Semper Fidelis

It's a shame that many Americans have forgotten about one of the most important battles in U.S. history. Yeah, most people recognize that the patriots in this picture are Marines, and it was taken in the bloody Pacific during World War Two, but do we really know and honor this incredible yet tragic event?
On this day in 1945, the Marines entrenched into what they knew would be a horrific struggle for their lives. Iwo JIma was a highly strategic ground because it served as a buffer zone between U.S. forces and the Japanese mainland. Our men knew this enemy stronghold would be a battle to the death, but they were aware of the situation and how this sulfurous island could play such a dramatic role in the outcome of the war. Being located between the American bombing base Mariana and the Japanese mainland, Iwo Jima would serve as a highly strategic airfield and fortress in the Pacific.
The Japanese warriors were able to give such a fierce fight under the leadership of General Kuribayashi because they simply did not care about death. There battleground philosophy was no Japanese survivors. They simply just wanted to take as many American lives with them as they could. More than 16 miles of tunnels were dug into this mountainous island in order for the enemy forces to move freely and surprise attack.
It took 40 days for 880 ships to carry 110 thousand U.S. Marines from Hawaii. And after a tenacious grapple, 6,821 American lives were lost, while 21,703 Japanese lives were lost. After the horrific struggle, five Marines and a Navy Corpsman hoisted the symbol of American pride over the Mount Suribachi, the islands highest point.