Robert Leckie - The Battle for Iwo Jima

Seabees land to build roads to battle zone.

The 3 Division’s 21 Regiment is committed to battle in the 4 Division’s zone.

Japanese kamikazes attack support ships lying off Iwo Jima.

The 28 Marines raise the American flag atop Mt. Suribachi.

The last units of the 3 division are committed to the battle.

The 4 Division enters the “Meatgrinder.”

The 3 Division overruns Airfield Number Two and Hill 199.

The 5 Division overruns Hill 362A.

The 3 Division clears Airfield Number Three

Marines of the 5 Division capture Hill 362B.

The Meatgrinder is finally shattered by 4 Division.

The first B-29 lands on Iwo Jima.

Air Force P-51 Mustangs and P-61 Black Widows arrive on Iwo.

The 3 Division makes a pre-down attack against Hill 362C, which is captured later that day.

Japanese launch banzai attack at night and are repulsed with heavy losses.

Marines of the 3 Division reach the other end of Iwo Jima.

Last strong enemy opposition is eliminated in 3 Division’s zone with fall of Cushman’s Pocket.

General Kuribayashi informs Toko of the impending loss of Iwo Jima.

The 4 Division takes ship for Hawaii.

Surviving Japanese launch a desperate early-morning attack against Marine and Army Air Force units near Airfield Number Two.

The Battle for Iwo Jima is officially declared over.

Squad = 10 men

Platoon = 40 men

Company = 200 men

Battalion = 1,000 men

Regiment = 3,000 men

Division = 20,000 men

Corps = 50,000 or more men

In the Marine Corps, four squads make up one platoon; four platoons and a headquarters section make up a company; three companies and a headquarters company make up a battalion; three battalions make up a regiment; and three regiments plus an artillery regiment make up a division.

A Marine division’s strength is usually about 20,000 men because, in addition to the “line” (infantry) and artillery regiments, there are many special units attached to the division. These special units include battalions of tanks, engineers, motor transport, and amtracks. In addition there are medical-aid, war-dog, rocket, communication, and intelligence units. Two or more of these big 20,000-man divisions form a corps of upwards of 50,000 men, because a corps also has its specialists of service and supply.

At Iwo Jima the Fifth Amphibious Corps included three Marine divisions, the 3, 4, and 5. In all, this was a force of about 70,000 men.

These figures serve only as approximations, because military units always vary in size. A number of men are always sick, on leave, on loan to other units or going home after being discharged. In one campaign a division may need its tanks; in another, impassable terrain will make it necessary to leave the tanks behind. Thus an army, like the wars it fights, is an inconstant, changing thing.