On this day in 1945, Marines from 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Regiment, 5th Division of the United States Marines Corps raised the American flag on the summit of the 500′ high Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima.
A second flag was later raised and photographed.
22,000 Japanese defended Iwo Jimo and only 200 were taken alive. In the battle of Iwo Jimo 6000 Marines died and 17000 were wounded.