The campaign for Iwo Jima was one of the best documented in World War II. Marine combat cameramen and photographers accompanied their brothers in the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions through every phase of the battle. They left an powerful record of the campaign. A few of their images follow. Unless otherwise credited, all are official US Marine Corps still photos from combat camera motion pictures.
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(above) Marines climb over the side of their transport down the cargo net into a landing boat prior to the run–in for the beach—19 Feb 45 |
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(above) An LVT laden with infantry Marines churns in to the beach—
19 February 1945 |
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(above) Marines head for the beach past LST 481—19 Feb 45 |
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(above)H–Hour! The first wave has made the shore. Marines sprint for
the protection of the beach terrace and stand-by for follow–on waves. |
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(above) An LVT(A)–4 amtank on the beach—D–Day. This vehicle is
mired in the soft volcanic sand and must stand–by for recovery. |
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(above) Beelzebub, an M4 medium tank of Co. B, 4th Tank Battalion, grinds forward through the volcanic beach sand on D–Day. |
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(above) A Navy Corpsman renders battlefield treatment
to a wounded Marine. |
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(above) Infantry Marines of the 4th MarDiv moving up onto the badlands of the Motoyama Plateau. Mount Suribachi is visible in the background. |
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(above) March 1945—Marines trek across the blasted terrain of northern Iwo. The Marine at left carries a captured Japanese rifle slung on his shoulder. |
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(above) A Marine takes a few minutes to write a letter to his folks back home. V-mails were a life line to the States for servicemen deployed to the far corners of the globe. |
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(above) Marines taking a break late in the battle—March 1945. The Marine at left reads a small book; probably an issue Bible. |
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(above) Main gate to the 5th Marine Division Cemetery. |
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(above) Marines wander among the rows of crosses in a divisional cemetery on Iwo. Day and night, they made the pilgrimage to visit their lost buddies before embarking on the long voyage back. |
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