CLASS RACER FORUM - On February 23, 1945

The U.S. Marine Corps seized Mount Suribachi, the highest point of Iwo Jima Island, making an intense stand during WWII against Japan. This major victory at the Battle of Iwo Jima secured a valuable aircraft base for the U.S. and was a sign of impending defeat for Japan.

30,000 Marines of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions, under V Amphibious Corps landed on the shores of Iwo Jima, with another 40,000 Marines following. After a grueling battle resulting in 6,821 American lives being taken and roughly 21,000 Japanese lives, the U.S. overtook the summit.

The statement made by Admiral Nimitz, "Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue", epitomized the fighting of the U.S. Marines.

The flag is raised - On February 23, 1945, the first U.S. flag was placed on Mount Suribachi, which was then followed by the raising of a second, larger flag for ceremonial purposes.

It was at this conclusive point that Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal took the above 1945 Pulitzer Prize winning photograph entitled "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima." Five Marines of Company E (2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division) along with a Navy corpsman, raised the U.S. flag using an old water pipe as the post.

Secretary of the Navy, James Forrestal was quoted as saying to General Howlin' Mad Smith:

"The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next five hundred years."