Marines's video: Battle of Iwo Jima

in 1945, more than 60,000 Marines and Sailors of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions landed on Iwo Jima, a volcanic island in the Pacific, after three days of naval and air bombardment. Awaiting them on the eight square miles of sand and rock were 21,000 Japanese defenders, dug into reinforced caves and bunkers. Over the course of the next five weeks, U.S. forces would sustain more than 27,000 casualties and performed such acts of gallantry that 27 Marines and Sailors received the Medal of Honor. The capture of Mount Suribachi, the highest point of the island, on Feb. 23, 1945, produced one of the most memorable and significant images of the Second World War, and in the history of the Marine Corps. Associated Press photographer and honorary Marine Joe Rosenthal won the Pulitzer Prize for his famous image of six Marines of the 5th Marine Division raising the national ensign.