Introduction
Mt. Suribachi
This exhibit and museum were created during an introductory seminar on the Asia-Pacific War, taught at Wake Forest University during the spring semester 2002.
The material and opinions are those of their respective authors and do not represent the views of the University or the Department of History.
"Storm'd at with shot and shell bravely they rode and well into the Jaws of Death into the Mouth of Hell"
-Quote from an American soldier
This is what it felt like and what it took to take Mt. Suribachi, the first objective after the beaches were taken on D-Day. The Marines had to continue fighting as they had been-inch by deadly inch- in order to take Suribachi. The only above ground ways to get up the mountain were small paths that intertwined all the way up. This may not have been so bad had it not been for the Japanese tunnels, foxholes, bunkers, and hidden openings that the enemy soldiers popped out of constantly to fire upon the unprotected Marines. This is what made Iwo Jima so dangerously different from the other WWII battles...rarely did an American marine see an enemy soldier. They only saw deadly flashes from Japanese guns. It took a great resolve, good accuracy, and luck to make it to the top and take Mt. Suribachi.
Mt. Suribachi from
above
The first flagraising atop Suribachi signified the first major victory on Iwo Jima for the brave Marines. It was only a small flag and no famous pictures were taken of the event but it was a huge triumph for the men who fought to put it up. The flagraising is pictured at the top of this page. It shows how even though they took the mountain and raised the flag, they were still under fire as evidenced by the Marine on lookout at the bottom of the picture. The following picture is a posed one with the Marines at the summit of Mt. Suribachi:
Soldiers posing for a picture atop Mt. Suribachi
This exhibit was researched and designed by Brad Smith.