WWII E155 Suribachi: Cutting Off the Serpent’s Head

Written By Robert Estrada

Episode Description

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 over the beaches. Japanese mortars, artillery, and machine guns fired from its slopes onto the landing zones of the 5th Marine Division. 

Mount Suribachi was the job of the 28th Marines. They fought from the opening landings, driving around its base until the volcano was cut off. For four days, they clawed through dug-in defenses. On February 23, they climbed to the summit.

In this episode, we tell Suribachi’s full story: its importance, the defenses hidden inside it, the assault that sealed it off, the climb to the top, and what the flag raising meant then and now.

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References

  • Alexander, J. H. (1994). Closing in: Marines in the seizure of Iwo Jima (World War II Commemorative Series, PCN 19000313100). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

  • Bartley, W. S. (1954). Iwo Jima: Amphibious epic. Historical Branch, G-3 Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

  • Bradley, J., & Powers, R. (2000). Flags of our fathers. New York, NY: Bantam Books.

  • Burrell, Robert S. The Ghosts of Iwo Jima. Texas A&M University Press, 2006.

  • Gilbert, Oscar E. Marine Tank Battles in the Pacific. Da Capo Press, 2001.

  • Heinl, R. D., Jr. (1968). History of the United States Marine Corps in World War II, Volume V: Victory and Occupation. Washington, D.C.: Historical Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

  • Nalty, B. C., & Crawford, D. J. (1995). The United States Marines on Iwo Jima: The battle and the flag raisings (PCN 19000316600). History and Museums Division, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.

  • Newcomb, R. F. (1965). Iwo Jima. New York, NY: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.

  • Smith, H. M., & Finch, P. (1949). Coral and Brass. New York, NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons.

  • Smith, Larry. Iwo Jima: World War II Veterans Remember the Greatest Battle of the Pacific. W.W. Norton, 2008.

  • Shaw, H. I., Jr., Nalty, B. C., & Turnbladh, E. T. (1970). History of U.S. Marine Corps operations in World War II: Volume IV, Western Pacific operations. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

  • Wheeler, R. (1980). Iwo. New York, NY: Thomas Y. Crowell.

Robert Estrada
Next

WWII E154 Into the Black Sand: The First Days on Iwo Jima