High-Level Planning 19 Operational Planning 23 Scheme of Maneuver 26 Intelligence 27 Logistics and Administration 31 Training and Rehearsal 35 Mounting Out 37 Movement to the Objective 39 Preliminary Bombardment 39 Air Activities 39 Naval Activities 40 Pre-H-Hour Bombardment 49 D-Day--19 February 1945 51 Mount Suribachi Isolated 54 26th and 13th Marines Land 58 Narrow Beachhead 60 14th Marines Land 64 Darkness D-Day 65 HOTROCKS (D+1--D+4) 69 To the Base of the Volcano 69 Scaling the Heights 76 Into the Main Defenses (D+1--D+5) 79 D+1--20 February 79 D+2--21 February 84 D+3--22 February 87 D+4--23 February 92 D+5--24 February 94 Through the Center (D+6--D+19) 99 Hills PETER and 199 OBOE (D+6--D+8) 100 Motoyama Village and Beyond (D+9--D+14) 104 Progress Behind the Lines 111 Resuming the Offensive (D+15) 116 Predawn Attack (7 March) 118 To the Sea (D+17-19) 120 5th Division on the Left (D+6--D+19) 123 The Sweep to Hill 362A 124 D+8 125 D+9 128 D+10 131 D+11 134 Nishi Ridge and Hill 362B 138 D+12 138 D+13 141 The 15th Day 142 Of Guns and Men 143 D+15 143 D+16 144 D+17 145 Launching the Final Drive 146 D+18-19 146 4th Division on the Right (D+6--D+19) 149 The Meat Grinder 150 D+6 150 D+7 153 D+8-9 155 D+10 160 D+11 163 D+12 165 D+13 166 Stalemate 168 D+14 168 D+15 169 D+16 170 D+17 172 Counterattack 172 Turning Point 174 D+18 174 D+19 175 The Final Phase 178 Cushman's Pocket (D+20--D+25) 178 The 4th's Last Pocket (D+20--D+25) 182 To Kitano Point (D+20--D+25) 185 Battle for the Rorge (D+26--D+34) 189 Last Days 190 Recapitulation 194 Medical Aspects 194 Supply 195 Engineers 200 Naval Gunfire 201 Air Support 204 Artillery 206 Supporting Arms Coordination 207 Communications 209 Conclusion 210 Appendices 211 I. Bibliography 211 II. Chronology 215 III. Casualties 218 IV. Command and Staff List 222 V. Task Organizations 228 VI. Japanese Order of Battle 230 VII. Task Force Organization and Command Relationship 232 VIII. Medal of Honor Winners 235 IX. Navy Unit Commendation 242 Maps 211 1. Japanese Defense Sectors 10 2. Naval Gunfire Areas of Responsibility, D-3 and D-2 43 3. Naval Gunfire Areas of Responsibility, D-1 46 4. VAC Front Lines D-Day, 19 February 1945 66 (Maps I-XXI are located inside the back cover) I. Strategic Situation, February 1945 II. Iwo Jima (Sulphur Island) III. Landing Plan IV. Progress of the Attack, VAC Front Lines D-Day--D+5 V. 3d Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 25-27 Feb VI. 3d Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 28 Feb-1 Mar VII. 3d Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 1-3 Mar VIII. 3d Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 7-10 Mar IX. 5th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 24-28 Feb X. 5th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 28 Feb-2 Mar XI. 5th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 2-8 Mar XII. 5th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 8-10 Mar XIII. 4th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 24-28 Feb XIV. 4th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 1-4 Mar XV. 4th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 5-7 Mar XVI. 4th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 8-10 Mar XVII. 3d Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 11-16 Mar XVIII. 4th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 11-15 Mar XIX. 5th Mar Div Zone of Action Progress Lines, 12-24 Mar XX. Progress of the Attack, VAC Iwo Jima XXI. Table of Distances from Iwo Jima Index 244