There are supposed to be 10,000 Japs here.

Feb. 19, 1945
My Sweet:

Well the Island is dead ahead and we can see hundreds of ships. I can hear the big guns now.

View from the USS West Virginia as she approaches Iwo Jima

The island is very small. It is 4-1/2 miles long and 3-1/2 miles wide.

The Marines hit the beach one hour before we got there.

All of our newest Battleships are here, we sure are in style.

You ought to have seen the West Virginia coming in. She is still going fast and heading for the beach. You would think she was putting troops ashore.

USS West Virginia Main Battery Firing

There are 50 or 60 planes flying over the Island and straffing it. Shooting rockets and all.

We can see the Marines advancing up the hill. There are supposed to be 10,000 Japs here.

The Japs are shooting mortars on the Marines as they are going ashore.

This is nothing like Leyte.

We came within 1,000 yards of the beach. I can see a big pile of junk on the hill, at least that is what it looks like. After I looked at it with the glasses I see it is Jap planes. Boy!! Are they a wreck.