Snapshots from Military History: Landing on Iwo Jima, 1945

On February 19, 1945, the 4th and 5th Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima, Japan. They were under the command of Lieutenant General Holland M. Smith, USMC. The battle of Iwo Jima lasted for 36 days in total, with both the U.S. Marines and U.S. Navy involved in combat.

The well-known photo from Iwo Jima often seen in the media and in American culture, "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima," was not taken on February 19th. It was taken on February 23, 1945.

Credit: U.S. Department of Defense