Iwo Jima Day 2024: Every year on February 19, we commemorate Iwo Jima Day, the anniversary of a battle that lasted roughly five weeks. It was an extremely horrible battle that broke out between the Japanese soldiers and the U.S. Marines during World War II. Both sides suffered thousands of fatalities. But in the end, despite facing insurmountable obstacles, the U.S. Marines prevailed. As a result, the day is recognized both formally in Massachusetts and informally all over the country. Remember our fallen soldiers, commemorate their victory and be glad that the nation has come together as one on this day.
The Iwo Jima Day History
Iwo Jima was just known as one of the Japanese Volcano Islands before it gained notoriety as the site of a historic battle in which numerous soldiers lost their lives. But the U.S. Marines and the Japanese Imperial Army fought each other in the Battle of Iwo Jima on this island. The island featured three airfields that could give the U.S. Marines a tactical advantage in future engagements, which is why the battle was fought there. After invading the island on February 19, 1945, American forces engaged the formidable Japanese Army in combat for five weeks.
Almost 7,000 U.S. Marines were killed in the fighting. The Japanese army had switched to a new defensive strategy, so even though the U.S. Marines were confident they would prevail, it took several days to beat them. They set up camouflaged artillery positions, effectively creating hundreds of obstacles for the U.S. Marines, taking advantage of the jungles and mountainous terrain. To top it all off, the island’s beach was made up of soft volcanic ash dunes that were steep. The sand made it very difficult to create a path for the combat vehicles.
The Americans were unfazed by this small obstacle that altered the course of events because they had already initiated a pre-attack against the Japanese. Most importantly, the Japanese offered no resistance to the Americans when they landed. They took this to mean that the enemy forces had conceded the fight. They were unaware that General Kuribayashi’s delay in responding was merely a tactic. Currently regarded as one of the bloodiest actions of World War II was the battle of Iwo Jima.
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Methods for Visiting Iwo Jima Day
Go to a memorial
Visit a memorial on this day to honor the troops who gave their lives to protect the freedom of the American people.
Bring the past back to life
Resurrect the historical narrative of the day by using a projector to display a documentary or by sharing content about the fight on social media.
Honor the troops
Honor the military veterans who gave their lives in combat by researching the soldiers’ names and digging up some history.
Five fascinating facts about Iwo Japan
- About 20,000 Japanese defenders faced 70,000 American combatants.
- There were 11 miles of fortified tunnels connecting 1,500 rooms as part of their defense strategy.
- The Marine Corps chose the Navajo code-talkers to translate Navajo phrases into marine terms and tactics.
- Five US Navy personnel and two US Marines received medals following the fight.
- The M2 flamethrower proved to be an effective tool for eliminating fortified positions.
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The significance of Iwo Jima Day
It’s from a historical perspective.
Today is crucial for providing historical context and illuminating the occasions leading up to the momentous American-Japanese battle.
It discusses military heroes.
The day honors the warriors who sacrificed their lives in battle to help the U.S. Marines win.
It highlights why war is harmful.
The day also serves as a reminder of the deadly effects of war because so many people lost their lives in the battle of Iwo Jima.
IWO JIMA DAY DATES
| Year | Date | Day |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | February 19 | Monday |
| 2025 | February 19 | Wednesday |
| 2026 | February 19 | Thursday |
| 2027 | February 19 | Friday |
| 2028 | February 19 | Saturday |
