Mt Suribachi Memorials

"Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue" — Admiral Chester Nimitz

These are the memorials at the top of Mt Suribachi. The top picture is the American memorial and the bottom two are of the Japanese memorial. At this hallowed place the casualties of both sides are memorialized. American forces suffered 26,000 casualties, including nearly 7,000 killed in action. Most of these casualties were US Marines; it was the most costly battle the Marines fought in the war. Over a quarter of the Medals of Honor awarded to Marines in the entire war were given for conduct in this invasion - 27 total. Of the 21,800 Japanese soldiers defending the island only 200 were taken prisoner (most of those were conscripted Koreans being used as hard laborers). On the sides of the American memorial are two Eagle, Globe, and Anchors; the revered symbol of the US Marines. Over the years Marines have placed their dog tags at this site over the EGA's. There may be some deeper significance to the dog tags being placed there so hopefully one of you Marines out there can enlighten me if there is. While we were there a Japanese 2-Star General came up to the site to get a personal tour and pay his respects to the soldiers of both sides; he very respectfully bowed and prayed at each monument. But the most striking thing about being up there is the thought of that famous picture being taken at that spot and what that scene would have actually been like at the time. The picture was taken only 4 days after the beginning of the assault, the Marines still had a very hard and costly month of fighting remaining at that point until Iwo Jima was officially declared "secure". The chaos surrounding the flag raising must have been unimaginable as the battle continued to rage all around them.