Did you know that one of the most famous shots from WWII is Joe Rosenthal's photo "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" shot on Feb 23, 1945? It shows six U.S. Marines planting Old Glory atop volcanic Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima 🏝️, a tiny island only 21 sq km.
Brutal Toll & Sacrifice
Iwo Jima was the scene of one of the deadliest fights in the Pacific. In just 36 days, the U.S. lost nearly 7,000 soldiers and had 20,000 wounded. Japan’s losses were even harsher: about 23,000 troops, over 90% of those stationed. For the U.S. Marine Corps, it’s still one of the costliest victories ever.
Memory Under Fire 🤔
Commemorations have sparked debate. In 2022, former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi praised Iwo Jima as proof of “liberty triumphing over fascism.” But in a March 2025 memorial, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth paid tribute to both American and Japanese soldiers: “Over 80,000 marines, soldiers and sailors from our two countries fought at Iwo Jima. More than 26,000 died here. Today, we revere their courage.” Many online felt this downplayed the U.S. sacrifices and the true horrors of that era.
Scholars at the China Institute of International Studies called Hegseth’s words “a misguided effort to rewrite history driven by geopolitical self-interest,” warning it blurs right and wrong and could feed dangerous forgetfulness.
Adding fuel to the fire, the U.S. State Department removed online materials about Ira Hayes, a Native American Marine flag raiser. Critics say it’s part of a wider shift in how history is shared, tying into broader debates on diversity, equity and inclusion.
Why Iwo Jima Mattered 🌏
Strategically, the island was key. For Japan it was an early warning post against U.S. bombers; for America it became an emergency landing base for B-29s and a launchpad to neutralize Japanese airfields threatening the Marianas.
Japanese commander General Tadamichi Kuribayashi turned Iwo Jima into a maze of tunnels and bunkers, ditching beach defenses for ambush tactics. This guerrilla-style warfare stretched the battle far longer than anyone expected.
Lessons & Legacy
Decades on, Iwo Jima is both shrine and cautionary tale. With U.S.–Japan ties now allies, disputes over textbooks and visits to sites like Yasukuni Shrine still stir anger in places like South Korea and China. Historians warn that blurring the line between fascist aggression and the fight against it risks losing the real lessons of WWII.
Today, Iwo Jima reminds us of both how far we’ve come and how fragile our shared memories can be. By understanding its full story — the courage, the controversy, and the cost — we keep history alive and relevant for a new generation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
