The Lions of Iwo Jima: The Story of Combat Team 28 and the Bloodiest Battle in Marine Corps History

by Fred Haynes, James A. Warren, Michael Prichard (Narrator)

It was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history, claiming a third of all marines killed in World War II. The relentless fighting on Iwo Jima lasted for thirty-six days, but most of us only know the iconic photo of five soldiers raising the American flag on Mount Surabachi. For Fred Haynes, a young captain in Combat Team 28, Surabachi was one marker in a ferocious blood-letting against an enemy of 22,000 warriors who were dug into caves and tunnels.

The stories told here for the first time will seem too cruel, too heartbreaking, even too fantastic to be believed. As one veteran remarked, "Each day we learned a new way to die." By the time Haynes's unit had broken through the main Japanese resistance, 75 percent of the three assault battalions—the frontline fighters who charged enemy positions—were gone. Many of the exhausted survivors were shattered. In five weeks, Combat Team 28 had advanced 5,600 yards, closed 2,088 caves, and lost 5,885 lives.

The Lions of Iwo Jima helps answer the essential questions: who were these men, how were they trained, and what accounts for their extraordinary performance in battle?

Genres: History, Military Fiction, World War II, Nonfiction, War, Audiobook, Professional Development

Audio CD

First published August 5, 2008

About the author

Major General Fred Haynes USMC (Ret'd) commanded a combat team during the Vietnam war, and as a Colonel, was the top operations officer of all Marine forces in that conflict in 1967. As a general officer, he went on to command both the 2nd and 3rd Marine Divisions. He is a contributor to The Marine Corps Gazette and The Naval Institute Proceedings, a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, and is chairman emeritus of the American Turkish Council. He lives with his wife, Bonnie Arnold Haynes, in New York City.

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cant believe these marines had a lion as a mascot. How did they manage that? Good book

[Dalen · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm simply amazed at the bravery of the men in this book. Gaining an understanding of the landing and then the battles to gain yards of territory were incredible. I wonder if there could have been a way to make it less about facts, and the tragic deaths and understand the people and tactics even more.

[Robert · Rating 2 out of 5]

Semper Fidelis.

Mostly chronological and slightly unorganized. Heavy use of after action reports and medal citations make for a stilted read. However, perserverance will reward you with observations from US and Japanese soldiers incorporating personal, tactical and strategic perspectives.

[jeff gilliland · Rating 5 out of 5]

History raw brutal factual

If you want to know the difference between our county's sacrifice 71 years ago and compare it to today's read this book soon Jeff

[Dave Beeman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well researched and excellently told. It was inspiring to be able to read the personal award citations given to individual Marines for Silver Stars, Navy Cross' and CMH's. While most people only remember the taking of Mt. Suribachi and the raising of the flag the true battle took place in the movement from the airfields to the north. I have had the honor to visit Iwo Jima and I don't know how so many warriors occupied such a small space and survived. Just point and shoot; you would hit another human. The Japanese did an outstanding job in the placement of their defenses and the Marines paid the price. Was it worth it? Just ask the pilots and aircrews of the B-29's who were forced to land on Iwo instead of ditching in the Pacific Ocean because of damage to their aircraft and the P-51 pilots who took off from Iwo to perform escort duties for the B-29's over the Japanese mainland.

[Steve Scott · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book.

I listened to the unabridged audio version. The author, a veteran of the battle, did his research, and as far as I’m concerned this ranks as one of the best written and most informative accounts of the battle and the training that preceded it.

It’s a great balance of “big picture” and “in the trenches” war writing.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book focuses specifically on the 28th Marines contributions to conquering Iwo Jima. I couldn't put it down. Oftentimes I felt like I was right there with them. As a Marine, these were the Marines whose reputation I aspired to live up to. Truly a different war that hopefully will never happen again and frankly I am sometimes glad I never found myself in their shoes.

[Matthew Sparling · Rating 3 out of 5]

An ok book. It had some interesting details and personal accounts but about 1/4 of the book really did not have anything to do with the main topic of the book. So while overall it was ok but it did read tedious at times.

[J. David Knecht · Rating 4 out of 5]

Detailed and harrowing account of the 5th division 28th combat team shows the brutality, danger, and bravery of one of the most intense battles of WW2. A detailed blow by blow account from a unit perspective. The account shows the sacrifices and costs paid by the marines in taking Iwo Jima.

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping account of the most horrific battle of the Pacific Theater.

[Fran Germinaro · Rating 5 out of 5]

A book about the most savage battle in WWII history and a story of the most memorable photo taken. It gave the reader an insight from both sides and the awful conditions they labored under.

[Jeffrey Williams · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, it isn't a bad read, especially for somebody who has no knowledge of the Battle of Iwo Jima and the role of the 28th Marine Regiment, 5th Marine Division. However, if you have a fundamental knowledge of what went on, this book is not mandatory. Most of the material, outside of Fred Haynes recollections, come from works that several others have already written down. There is some fresh material from previously unpublished sources (in addition to Haynes's recollection) that serves as the redeeming value for this work. The problem that I have with this is that most of the narrative, outside of the sections that discuss individual Marines, reads like a stale after-action report. My feeling on this book, as you can tell, is mixed. It does have it's good qualities (recollections) and detriments (stale analysis). If you have no knowledge of what happened in Feb. - March 1945, then you'll benefit greatly. For those of us who have read a fair amount of material on the battle and met several of the participants, it became an average read.

[Joel Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Lions of Iwo Jima by Fred Haynes and James A Warren is about combat team 28 as they landed on the beach of Iwo Jima and fought to the end of the battle. This was a decent book that told a lot of good details and facts about combat team 28 and the battle of Iwo Jima but it got boring at times. I really liked the way the book was told through American and also through Japanese vetrans perspective. I would Recommend this book if you want a good factual book about the battle of Iwo Jima.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

So, I don't normally like to read nonfiction war books, but I needed something from the Commandant's Reading List to put on my FitRep. I thought it was really good, maybe a little redundant and a bit anticlimactic.

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

Straight account of the experiences of the three assault battalions of Combat Team 28 as they landed on Iwo Jima and fought to the very end of the battle while sustaining a casualty rate of 70%. Highly detailed examination of the battle through the eyes of over 100 American and Japanese survivors.

[corey foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book!!!!

It was recommended to read by other Marine and what a great recommendation. Many books have been written about Iwo Hi ma but this one puts a lot of units responsibles in prospective.

[Jim · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting account of the battle and men, with plenty of first-hand accounts.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So awesome to hear a first hand account from someone who was actually there!!!

[Michael · Rating 2 out of 5]

Tad dry