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Iwo Jima: The Dramatic Account of the Epic Battle That Turned the Tide of World War II
From the author of the bestselling Abandon Ship! comes aclassic work of World War II history.
Richard F. Newcomb is one of the true masters of military storytelling. In researching Iwo Jima he interviewed hundreds of Iwo veterans, both American and Japanese; read the diaries and letters of fighting men; and combed through masses of official navy and marine records to write the full story of one of the most famous battles in U.S. history. With exceptional depth, intelligence, and emotional power, Newcomb recounts the events of February 19, 1945, in which common men were thrust into impossible circumstances, demonstrating valor and even humor amid the horror and chaos of war.
Richard F. Newcomb is one of the true masters of military storytelling. In researching Iwo Jima he interviewed hundreds of Iwo veterans, both American and Japanese; read the diaries and letters of fighting men; and combed through masses of official navy and marine records to write the full story of one of the most famous battles in U.S. history. With exceptional depth, intelligence, and emotional power, Newcomb recounts the events of February 19, 1945, in which common men were thrust into impossible circumstances, demonstrating valor and even humor amid the horror and chaos of war.
338 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1965
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
February 8, 2021
On this speck of a volcanic island in the Pacific, one of the bloodiest battle of WWII was joined. Heroism was the word of the day as evidenced by the following information: The Medal of Honor was won by 80 Marines during WWII; at Iwo Jima , 22 were awarded, the greatest number of winners for any Marine engagement. As Admiral Nimitz stated, ".......uncommon valor was a common virtue".
The Americans were on their way to the home islands of Japan and land forces were "island jumping" to build up bases from which troops would embark. The Japanese, most of whom knew but would not admit, that they could only hold Iwo for a short time, would fight to the last man to slow down the Americans.
The author examines the strategy, personnel, and personalities of the commanders of the Americans and the Japanese which fleshes out the picture of the overall battle and why certain decisions were made.
The Americans expected to be challenged as they landed on the beaches but the Japanese commander had other ideas; they would not fire on the enemy landing vessels; no opposition to troops landing on the beaches; and the main defense would be made from underground installations located in the north of the island. And these underground installations were very complex and difficult for the Americans to pinpoint. The Americans were used to the banzai charges by the Japanese but these were not a part of the strategy of the enemy. And thus began a fierce battle of attrition which ended with 28,686 American casualties (death, wounded and battle fatigue) and 20,000 Japanese deaths (approximate).
The author provides maps (but no photos) and drawings of various artillery/airplanes that were used by both sides. I missed the inclusion of the iconic, Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi but we are all familiar with it as it now is a honored statue in Washington, D.C.
This book is very detailed which might bother some readers but that detail is necessary in my opinion. I would highly recommend this book for an understanding of the mind set of both sides and a chilling look at the battle as it unfolded.
The Americans were on their way to the home islands of Japan and land forces were "island jumping" to build up bases from which troops would embark. The Japanese, most of whom knew but would not admit, that they could only hold Iwo for a short time, would fight to the last man to slow down the Americans.
The author examines the strategy, personnel, and personalities of the commanders of the Americans and the Japanese which fleshes out the picture of the overall battle and why certain decisions were made.
The Americans expected to be challenged as they landed on the beaches but the Japanese commander had other ideas; they would not fire on the enemy landing vessels; no opposition to troops landing on the beaches; and the main defense would be made from underground installations located in the north of the island. And these underground installations were very complex and difficult for the Americans to pinpoint. The Americans were used to the banzai charges by the Japanese but these were not a part of the strategy of the enemy. And thus began a fierce battle of attrition which ended with 28,686 American casualties (death, wounded and battle fatigue) and 20,000 Japanese deaths (approximate).
The author provides maps (but no photos) and drawings of various artillery/airplanes that were used by both sides. I missed the inclusion of the iconic, Pulitzer Prize winning photograph of the raising of the American flag on Mt. Suribachi but we are all familiar with it as it now is a honored statue in Washington, D.C.
This book is very detailed which might bother some readers but that detail is necessary in my opinion. I would highly recommend this book for an understanding of the mind set of both sides and a chilling look at the battle as it unfolded.
March 22, 2012
The WWII battle for the small island of Iwo Jima, roughly 700 miles south of Tokyo, was full of determination, sacrifice and obligation. When D-Day (2/19/45) approached, young jovial Marines aboard ships transitioned their thoughts reflecting upon family, religion and preparation for their looming departure. Soon the lives of even the skilled combat veterans would never be the same. In true form the Marines hit the beach and never looked back until victory was accomplished. It was ugly and gruesome, but full of camaraderie and the true spirit of “Semper Fidelis”.
There are numerous books on Iwo Jima and most contain different pieces of information. The personal stories within the book will linger with the reader for a long time. I wish the numerious photo images were clearer, but I like the selection of the first flag raising on Mount Suribachi for the cover. Richard Newcomb did his part in detailing an important piece of history.
There are numerous books on Iwo Jima and most contain different pieces of information. The personal stories within the book will linger with the reader for a long time. I wish the numerious photo images were clearer, but I like the selection of the first flag raising on Mount Suribachi for the cover. Richard Newcomb did his part in detailing an important piece of history.
March 27, 2024
This is a classic for a reason. An excellent, detailed narrative of the battle.
May 20, 2018
A detailed account. Lots of numbers. Lots of names.
September 18, 2017
This was an interesting read, but it left me with a lot of questions and wondering about details included in the book. Richard Newcomb lays out the the planning and invasion and defense of Iwo Jima in a no-nonsense manner. We get both the American and Japanese sides of the battle which was something I was not expecting. I was nicely surprised by that. However, that leads to some wonderings that I will mention later on in this review.
Newcomb writes with no muss or fuss. There's no superfluous words, emotions, or information. It's just matter-of-fact. That can kind of make a dry read, but you are inundated with so much that I often found myself shaking my head in shock, sadness, or revulsion. Never bored, though. I did appreciate his ability to lay out day-by-day the battle and the toll it took on the marines who were fighting for their lives and the island. Often, I would find myself also consulting the maps included in the book to figure out where the different units were and how they were moving across this tiny little island. The death toll is stunning and shocking. Again, Newcomb doesn't sugarcoat the brutality or horrific injuries suffered by these men.
Now I want to come to my questions. Newcomb somehow presents specific details on how certain soldiers died or what some of the Japanese were doing at particular times. But how? He wasn't there to talk with the dead. How was he able to know what the Japanese were doing at times? How did he know when a Marine when back to the beach, couldn't find anyone, and came back to die? Did he fill in details? Where did some of this information come from? Yes, I know he interviewed many of the survivors, but there is still information I'm not sure how he obtained. That's why I gave this book 3 stars. I truly question and wonder where some of the information came from. It's still an interesting and insightful book into war, but I question some of the veracity of the provided details.
Newcomb writes with no muss or fuss. There's no superfluous words, emotions, or information. It's just matter-of-fact. That can kind of make a dry read, but you are inundated with so much that I often found myself shaking my head in shock, sadness, or revulsion. Never bored, though. I did appreciate his ability to lay out day-by-day the battle and the toll it took on the marines who were fighting for their lives and the island. Often, I would find myself also consulting the maps included in the book to figure out where the different units were and how they were moving across this tiny little island. The death toll is stunning and shocking. Again, Newcomb doesn't sugarcoat the brutality or horrific injuries suffered by these men.
Now I want to come to my questions. Newcomb somehow presents specific details on how certain soldiers died or what some of the Japanese were doing at particular times. But how? He wasn't there to talk with the dead. How was he able to know what the Japanese were doing at times? How did he know when a Marine when back to the beach, couldn't find anyone, and came back to die? Did he fill in details? Where did some of this information come from? Yes, I know he interviewed many of the survivors, but there is still information I'm not sure how he obtained. That's why I gave this book 3 stars. I truly question and wonder where some of the information came from. It's still an interesting and insightful book into war, but I question some of the veracity of the provided details.
September 18, 2017
My first concern in reading a book that has been available for so many years is that it won’t represent the latest research into a topic. After a few pages with this one, I back-burnered my concerns and just focused on the book.
As military histories go, this one is short and quick. But it’s also highly readable and worth the time. You get quotes and verbal portraits from the marines who were there, and those famous names and dates we’ve all known about for years become humanized with the suffering of men on both sides. Granted, this is about an American victory, but Newcomb looks at the writing of Japanese military personnel on the island as well, focusing on words they write to their children on the eve of their deaths.
Naturally, he focuses on the iconic AP photo of the men raising the flag in February 1944, and he writes with authority about not only the lives that were taken, but the lives that were saved as a result of the U.S. capture of Iwo Jima. It’s capture was strategic in that it allowed U.S. bombers short on fuel to refuel prior to a return to bases in Hawaii and elsewhere. Without that waystation, potentially hundreds more American lives could have been lost as planes would have been forced to ditch into the sea before reaching safety.
As military histories go, this one is short and quick. But it’s also highly readable and worth the time. You get quotes and verbal portraits from the marines who were there, and those famous names and dates we’ve all known about for years become humanized with the suffering of men on both sides. Granted, this is about an American victory, but Newcomb looks at the writing of Japanese military personnel on the island as well, focusing on words they write to their children on the eve of their deaths.
Naturally, he focuses on the iconic AP photo of the men raising the flag in February 1944, and he writes with authority about not only the lives that were taken, but the lives that were saved as a result of the U.S. capture of Iwo Jima. It’s capture was strategic in that it allowed U.S. bombers short on fuel to refuel prior to a return to bases in Hawaii and elsewhere. Without that waystation, potentially hundreds more American lives could have been lost as planes would have been forced to ditch into the sea before reaching safety.
February 2, 2019
This was a comprehensive look at the battle on Iwo Jima. I was pleasantly surprised that although this was written in 1965 it avoided a lot of racism that went with descriptions of the Japanese.
June 19, 2021
This story is very fantastic.
October 17, 2025
The struggle for the island of Iwo Jima was one of the hardest fought battles of the Pacific war. All of a sudden the Japanese changed their defensive tactics, the result was that the fighting inland became even harder than it already had been before elsewhere. Each hole in the ground, every cave or stretch of uneven ground could be the base of death and destruction.
The battle for the island is well told and covered in detail, using the experiences of the men fighting there. And this from both sides. There are also experiences of the Japanese defenders that saw themselves confronted by an overwhelming force, capable of immense firepower. Yet they put up a fierce resistance that made the American military pay a heavy price.
There are lots of names mentioned in the book, and this might distract at times since each person, as seems to be the standard in American books, is accompanied by name of city/town and state. In a way I do understand this, but for many this might be a bit much. The experiences and emotions described however are real and bring across the fear and chaos of war. Reading it all, it is not strange that so many Medals of Honor were rewarded here.
It was interesting to read that, even while the fighting was still on, some B-29's used the island as an emergency airbase while returning from bombing Japan. One of the main reasons why the island needed to be conquered in the first place.
Good book!
The battle for the island is well told and covered in detail, using the experiences of the men fighting there. And this from both sides. There are also experiences of the Japanese defenders that saw themselves confronted by an overwhelming force, capable of immense firepower. Yet they put up a fierce resistance that made the American military pay a heavy price.
There are lots of names mentioned in the book, and this might distract at times since each person, as seems to be the standard in American books, is accompanied by name of city/town and state. In a way I do understand this, but for many this might be a bit much. The experiences and emotions described however are real and bring across the fear and chaos of war. Reading it all, it is not strange that so many Medals of Honor were rewarded here.
It was interesting to read that, even while the fighting was still on, some B-29's used the island as an emergency airbase while returning from bombing Japan. One of the main reasons why the island needed to be conquered in the first place.
Good book!
April 2, 2013
"...Iwo was different, and the difference was recognized. It had no jungles, no coral reefs, no mountains; it was nothing but a stone fortress set far out in the sea. To an astute Marine eye, it was apparent at once that the battle would mean frontal assault. ... It was hoped the job could be done in two weeks. It took nearly five." (page 32)
"The carnage of D-Day was terrible, and of a special kind. It was impossible to see the enemy, and his weapons could not be found. ... automatic weapons fire rose steadily in volume, as if the Japanese had been untouched by the most intense bombardment in amphibious history." (page 96)
"The cost had been awsome. ... In fourteen days of fighting there had been 12,000 casualties. When the flag went up on Suribachi, the battle had only begun. It was not yet over." (page 188)
"The carnage of D-Day was terrible, and of a special kind. It was impossible to see the enemy, and his weapons could not be found. ... automatic weapons fire rose steadily in volume, as if the Japanese had been untouched by the most intense bombardment in amphibious history." (page 96)
"The cost had been awsome. ... In fourteen days of fighting there had been 12,000 casualties. When the flag went up on Suribachi, the battle had only begun. It was not yet over." (page 188)
November 12, 2016
In five weeks of fighting for control of this 8 square mile island, 6,821 Americans died and 19,217 were wounded. Approximately 18 thousand Japanese defenders died. Very few of the Marines who came ashore on D-Day were still on the front lines when the island was finally secured.
I read the description of the invasion one day after seeing the movie Hacksaw Ridge. Although Hacksaw Ridge was on Okinawa, I think seeing the movie made the narrative of the Iwo Jima invasion more intense and vivid.
I thought the author's writing style was very choppy and disjointed. Individuals would be introduced and a sentence or two later they were either dead or wounded. Perhaps this reflects the nature of the battle.
I read the description of the invasion one day after seeing the movie Hacksaw Ridge. Although Hacksaw Ridge was on Okinawa, I think seeing the movie made the narrative of the Iwo Jima invasion more intense and vivid.
I thought the author's writing style was very choppy and disjointed. Individuals would be introduced and a sentence or two later they were either dead or wounded. Perhaps this reflects the nature of the battle.
January 3, 2017
If you're heading out to Iwo Jima, as I am in March, you must read this book. It describes the battle, warts included. One wonders if the price was worth the cost. We lost 6,821 young men. Japan was already defeated. Was this island taken just to show we could do it? Was it a factor in the development of the myth that the American military was invincible, a myth shattered in Vietnam? We need a new paradigm.
October 13, 2015
The battle to take Iwo Jima was supposed to take just a few days., yet turned out to be one of the deadliest battles in the Pacific theater. The final flag raising is one of the most famous photographs of World War II and is depicted by a statue adjacent to Arlington National Cemetery. Valor knew no boundaries.
July 23, 2012
I often think of this book when I encounter difficulties. Our troops were plunged into an impossible situation. With immense determination, intellect, and commitment to their country, our troops amazingly defeated the Japanese. They accomplished the impossible. My Granddad was a medic there, so the book has special meaning to me.
July 22, 2015
Great history book on the Iwo Jima invasion and conquest. Bloodiest campaign ever. The Japanese were really dug in. I don't know how the author got so many accounts from the Japanese side! This book really makes you appreciate the Marines.
May 27, 2016
I'd known that the battle for Iwo Jima had been a bloody affair, but this book really opened my eyes to just how horrific it must have been. It's scarcely imaginable how it must have been for the soldiers fighting across that little island. The book was well written and very readable.
September 21, 2016
This is a good book on the Battle of Iwo Jima. I would have liked a bit more detail. There is also a lack of photos. On the other hand, the maps and illustrations are quite good. Bear in mind this is the first book I've read on the battle.
wishlist-a-k-a-buku-buruan
August 4, 2009rekomendasinya bareng bukunya kali yah pra? *wink2*
Want to read
December 3, 2009baru dateng kmaren sore. kiriman dari durjana semarang :))
tengkyu..
tengkyu..
April 24, 2010
A good read telling about the struggle for Iwo Jima. I enjoyed reading this book
Read
November 25, 2012One of the seminal works on this piece of history. Dated in its telling and obsessive with detail. still a classic reference.
May 21, 2009
I'm amazed at what those who came before me have done. The greatest generation.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews