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World War II
Episode154

September 01, 2025

Into the Black Sand: The First Days on Iwo Jima

Into the Black Sand: The First Days on Iwo Jima
43:22
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On the morning of February 19th, 1945, the invasion of Iwo Jima began. The Marines were coming in force. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions led the assault, backed by the 3rd in reserve. Offshore, hundreds of ships filled the sea, their decks crowded with men climbing down cargo nets into landing craft and amphibious tractors. This episode takes us into the brutal opening six days of fighting that marked the start of the thirty-six-day campaign. We'll set aside Mount Suribachi for now and turn instead to the central and northern fronts, where the hardest battle to secure ground was fought. This is the story of those opening days. The confusion on the beaches, the struggle across the airfields, and the steep price paid for every yard. Iwo Jima had become a trial of endurance, and the battle was only starting.

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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