Essex (LHD 2) - Naval Cruise Book

Page 210 text:

History of Iwo Jima: Following the Allied invasion of the Philippines in October 1944, the United States was ready to begin its drive towards the home islands of Japan One of the most important islands we needed to capture was Iwo Jima, (Japanese for ' Island of Sulfur ' ) a forbidding rock of volcanic ash only eight square miles in area. The island was very heavily defended by over 22,000 Japanese troops and strongly fortified against invasion. On February 16, 1945 , a force of eleven American battle- ships and cruisers , supported by carrier-based aircraft , began pounding targets

Page 209 text:

iiM£ y jL -: ' ».- siP CLOCKWISE from upper left: Polynesian dancers put on a great show at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Koko Head Lighthouse on Oahu. The USS Missouri (BB-63) rests next to the USS Arizona (BB-39) Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Chaplain Logan takes in one of Oahu ' s beautiful beaches. Three of ESSEX ' finest posing on another of Oahu ' s picturesque white sand beaches on the North Shore. Scenes like this can only be found in the paradise called Hawaii!

Page 211 text:

steaming in hallowed wa- ters... At left, ESSEX sails past Iwo Jima. Clearly seen on the southern end of this World War II battle ground is Mt. Surabachi, where the famous scene of the American flag being raised by U.S. Marines took place. Although the ESSEX Amphibious Ready Group did not make a stop here, this image will be long remembered by each Sailor and Marine that went topside and viewed this historic Pacific island. Above, A03 Fortier kneels at the Iwo Jima memorial atop Mt. Surabachi. Fortier was one of a few Sailors and Marines that had the opportunity to go ashore. Commodore Larry Nelms and Colonel Richard Zilmereach took time to recognize the Marines that paid the ultimate sacrifice during this short visit. ' Shore. On February 19, 1945 , the Marines began ianding 68,000 troops on Iwo ima. Taking 2,420 casualties the first day, the Marines cut the island in half. On the ifth day, the Marines sent a patrol to the top of Mt. Suribachi , the peak dominating he island, where six Marines raised a U.S. flag. It took several weeks to secure the stand , at a cost of 21,000 enemy killed, and only 212 captured. 18,070 Marines were ounded, and 6,891 Marines paid the ultimate sacrifice to God, their country and he U.S. Marine Corps.