WWII E154 Into the Black Sand: The First Days on Iwo Jima
History of the Marine Corps
On the morning of February 19th, 1945, the invasion of Iwo Jima began. The Marines were coming in force. The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions led the assault, backed by the 3rd in reserve. Offshore, hundreds of ships filled the sea, their decks crowded with men climbing down cargo nets into landing craft and amphibious tractors. This episode takes us into the brutal opening six days of fighting that marked the start of the thirty-six-day campaign. We’ll set aside Mount Suribachi for now and turn instead to the central and northern fronts, where the hardest battle to secure ground was fought....
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WWII E153 The Doorkeeper to Tokyo: Setting the Stage for Iwo Jima
History of the Marine Corps
By early 1945, the Pacific war had reached a turning point. The United States held the Marianas. From there, B-29 bombers struck directly at Japan, but the road to Tokyo was still dangerous. Halfway along that road lay Iwo Jima, a tiny volcanic island of black sand, jagged rock, and sulfur fumes. On the map it looked insignificant, but its location gave it enormous weight. For Japan, it was part of Tokyo Prefecture itself, “the doorkeeper to the capital.” For America, it was both a threat and an opportunity: a fighter base that could harass bombers, or an emergency airfield that...
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WWII E152 Marine Airpower in the Philippines: The Forgotten Wing of MacArthur’s Return
History of the Marine Corps
The Philippines became the centerpiece of General Douglas MacArthur’s promise to return. The Army was to lead, but when setbacks on Leyte bogged down operations, Marine aviation and artillery were rushed in. Within hours after their arrival, they were flying convoy cover, striking Japanese shipping, and dueling enemy aircraft. Despite crude airfields and poor coordination under Fifth Air Force control, Marines flew over 260 missions in their first few weeks. By campaign’s end, Marine air had won Distinguished and Presidential Unit Citations, reshaped close air support doctrine, and proven...
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WWII E151 The 7th Marines: Final Chapter at Peleliu
History of the Marine Corps
The 7th Marines landed on Peleliu under the command of Colonel Herman H. Hanneken. Veterans of Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, they now faced a new kind of hell. Their mission was to seize the island’s eastern shore, then pivot south to clear Japanese positions threatening the airfield. Over weeks of unrelenting combat, they fought through blockhouses, mangrove swamps, and the notorious Bloody Nose Ridge, in brutal, close-quarters action. Acts of valor, like PFC Arthur J. Jackson’s Medal of Honor assault, stood against staggering casualties, disease, and exhaustion. The episode follows...
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WWII E150 Across the Airfield: The 5th Marines on Peleliu
History of the Marine Corps
In this episode, we examine the 5th Marine Regiment’s role in the brutal Battle of Peleliu. As part of the 1st Marine Division, the 5th Marines were tasked with seizing the island’s strategically vital airfield. They advanced across open terrain under withering fire, securing the airfield despite intense Japanese resistance and extreme environmental conditions. By mid-October, after nearly a month of combat, the 5th Marines were physically spent and heavily depleted. ************* Visit HistoryoftheMarineCorps.com to subscribe to our newsletter, explore episode notes and images, and...
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WWII E149 Storming Peleliu: The Brutal Fight of the 1st Marines
History of the Marine Corps
In this episode, we explore the brutal experience of the 1st Marine Regiment during the early days of Peleliu. Under relentless enemy fire, Marines fought their way across beaches and through rugged coral ridges against deeply entrenched Japanese defenders. They endured extreme heat, devastating casualties, and severe logistical challenges that tested their limits. In the fierce fighting at Peleliu, Marines showed remarkable bravery, repeatedly risking their lives to protect their fellow brothers. Although the Marines achieved critical early goals, their losses were so heavy that the regiment...
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WWII E148 Opening the Gates of Hell: An Introduction to Peleliu
History of the Marine Corps
Peleliu was part of the Allies' island-hopping campaign to capture key islands and build forward bases on the path to Japan. Expected to last only a few days, the battle instead turned into one of the Pacific War’s longest and bloodiest fights. The island was strategically critical because of its airfield, needed for Allied operations and protecting General MacArthur’s flank during his return to the Philippines. Japanese defenders, entrenched in sophisticated fortifications including caves, tunnels, and reinforced bunkers, fiercely resisted the Marine landings. The rugged coral terrain and...
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WWII E147 Napalm Drops on Tinian: A First in U.S. Warfare
History of the Marine Corps
Last episode, we walked through the intense landing at Tinian and how Marines clawed their way inland. Once they secured crucial positions, they wasted no time driving south, dismantling Japanese defenses one step at a time. Today, we'll conclude our Tinian series by exploring the campaign's dramatic final stages. We'll cover fierce clashes along rugged cliffs, relentless enemy resistance, and logistical adaptations in the face of severe weather. We'll examine critical innovations in artillery coordination, amphibious logistics, and the first use of napalm in combat. Ultimately, the strategic...
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WWII E146 Into the Breach: The Landing at Tinian
History of the Marine Corps
In this episode, we explore the strategic battle for Tinian, a crucial turning point in the Pacific War. As Marines launched an ambitious assault, intense artillery and naval bombardments battered Japanese defenses, paving the way for a daring landing on narrow northern beaches. Marines overcame challenging terrain and fierce resistance to secure critical positions such as Mount Lasso and Ushi Point Airfield. Despite setbacks, including tragic losses from artillery fire, Marine forces advanced steadily inland. With control of vital airfields and fresh reinforcements arriving, the Marines...
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WWII E145 Guam’s Final Push: Mount Santa Rosa Falls
History of the Marine Corps
In early August 1944, the 77th Division prepared to launch a critical attack against Japanese defenses near Mount Santa Rosa. As enemy troops fell back into thick jungle cover, General Bruce carefully arranged his forces for one last, determined push. US troops overcame intense resistance and moved steadily toward crucial objectives. The capture of Mount Santa Rosa marked a turning point in Guam’s liberation. ************* Visit HistoryoftheMarineCorps.com to subscribe to our newsletter, explore episode notes and images, and see our references. Follow us on social media for updates and bonus...
info_outlineBy late 1943, the Allies had turned the tide in the Pacific, but one significant stronghold still loomed. In Japan’s most critical South Pacific base, Rabaul served as a launch point for air and naval operations across New Guinea and the Solomons. Instead of a costly direct assault, Allied planners devised a strategy to neutralize Rabaul through isolation, cutting off its supply lines and rendering it ineffective.
Bougainville became the next step in this plan, providing airfields and a staging ground for the final push.
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