Uploaded October 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
On February 19, 1945, United States Marines began their assault on Iwo Jima. At 8:59 a.m., the first wave of Marines set foot on the island’s black volcanic sands. The initial landings went according to plan, and the men quickly started moving inland.
But soon, the beaches became choked with men, vehicles, and supplies. The loose volcanic ash made movement difficult, bogging down equipment and slowing the advance.
At first, only scattered small-arms fire came from the Japanese defenses. Believing that the pre-invasion bombardment had neutralized most resistance, U.S. forces continued pouring troops and machinery onto the beach.
What they didn’t know was that the Japanese had been holding their fire—waiting patiently for the beaches to fill.
Shortly after 10 a.m., the silence shattered. Hidden Japanese artillery, mortars, and heavy machine guns erupted all at once, unleashing a devastating storm of fire on the crowded shoreline.
The battle for Iwo Jima had truly begun.
You can watch the full Iwo Jima documentary on our YouTube channel. We also feature tours and historical explorations of Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Tarawa.
SFR Productions – History Adventures on YouTube.
On February 19, 1945, United States Marines began their assault on Iwo Jima. At 8:59 a.m., the first wave of Marines set foot on the island’s black volcanic sands. The initial landings went according to plan, and the men quickly started moving inland.
But soon, the beaches became choked with men, vehicles, and supplies. The loose volcanic ash made movement difficult, bogging down equipment and slowing the advance.
At first, only scattered small-arms fire came from the Japanese defenses. Believing that the pre-invasion bombardment had neutralized most resistance, U.S. forces continued pouring troops and machinery onto the beach.
What they didn’t know was that the Japanese had been holding their fire—waiting patiently for the beaches to fill.
Shortly after 10 a.m., the silence shattered. Hidden Japanese artillery, mortars, and heavy machine guns erupted all at once, unleashing a devastating storm of fire on the crowded shoreline.
The battle for Iwo Jima had truly begun.
You can watch the full Iwo Jima documentary on our YouTube channel. We also feature tours and historical explorations of Guadalcanal, Peleliu, and Tarawa.
SFR Productions – History Adventures on YouTube.
