
The Battle of Iwo Jima (Operation Detachment) was fought between the United States of America and the Empire of Japan during February and March of 1945, during the Pacific Campaign of World War II. As a result of the battle, the United States gained control of the island of Iwo Jima, and the airfields located there. The battle is famous for the image of American troops raising the US flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle.Japan suffered a heavy loss; about 22,000 Japanese troops were entrenched on the island, and only 1083 survived. The fighting was intense and the American troops captured the highest point, Mount Suribachi, in the first week of fighting. The United States lost a total of 6,821 men in the battle for the Island. The U.S. was obviously gaining ground in the Pacific theater at this point in the war, and the victory at Iwo Jima was another step towards the main islands of Japan.
The six American soldiers who raised the flag instantly become heroes. Some of them did not survive. Those who survive, had no interest in being held up as symbols and did not consider themselves heroes; they wanted only to stay on the front with their brothers in arms who were fighting and dying without fanfare or glory.
‘Flags of Our Fathers’ is based on the bestselling book by James Bradley with Ron Powers, which chronicled the battle of Iwo Jima and the fates of the flag raisers and some of their brothers in Easy Company.
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