On this day, Grane Hospice and the We Honor Veterans Program would like to remember the Battle of Iwo Jima on its 75th Anniversary. We recognize the sacrifices of the men and women of service made during this event, and the honor and privilege we have been given to care for them. Thank you!
Today marks the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima, Japan. This battle, notably the bloodiest battle of WWII, started on February 19th, 1945, and ended on March 29th, 1945, lasting 36 days.
Iwo Jima is a small island about 745 miles south of Tokyo, holding a great significant in WWII history. Iwo Jima was the first native Japanese soil to be invaded by the Allied Advance. During the battle, the island was heavily fortified with bunkers, tunnels, and approximately 21,000 Japanese defenders. The United States, following air bombardment, sent approximately 100,000 service members ashore, including around 74,000 marines. Over 500 warships and thousands of US Navy and Army Air Corp war planes pounded the island with heavy shelling and bombing. This was so intense that it changed the shape of the island’s highest point, Mount Suribachi.
On February 23rd, six U.S. Marines raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi following it’s capture. The Japanese fighters held onto the island for over a month, totaling around 21,000 Japanese and 7,000 U.S. Marines casualties.
After WWII ended, the United States returned the island to Japanese rule in 1968. It wasn’t until 1994 that a Japanese emperor has visited the island and attended the service. Today, both the US and Japan remembers this anniversary in history.