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World War II
Episode153

August 25, 2025

The Doorkeeper to Tokyo: Setting the Stage for Iwo Jima

The Doorkeeper to Tokyo: Setting the Stage for Iwo Jima
37:32
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By early 1945, the Pacific war had reached a turning point. The United States held the Marianas. From there, B-29 bombers struck directly at Japan, but the road to Tokyo was still dangerous. Halfway along that road lay Iwo Jima, a tiny volcanic island of black sand, jagged rock, and sulfur fumes. On the map it looked insignificant, but its location gave it enormous weight. For Japan, it was part of Tokyo Prefecture itself, "the doorkeeper to the capital." For America, it was both a threat and an opportunity: a fighter base that could harass bombers, or an emergency airfield that could save them. General Kuribayashi was ordered to turn Iwo Jima into a fortress. Beneath its surface, his men carved miles of tunnels, pillboxes, and gun positions, prepared to fight to the death. This episode tells the story of that buildup. The strategy, the doubts, the Japanese preparations, and the weight that fell on every Marine the night before the landings.

References

  1. Alexander, J. H. (1994). Closing in: Marines in the seizure of Iwo Jima (World War II Commemorative Series, PCN 19000313100). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  2. Bartley, W. S. (1954). Iwo Jima: Amphibious epic. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  3. Bradley, J., & Powers, R. (2000). Flags of our fathers. New York, NY: Bantam Books.
  4. Burrell, Robert S. The Ghosts of Iwo Jima. Texas A&M University Press, 2006.
  5. Gilbert, Oscar E. Marine Tank Battles in the Pacific. Da Capo Press, 2001.
  6. Heinl, R. D., Jr. (1968). History of the United States Marine Corps in World War II, Volume V: Victory and Occupation. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  7. Nalty, B. C., & Crawford, D. J. (1995). The United States Marines on Iwo Jima: The battle and the flag raisings (PCN 19000316600). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
  8. Newcomb, R. F. (1965). Iwo Jima. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
  9. Smith, H. M., & Finch, P. (1949). Coral and Brass. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons.
  10. Smith, Larry. Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific. W.W. Norton, 2008.
  11. Shaw, H. I., Jr., Nalty, B. C., & Turnbladh, E. T. (1970). History of U.S. Marine Corps operations in World War II: Volume IV, Western Pacific operations. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.
  12. Wheeler, R. (1980). Iwo. New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell.

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