US Marines take out an enemy cave on Hill 382, where some of the most fierce fighting in the Battle of Iwo Jima took place.
They called the area the ‘meat grinder’. The Americans hoped to establish a base on the island, an eight-squaremile speck in the Pacific, from which to attack Japan, but overpowering the tens of thousands of defenders all intent on fighting to the last man from their defensive tunnels, bunkers and caves came at a heavy price.
It was the only battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II where US casualties outnumbered the Japanese.
They called the area the ‘meat grinder’. The Americans hoped to establish a base on the island, an eight-squaremile speck in the Pacific, from which to attack Japan, but overpowering the tens of thousands of defenders all intent on fighting to the last man from their defensive tunnels, bunkers and caves came at a heavy price.
It was the only battle in the Pacific Theatre of World War II where US casualties outnumbered the Japanese.
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