No picture is more tied to Iwo Jima than the flag raising on Mount Suribachi. On February 23, 1945, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment when six Marines raised the Stars and Stripes over the rocky summit. It has been sculpted in bronze, carved into memory, and etched into the collective image of the Marine Corps. For many, Suribachi is Iwo Jima. The photo was only one moment. The 550-foot volcanic cone at the island’s south tip, towered…

On the morning of February 19th, 1945, the invasion of Iwo Jima began.

The Marines were coming in force. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions led the assault, backed by the 3rd in reserve. Offshore, hundreds of ships filled the sea, their decks crowded with men climbing down cargo nets into landing craft and amphibious tractors.

This episode takes us into the brutal…

By early 1945, the Pacific war had reached a turning point. The United States held the Marianas, and from there, B-29 bombers struck directly at Japan, but the road to Tokyo was still dangerous. Halfway along that road lay Iwo Jima, a tiny volcanic island of black sand, jagged rock, and sulfur fumes. On the map it looked insignificant, but its location gave it enormous weight. For Japan, it was part of Tokyo Prefecture itself — “the doorkeeper to the capital.” For America, it was both a threat and an opportunity: a fighter base that could harass bombers, or an emergency airfield that could…

The Philippines became the centerpiece of General Douglas MacArthur’s promise to return. The Army was to lead, but when setbacks on Leyte bogged down operations, Marine aviation and artillery were rushed in. Within hours after their arrival, they were flying convoy cover, striking Japanese shipping, and dueling enemy aircraft. Despite crude airfields and poor coordination under Fifth Air Force control, Marines flew over 260 missions in their first few weeks.

The 7th Marines landed on Peleliu under the command of Colonel Herman H. Hanneken. Veterans of Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, they now faced a new kind of hell. Their mission was to seize the island’s eastern shore, then pivot south to clear Japanese positions threatening the airfield.

Over weeks of unrelenting combat, they fought through blockhouses, mangrove swamps, and the notorious Bloody Nose Ridge, in brutal, close-quarters action. Acts of valor, like PFC Arthur J. Jackson’s Medal of Honor assault, stood against staggering casualties, disease, and…

In this episode, we examine the 5th Marine Regiment’s role in the brutal Battle of Peleliu. As part of the 1st Marine Division, the 5th Marines were tasked with seizing the island’s strategically vital airfield. They advanced across open terrain under withering fire, securing the airfield despite intense Japanese resistance and extreme environmental conditions. By mid-October, after nearly a month of combat, the 5th Marines were physically spent and heavily depleted. 

In this episode, we explore the brutal experience of the 1st Marine Regiment during the early days of Peleliu. Under relentless enemy fire, Marines fought their way across beaches and through rugged coral ridges against deeply entrenched Japanese defenders. They endured extreme heat, devastating casualties, and severe logistical challenges that tested their limits.

In the fierce fighting…

Peleliu was part of the Allies' island-hopping campaign to capture key islands and build forward bases on the path to Japan. Expected to last only a few days, the battle instead turned into one of the Pacific War’s longest and bloodiest fights. The island was strategically critical because of its airfield, needed for Allied operations and protecting General MacArthur’s flank during his return to the Philippines.

Japanese defenders…

Last episode, we walked through the intense landing at Tinian and how Marines clawed their way inland. Once they secured crucial positions, they wasted no time driving south, dismantling Japanese defenses one step at a time.

Today, we'll conclude our Tinian series by exploring the campaign's dramatic final stages. We'll cover fierce clashes along rugged cliffs, relentless enemy resistance, and logistical adaptations in the face of severe weather. We'll examine critical innovations in artillery coordination, amphibious logistics, and the first use of napalm in combat. Ultimately…

In this episode, we explore the strategic battle for Tinian, a crucial turning point in the Pacific War. As Marines launched an ambitious assault, intense artillery and naval bombardments battered Japanese defenses, paving the way for a daring landing on narrow northern beaches. Marines overcame challenging terrain and fierce resistance to secure critical positions such as Mount Lasso and Ushi Point Airfield. 

Despite setbacks, including tragic losses from artillery fire, Marine forces advanced steadily inland. With control of vital airfields and fresh reinforcements arriving, the Marines prepared for…