A COMMON VIRTUE   Febuary 20th, 1945 -  

On February 19th, 1945, the U.S. 5th Marine Division assaulted the vital 
island of Iwo Jima. The capture of Iwo Jima would allow U.S. fighters to 
escort the B-29 bombers on their raids to Japan. The Japanese had garrisoned 
the island with 22,000 men and were very well entrenched. After a day of very 
heavy fighting to secure the beach, the Marines decided to tackle Mt. 
Suribachi next. For 3 days the Marines and Japanese fought a no quarter 
battle to control the hill. Often the Japanese would infiltrate the Marines 
from behind, requiring them to retake their old positions all over again. 
Finally on the 23rd, Mt. Suribachi fell, but it would not be until March 26th 
that the island was finally secure. As one Marine General stated about the 
Marines after the fighting, "Uncommon valor was a common virtue".
