71 years ago 29th February - 26th March 1945 the Battle of Iwo Jima
 

Just two lines to remember that the 4th and the 5th USMC divisions landed on those beaches on 19 February, 1945 and the battle started.
There were about 19,000 WIA for that small piece of land. The Japanese defenders numbered about 21,000. only 216 of them were taken alive.
In those few days about 27,000 men died for that small island that today still has the two airfields and it's owned by Japan again.

On the February 23rd 1945 six Marines raised the US flag on Mount Suribachi and the famous picture was taken.
Three of those six Marines were KIA only a few days later.