Mounting Casualties on Iwo Jima

8th March 1945: The US Marines resolutely push forward in a bloody battle against a hidden enemy

US Marine artillery pounding Japanese positions on Iwo Jima.

Carrier-based planes strike identified Japanese bunkers on Iwo Jima

Forward aid posts were kept busy before casualties could be evacuated to hospital ships.

The Battle for Iwo Jima continued as intensely as ever. The American objective to split the Japanese forces in two had still not been achieved, even though Naval ships had come close inshore to provide supporting fire when the Japanese bunkers were identified.

Jim Craig was a platoon commander with the Marines on Iwo Jima. In the 28 days on the island his platoon of 41 men would receive 19 replacements, out of the total of 60 men who served in the platoon, 20 were killed and 30 were evacuated wounded.