The battle took place on the island of Iwo Jima, it ended on march 26th 1945. The American leaders were admiral Chester W. Nimitz and general Holland M smith. The japanese commander was Tadamichi Kuribayashi. Admiral Chester Nimitz role was to provide the beach landing and shelling the beach to lighten jap defences. General Smith’s role was to make a plan of how to uproot the beach defences and move inland. As defender of the island general Kuribayashi had the difficult task of trying to defend the island and undermine the american advance. The americans landed on the beaches to find fortified defences and an army of defenders who’s job to do whatever necessary to stop the advance. After weeks of fighting and taking out japanese defences the americans triumphantly raised the flag on Mount Suribachi. The americans benefited by taking the island and utterly destroying the japanese garrison. It was an important turning point because America was now a step closer to invading the heart land of Japan. Had the Japanese managed to thwart the american attack and defend the beach head then america would have to come up with a new way to take the island which would drain american forces further. 6,821 US soldiers were killed and 3 escort carriers were sunk, 18,375 japanese defenders were