Iwo+Jima+and+Okinawa-1

Name: Private Mr. Rogers Birthday: 6/4/09 Occupation: United States Marine Income: Absolutely nothing at all. :( Hobby: Collect chewing gum found under chairs at the movie theater.

After getting drafted into the military, I was first sent to the small island of Iwo Jima in the 4th Marine division. On board the ship off shore, I watched as, for 72 hours, the Navy blasted the island with the huge guns on the destroyer and battleships. I grew more and more anxious as the invasion day grew closer and closer. The battle ahead would consist of 70,000 Marines against about 21,000 Japanese dug into the island (Burrell). Our main objectives were to first capture Mt. Suribachi, and then work our way to capturing the two airfields that made Iwo Jima such high importance to the U.S.

On the day of invasions, my platoon and I sat in the amphibious landing vehicle, ready to get off as soon as it hit ground. When we felt the earth rub up beneath the boat, we quickly climbed out and, with guns held up, ran for cover on the open beach. As we ran, I saw many of my friends drop. The Japanese had positioned snipers, and we were at a huge disadvantage. That first day we had 2,400 casualties. After finally clearing the beach, we turned our attention to Mt. Suribachi on the second day of the invasion. We fought for three days until finally we reached the top. I watched as some of the soldiers raised a flag on top of the mountain (Battle).

By March 11, we had taken the two airfields and pushed the Japanese into Kitano Point. By the 16th, we had taken Iwo Jima (Battle). After all the fighting ended, 6,000 American marines, many of which were my friends, had lost their lives taking this tiny island. Only 200 Japanese had survived after the fighting stopped. Now that this was taken, I would head out to Okinawa, the final assault on Japan (Danzer et al. 583).

The invasion on Okinawa started in April 1945 and was much the same the invasion on Iwo Jima. I waited on the ship as the days until the invasion grew closer. This time, however, the Japanese sent kamikaze attacks against us, sinking 30 of our ships, and damaging 300 more. In order to defend the ship I was on, I entered one of the anti-aircraft guns. Soon I was called off so we can make our advance towards the shore again. This time the battle would be even more fierce than on Iwo Jima. The Japanese needed to defend this area because it was the last step before the United States could enter the homeland of Japan.

Once again I climbed out of the amphibious vehicle and, together with the other marines, rushed the beach. After the beach, we kept pushing forward. Eventually on June 21, 1945, after long drawn out fights, we captured Okinawa. We lost 7,600 Americans on this island. But the Japanese deaths dwarfed that with 110,000 dead (Danzer et al. 583).

After the battle I left battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa, I was relieved from duty and sent home.

__**Works Cited**__

Burrell, Robert S. "MWHS-1 Marines Land on Iwo Jima." __The Battle of Iwo Jima__. 25 Oct. 2007 .

"The Battle of Iwo Jima." __History Learning Site__. 25 Oct. 2007 .

Danzer, Gerald A. __The Americans__. Evanston, Illinois: McDougal Littel, 2003.