Jubilant Marines pose for pictures with the American flag following its planting atop Mt. Suribachi on Feb. 23.
Iwo Jima: A Brief Chronology February 19 – D-day • 0640-0800: Ships off Iwo; for 85 minutes, vessels bombard island from end to end. • 0805: Naval gunfire ceases. 72 fighter planes and bombers spray rockets, bombs, and machine gun bullets on flanks of landing beaches and adjacent area. 48 additional fighter craft hit landing areas with napalm bombs, rockets, and machine gun bullets. • 0825: Planes depart. Vessels resume bombardment, concentrating on landing beaches and vicinity. • 0845: Vessels begin ro!ling barrage, going 200 yards inland. When Marines land, naval gunfire moves ahead in 200-yard steps. • 0859: The first Marine forces reach shore. 0902: Marines begin to move toward inland terraces as other troops pour ashore. • 0930: First call for an ambulance boat is made. February 20 – D+1 • Col. Harry Liversedge leads 11-hour charge of 28th Marines but only gains 200 yards. • During fight for Mt. Suribachi, battalions from 23rd, 24th, and 25th Marines of 4th Division and 26th and 27th Marines of 5th
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Division secure airfield and push northward into heart of enemy defenses. 5th Division zone makes first gains; stiffest resistance from Japanese troops in zone of 25th Marines along east coast. Still, deepest penetration of 25th Marines is 200 yards. February 21 – D+2 • 40-plane air strike precedes attack – all battalions employed. Good support by tanks, 37 mm guns, and half-tracks mounting 75 mm cannon. Regiment gets to foot of mountain after smothering a counterattack. That night, Japanese suicide planes strike at vessels gathered off island. • 21st Marines of 3rd Marine Division ordered ashore to reinforce 4th Marine Division. • 5th Division makes more gains along northern front, but are battered. Maj. Gen. Cates’ tactical plans hampered by impossible terrain. February 22 – D+3 • Marines surround Mt. Suribachi despite heavy opposition in center of regimental zone.
