Iwo Jima: Amphibious Epic

vi, 253, [plus 21 pages of maps], pp. "On 19 February 1945, elements of the V Marine Amphibious Corps began their assault on the island of Iwo Jima. Opposing the men of the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions was a force of more than 20,000 well-disposed and deeply entrenched Japanese troops. In the next 36 days, the amphibious doctrine, techniques, weapons and equipment of the U.S. Marine Corps received a supreme test. It was a bitter struggle in which 6,821 Marines, soldiers and sailors lost their lives and over 17,000 were wounded. ...Iwo Jima: Amphibious Epic is an operational monograph prepared by Historical Section, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps, concerning Marine Corps operations in World War II. It discusses both the strategic importance of this island base to the American war effort as well as the human sacrifices to capture it from a dedicated enemy."--Front jacket flap.