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On February 19, 1945, as part of its Island Hopping campaign in the Pacific, the United States landed two Marine Divisions (4th & 5th) on the Pacific island of Iwo Jima. The goal of the invasion was to capture the island and the three airstrips it contained, and use them in the air war against the Japanese home islands. The Japanese, commanded by Lieutenant General Tadamichi, did not resist the initial Marine landing, but instead, came out of their bunkers, which they had built to survive a 72-day naval bombardment, after the Marines were well ashore. They gave a much stronger defense than was anticipated, inflicting heavy casualties on the Americans. (MORE)

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