The Battle of Iwo Jima has been regarded as one of the bloodiest battles of World War Two. The significance of the island (less than 10 sq mi in size!), was that if captured, it could provide the Allies with the ability to provide fighter escorts for bombing raids into Tokyo. The Japanese had been using the island as a naval resupply depot and airbase from which to launch fighters that would intercept U.S. bombers attempting to reach Japanese islands. Because of the strategic value of Iwo Jima, the island would not be captured easily. The Japanese had heavily fortified the island, which also had natural features conducive to defense (barren, rocky terrain with hills coupled with Japanese dug-out tunnels and trenches). The Japanese put up extremely fierce resistance at Iwo Jima, with only about 200 out of their approximately 20,000 man garrison surviving the ordeal. Iwo Jima would be the only major battle in the Pacific War in which the U.S. had more casualties (killed and wounded) than the Japanese. 6,800 Americans were killed in action on Iwo Jima while another 19,000 were wounded. But in the end the U.S. was victorious and island- hopped one step closer toward the Japanese main islands.
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