Photos Courtesy of Wikipedia 

When the U.S. sent Marines to capture the Japanese airfields at Iwo Jima, the Marines were put up against near unwinnable odds. Japanese soldiers had turned the island into a fortress, fighting from a maze of tunnels and bunkers beneath Mt. Suribachi.

The battle lasted 36 days and despite heavy casualties, Marines secured the island with 26,040 total casualties

Innovations and fighting tactics were used by Marines to achieve victory at Iwo Jima, including Close Air Support, where Aircraft were used to support marines on the ground by providing cover and bombing raid that allowed Marines on the ground to advance.

Early in the battle, a patrol reached the summit of Mt. Suribachi and raised the American Flag to encourage troops. Later, Marines returned with a larger, more visible flag, the raising of which was captured by photographer Joe Rosenthal and is one of the most famous pictures of the war.