Among the points they cite are: the loss of U.S. B-29s due to Iwo Jima was not very significant, Japan continued to receive warning signals of warplanes from another island (Rota) and Iwo Jima proved useless to the Army as a staging base and useless to the Navy as a fleet base. Marines in World War II Historical Monograph. The book is the New York Times bestseller that tells the true story behind the immortal photograph that came to symbolize the courage of America during the Battle of Iwo Jima. Victory At Sea: Target Suribachi (Video). Now, the Army Air Forces could make bombing runs without a Japanese garrison at Iwo Jima warning the mainland about the danger to come. U.S. Marines continued to press forward on land, though, and on February 23 they secured Suribachi. They were all Marines. However, intense fighting continued on the right flank at the Amphitheater, Turkey Knob, and Hill 382, a rise that would be dubbed the Meat Grinder. From their defensive positions, the Japanese fired on the Marines relentlessly, and U.S. soldiers resorted to using flamethrowers to snuff out every possible defender, but the area remained at a stalemate even after Marines took the Meat Grinder on March 2. One of the most memorable actors ever almost gave it up to be an Air Force pilot. From Flags of Our Fathers to Letters From Iwo Jima: Clint Eastwoods Balancing of Japanese and American Perspectives. The Asia-Pacific Journal. The 9/11 attack on the Pentagon killed a highest-ranking lieutenant Army General, Timothy Maude. With the Americans struggling to get a foothold on the beaches of Iwo Jimaliterally and figurativelyKuribayashis artillery positions in the mountains above opened fire, stalling the advancing Marines and inflicting significant casualties. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. What is the name of the volcano on Iwo Jima? On 19 February 1945, the 5th Marine Amphibious Corps (consisting of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions) landed on Iwo Jima (Sulphur Island). Iwo Jima was officially labeled as being a strategic island due to the need for a closer base for fighter support of long-range bombing missions being flown against mainland Japan. Your IP: . One of the most important people who fought on Iwo Jima is General Holland Smith, while others include President George H.W. Called Reunion of Honor, it was attended by veterans from both sides that fought the battle. They are passionate about turning your everyday moments into memories and bringing you inspiring ideas to have fun with your family. It is a small island covering an area of about 8 square miles (20 square km) and spanning about 5 miles (8 km) in length. They were given an American flag to fly to signal its capture. What happened when the first United States Marines landed on the shore of Iwo Jima? U.S. Marine Corps. It was defended by 20,000 Japanese soldiers who spent a year digging in, creating miles of tunnels beneath the volcanic rock and. Sgt. Given this information, American military leaders planned an attack on the island that they believed would last no more than a few days. Rediscovering Richard III with Matt Lewis, Rome and the Amalfi Coast with Tristan Hughes, American forces set to mount an amphibious attack on the island, 10 Facts About the Soviet War Machine and the Eastern Front, Voices of the Victims: The Amud Aish Exhibition, How Rome Became the Sole Superpower in the Mediterranean, Charles Martel: A Heroic Leader of Medieval Europe. Though bunkers and caves were destroyed, the bombing had limited success as the Japanese were heavily dug-in and fortified. At the southwest tip of the island is Mount Suribachi, a largely dormant volcano that provides a sweeping view of most of the island. Even Kuribayashi refused to surrender in the end, by some accounts preferring to commit seppuku rather than fall into American hands alive. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics". The final operational phase of the battle started on March 11th with fighting focused on eliminating individual pockets of resistance. With this knowledge, Allied forces began bombing Iwo Jima's airfields on June 15, 1944, which was the most intense in the Pacific Theater. Over the course of the 36-day engagement there were at least 26,000 US casualties, including6,800 dead. The 23rd Regiment managed to take Motoyama 1 by February 24 and Motoyama 2 by February 27, but progressing past that point proved exceedingly difficult. Please note: prices are correct and items are available at the time the article was published. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. Here are six reasons why the battle is so important to Marines: The Japanese Empire controlled many islands in the Pacific area. Maj. Gen. Harry Schmidt took charge of Marine operations. Ernest King, Adm. William Leahy, Gen. George Marshall, and Gen. Henry (Hap) Arnoldwas created in 1942 to provide a body of high command to direct U.S. operations during the war. The ferocity of the fighting at Iwo Jima led to 22 US Marines and five members of the US Navy being awarded a Medal of Honour the highest military decoration in America for their bravery during the engagement. Please note that Kidadl is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon. Fighter planes could refuel on the way to bombing raids in mainland Japan, saving time and fuel. atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Know about the causes, the engagement and the significance of the Battle of Iwo Jima through these 10 interesting facts. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. This cleared the way effectively, and later that day, the Marines landed. Many films were made about it, for example Flags of our Fathers and Letters from Iwo Jima, that were both directed by Clint Eastwood. Company B,1st Battalion,23rd Marine Regiment,4th Marine Division, Company C, 1st Battalion,26th Marine Regiment,5th Marine Division. Okinawa is located just 350 miles (563 km) south of Kyushu, and its capture was regarded as a vital precursor to a ground invasion of the Japanese home islands. When analyzing the island, American planners, who were in Pearl Harbor, envisioned it as an advance base for the looming Japanese assault. 19,217 wounded. Two Japanese holdouts continued to hide in the islands caves, scavenging food and supplies until they finally surrendered in 1949, almost four years after the end of World War II. After the war, the commander of the Expeditionary Troops protested angrily that an absence of naval gunfire led to the loss of Marine lives. Thirty-six days of World War Twos most intense fighting lay ahead. Schmidt, subsequently, requested nine days of machine gun firing, which Blandy again denied, instead of agreeing to a three-day onslaught. The battle took place in the Pacific Campaign of World War 2 and finished with the U.S. being victorious and gaining control of both the island and the Japanese airfields located at that location. U.S. Marines Landing on the Beach. However, the Japanese had secretly embarked on a new defensive tactic, taking advantage of Iwo Jimas mountainous landscape and jungles to set up camouflaged artillery positions. As the Marines struggled forward, the Japanese laid in wait. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The M2 flamethrower was considered by US commanders to be the single most effective weapon in the Iwo Jima engagement. Don Wildman discovers how Pearl Harbor transformed America, 80 years on from this infamous attack. 100 Interesting Facts About The World. US Marines raise the American flag on Suribachi. From lino cutting to surfing to childrens mental health, their hobbies and interests range far and wide. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Despite areas of intense resistance at Cushmans Pocket, the northwest coast, and a small area on the east coast, the U.S. declared Iwo Jima secure on March 16. Led a charge against an enemy gun installation which had held up the advance of his company for several days at Iwo Jima. The Japanese death toll approached 18,500 soldiers, and some 6,800 U.S. Marines were killed and 19,200 were wounded. Fought from 19 February to 26 March 1945, Battle of Iwo Jima was an amphibious attack by the American forces on the island of Iwo Jima in Japan during the Second World War. The primary postwar justification was Iwo Jimas capacity to provide emergency landings, but, while 2,251 B-29s landed on the island throughout the rest of the war, the majority of them were not strictly emergencies. It was a major battle in which the United States Armed Forces captured the island of Iwo Jima from the Japanese Empire . It meant the U.S. could launch bombing runs from Iwo Jima's strategic airfields, as the tiny island was directly under the flight path of B-29 Superfortresses from Guam, Saipan and the Mariana Islands. The Iwo Jima Statue is a war memorial honoring the members of the United States Marine Corps who served and died in the defense of the United State. The Erie Avenue Bridge in Lorain, Ohio was renamed in 1988 to the Charles Berry Bridge in honor of Corporal Berry, a native son of the city. Risked his life to defend his position against a larger enemy force on Iwo Jima. They were surprised to encounter embankments of volcanic ash towering some 15 feet (4.6 meters) high. Marines twice raised the American flag on Suribachis summit. Schmidt sent in U.S. He was convinced that Iwo Jima (now I-t) in particular, being halfway between the Mariana Islands and the Japanese capital, would place his fighters in range of the city so that they could support bombing operations in the region. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's photo of Marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi is perhaps one of the best-known war photos ever taken. After three years of fighting, U.S. troops didn't know the end was near for the Japanese Empire. By the time Iwo Jima was secured, there were three surviving. Baracus on "The A-Team," Mr. T was a member of the biggest team of them all -- the U.S "I was the guy who makes you scrub the latrine, the guy who makes you make your bed, the guy who screams at you for being Copyright 2023 Military.com. Eiji Takemae - He was a student at the Osaka High School for Boys. 10 Interesting Facts About Benjamin Banneker, 10 Interesting Facts About Elizabeth Blackwell, 10 Most Famous Poems By African American Poets, 10 Most Famous Novels In Russian Literature, 10 Major Effects of the French Revolution, 10 Major Battles of the American Civil War, 10 Facts About The Rwandan Genocide In 1994, Black Death | 10 Facts On The Deadliest Pandemic In History, 10 Interesting Facts About The American Revolution, 10 Facts About Trench Warfare In World War I, Batman | 10 Interesting Facts About The Dark Knight. And though the armed forces weren't fully integrated until 1948, the U.S. military has always been on the forefront of racial and gender integration. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page. (2006). Kuribayashi structured the southern end of the island in and around Mount Suribachi as a semi-independent sector, with his main defensive zone built up in the north, despite the fact that the tunnel connecting Mount Suribachi to the main army was never constructed. W. Eugene Smith, The LIFE . The 5th Marine Division commander was Major General Keller E. Rockey. What was supposed to be an easy and methodical landing process quickly became congested, and Kuribayashi maximized the confusion by directing his troops and artillery to fire on the U.S. soldiers. The summit of Suribachi, which has an elevation of 528 feet, marks the islands highest point. Who was a commander during the Battle of Iwo Jima? In all of World War II, only 81 Marines and 57 sailors were awarded the medal. Iwo Jima is a small island located 750 miles south of Tokyo, Japan. We hope you love our recommendations for products and services! You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. On March 8 Japanese Navy Capt. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously. At its disposal was an armada of 11 warships that were intended to soften up Japanese defenses with sustained bombardment. Company I, 3rd Battalion,26th Marine Regiment,5th Marine Division. They weren't attacked and thought all of the Japanese soldiers were dead. Marine paratrooper and Pima tribesman Ira Hamilton Hayes was immortalized in the photo of the U.S. flag being raised over Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. On March 25, 1945, 300 of Kuribayashis men mounted a final banzai attack. After the battle, Iwo Jima served as an emergency landing site for more than 2,200 B-29 bombers, saving the lives of 24,000 U.S. airmen. However, the United States assumed command of Allied forces in the Pacific theatre and mounted a counteroffensive that incorporated a strategic combination of land, air, and naval assaults. On 21 March, the Marines destroyed the Japanese stronghold. He ended up joining the ranks of the 36th Regiment's 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry, which was one of the special naval landing forces that were there to defend Iwo Jima against possible invasions by U.S. marines who thought that they could take over Japan, as well as control vital airstrips found on this island. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. This was significantly shorter than the 10-day heavy shelling bombardment requested by Maj. General Harry Schmidt and had limited impact due to the Japanese troops being so thoroughly dug-in. Risked his life attacking the enemy for 4 hours with an M2-2 Portable Flamethrower to minimize unit casualties during the fighting. Two beaches flank the northwest and southeast parts of the western sector. Iwo Jima served as an early warning station to radio reports of the bombers to Japan. However Imperial Japanese Navy had already lost almost all of its power and could not prevent U.S. from landing. Knowing he couldnt win the battle, he aimed at inflicting heavy casualties on American forces to force them to reconsider invasion of Mainland Japan. Icon of 1960s Britain: Who Was Mary Quant? Fact Sheet: the Battle for Iwo Jima. NationalWW2Museum.org. The first main Japanese line of defense lay beyond a sulfur field filled with man-made and natural defenses. On February 21 Kuribayashi executed a kamikaze attack on U.S. Navy vessels, badly damaging several ships. On March 10th, the three divisions would meet-up on the coast of Iwo Jima almost a week after the first B-29 bomber made an emergency landing on the island on March 4th, 1945. The Battle of Iwo Jima Iwo Jima Memorial On February 19, 1945, about 70,000 marines invaded the small Pacific Island of Iwo Jima which was under control of the Japanese army. . The modest response to the initial US beach landings led the Americans to presume that their bombardment had seriously impaired Japanese defences. A US flamethrower runs under fire on Iwo Jima. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCOS)Adm. The 3rd Division of the USMC would be put into the fight on day five of the battle and were given the mission of taking the center sector of the island. Iwo Jima. Kidadl is independent and to make our service free to you the reader we are supported by advertising. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. America suffered more than 26,000 casualties, including 6,800 dead. Also Sherman M4A3R3 flamethrower tanks proved to be effective in clearing Japanese positions. The second flag raising was photographed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press, and his photograph became one of the most famous combat images of World War II. The beach was widened to 100 yd (91.44 m) in order to accommodate the landing of tanks and trucks while thousands of U.S. marines and soldiers came ashore over the course of that night. This time Kuribayashi opted to hang back and defend from deeper positions, deliberately delaying the Americans and inflicting as many casualties as possible. Lieutenant General Holland M. Howlin Mad Smith was the commanding general of the expeditionary troops. While the former tells the story of the battle from American perspective and is named after the famous flag raising incident; the latter gives the Japanese perspective of the battle. The United States conducted initial carrier air raids against the island in June, 1944. More were awarded than for any other operation during World War 2 with many being given posthumously. The Battle of Iwo Jima occurred between February 19th and March 26th 1945. The battle started on February 19, 1945, and lasted until March 26, 1945, while World War II was going on. In total, 29,000 American personnel were sent into this major battle against a mere 22,000 Japanese defenders, who were headed by Tadamichi Kuribayashi, a general from Tokyo. General Tadamichi also forbade civilians from seeking shelter inside the island's many underground tunnels, although they did hold value when it came to hiding the island's tanks. Washington, D.C.: Historical, Division of Public Information, Headquarters, United States Marine Corps. Its critics say that U.S. gained little by capturing Iwo Jima. Furthermore, the island functioned as a launchpad for Japanese aviation raids against the newly established American bases in the Marianas. (2018). The U.S. code name for the operation on Iwo Jima was Operation Detachment. The fortifications on Iwo Jima had immense and complicated bunkers, a large amount of hidden artillery, and more than 10 miles of tunnels. This iconic photo, taken February 23, 1945, by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, shows six US Marines raising the American flag over the battle-scarred Japanese island of Iwo Jima. This means 850 Americans died for every square mile of the island fortress. By the time U.S. forces initiated their assault, Kuribayashis Iwo Jima garrison had grown to an estimated 21,000 soldiers. Some of your most well-known heroes are those who died during World War II, so we can also say that many people have gained their fame from the Battle of Iwo Jima as well. At that point it was returned to the Japanese. The United States laun. Please wait while the activity loads. This does not influence our choices. Suribachi which is one of the most reprinted images in history. Subscribe to Military.com to have military news, updates and resources delivered directly to your inbox. This made Iwo Jima the only battle of the Pacific War in which American casualties outnumbered Japanese, although the number of Japanese soldiers killed 18,844 was almost three times greater than the US death count. The 28th Regiment at Green would plow across the 0.5-mile (0.8-km) stretch to the other side of the island to cut off and eventually take Mount Suribachi. All Rights Reserved. https://www.britannica.com/topic/Battle-of-Iwo-Jima, Naval History and Heritage Command - Battle of Iwo Jima, History Learning Site - The Battle of Iwo Jima, Battle of Iwo Jima: U.S. Marines on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Battle of; United States Coast Guard, Iwo Jima, Battle of; United States Marine Corps, United States Marine Corps during the Battle of Iwo Jima, injured U.S. Marines at the Battle of Iwo Jima. The battle saw some of the fiercest combat in the Pacific theater, with nearly . A complex and elaborate defense was prepared. Single-handedly overcame a strong enemy garrison and completely disarmed a large mine field before finally rejoining his unit. Updates? How many days was the battle of Iwo Jima? Harlon Block, age 20, and Michael Strank, age 25, were both killed on March 1. Some of those soldiers were misidentified for decades. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. Tadamichi Kuribayashi was in charge of the Japanese defence. History Hit brings you the stories that shaped the world through our award winning podcast network and an online history channel. The Battle for Iwo Jima. History.Navy.mil. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, creative tips and more. Iwo Jima translates as Sulfur Island, a name that gives some impression of its foreboding nature. As an Amazon Associate, Kidadl earns from qualifying purchases. Sacrificed his life to save a group of fellow Marines during the fighting. He then had his troops erect hundreds of pillboxes, blockhouses, and gun sites for aboveground coverage, many of which were so well constructed that only a direct hit from a battleship could cause serious damage. Battles raged on in the northern part of Iwo Jima for four weeks, with Kuribayashi essentially setting up a garrison in the mountains in that part of the island. In the spider holes, they had 12"-14" shelves dug into the walls completely filled with morphine. The roughly 60,000 U.S. service members taking part in the assault on Iwo Jima were faced by approximately 21,000 Japanese troops. Among other things, an extensive system of tunnels was built to connect the prepared positions so that positions which had been cleared could be re-occupied. . It was defended by 20,000 Japanese soldiers who spent a year digging in, creating miles of tunnels beneath the volcanic rock and were ready to fight to the last man. It is said that Kuribayashi led the attack himself. Only 216 Japanese troops were taken prisoner. Thousands of people on both sides lost their lives. In doing so he hoped to damage US spirits and buy more time for Japan to prepare for a looming invasion. Brimelow, B. The United States mounted an amphibious invasion of the island of Iwo Jima as part of its Pacific campaign against Japan. In 1543, a ship located the island and landed to explore the newly found land. By March 27, 1945, U.S. Marines had finally reached General Kuribayashi's underground command post, where the general waved a white flag before killing himself along with his entire staff. 2. Before landing his Marines on the beaches, Schmidt had requested that the Navy bombard the island for 10 consecutive days. Gen. Kuribayashi Tadamichi to organize the defense of Iwo Jima. This change in perspective led to more successful bombings throughout World War II. 73 years ago a war photographer snapped the most iconic image of World War II heres the story of the battle behind the photo. BusinessInsider.com. History Hit Launches on Comcasts Entertainment Platforms in the US. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Did the Wars of the Roses End at the Battle of Tewkesbury? Historical Branch, United States Marine Corps. The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. Mount Suribachi, an extinct volcano that forms the narrow southern tip of the island, rises 550 feet to dominate the ocean around it. Japanese defensive doctrine had evolved considerably since the Central Pacific battles of 1943 and early 1944. Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. According to postwar analyses, the Imperial Japanese Navy had been so crippled by earlier World War II clashes in the Pacific that it was already unable to defend the empires island holdings, including the Marshall archipelago. More than 20,000 of the 21,000 Japanese defenders lost their lives during the battle with only 216 taken prisoner during the two month battle. It was given the code name Operation Detachment. When the Marine Corps Memorial was dedicated in 1954, it was that image that became the symbol of the Corps' spirit, dedicated to every Marine who gave their life in service to the United States. Iwo Jima was not only a historic battle. The fact lists are intended for research in school, for . Myles Hudson was an Editorial Intern at Encyclopdia Britannica. Although the American military declared that Iwo Jima had been captured the next day, American forces spent weeks on end trudging through the islands jungles, finding and killing or capturing Japanese holdouts who refused to surrender and opted to continue fighting. Arnold had to rely on the Navy to take these islands for him, however. Subscribe for virtual tools, STEM-inspired play, U.S. intelligence had reported only 13,000 Japanese defenders and excellent beach terrain for landing, so planners chose to have the Marines land on the southeastern beach in seven sections (listed southwest to northeast): Green, Red 1, Red 2, Yellow 1, Yellow 2, Blue 1, and Blue 2. Second in command of the Joint Expeditionary Force was Rear Admiral Harry W. Hill. If this activity does not load, try refreshing your browser. Killed while performing first aid to a wounded Marine at Iwo Jima. creative tips and more. On April 1, 1945Easter Sundaythe Navy's Fifth Fleet and more than 180,000 U.S. Army and Marine Corps. His division commanders for the invasion were: The 3rd Marine Division commander was Major General Graves B. Erskine Well send you tons of inspiration to help you find a hidden gem in your local area or plan a big day out. By the night of March 9th, the Divisions forces would reach the northeastern beach on the island effectively cutting the Japanese defense in half. Why Did Shakespeare Paint Richard III as a Villain? On the northern end of the island, the 28th Regiment fought alongside troops from the 5th Division for control of Hills 362A and 362B, seizing them both with considerable difficulty by March 3. The Battle of Iwo Jima refers to a battle fought over the island during World War II. From the short colour film To the Shores of Iwo Jima Watch Now. Once the dust settled, it became clear that U.S. Marines had only managed to gain control of a small fraction of Iwo Jima, which meant they would have to fight yet again if they wanted to take the island for good. By design, the Japanese held off initial assaults against the American troops who were slowed by the volcanic sand on the beach. Iwo Jima, a look back. Like the bloodshed on Iwo Jima, Okinawa's savagery suggested a terrible death toll could follow in the anticipated invasion of Japan's home islands. Furthermore, Iwo Jima was used by Japanese naval units when they were in dire need of a place of safety. US plans seriously underestimated the beach terrain that their landing force would meet at Iwo Jima. It was believed that he was going to join a naval academy, but instead, he ended up finding himself fighting in one of the bloodiest battles that took place while World War II was going on. The island was declared secure on March 26th following another banzai attack against the air corps personnel and soldiers on the beaches. The most famous image of the battle was the raising of the American flag atop Mt. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. His attack proved futile, however, and the casualties inflicted provided an opening for the Marines. Battle of Iwo Jima Medal of Honor Awardees, Negative Effects on the U.S. Economy Caused by World War 2, Gustav Gun: Largest Rifled Weapon in History, The P-51 Mustang in Europe, The need for and effects of the P-51 Mustang in the skies over Europe, 1st Battalion,26th Marine Regiment,5th Marine Division. If all Japanese tunnels were stacked end-end, how long would they stretch? Cloudflare Ray ID: 7c0cc14ffa9504a3 The Battle of Iwo Jima was fought between the United States and Japan between February 19 th and March 26 th 1945. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so its important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family. Summary and Definition: Iwo Jima Island is a tiny volcanic island in the Pacific, just over 4 miles long and 2 miles wide, which lies at the foot of the Bonin chain of islands, 660 miles south of Tokyo. Covered two Japanese grenades with his body. The island is located about 760 miles from mainland Japan. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. The statue is based on Rosenthals now-famous photograph. All articles are regularly reviewed and updated by the HISTORY.com team. Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi was assigned the task of defending Iwo Jima. Schmidt was prepared for Japanese banzai attacks and expected the swarm of bodies to expedite the invasion process, anticipating total control of the island in no more than four days. 27 U.S. Marine Corps and Navy personnel were awarded Medal of Honor, the highest military decoration in America, for their heroics in the Battle of Iwo Jima. By February 23rd, Marines from the 28th would reach the top of Mt. Updated: March 27, 2023 | Original: October 29, 2009. The two films were directed by Clint Eastwood. Survived the blast of the one that exploded. Each battalion was assigned a flamethrower operator and the weapons became the most effective means of attacking Japanese troops in pillboxes, caves, buildings and bunkers.
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