The document discusses the importance of Iwo Jima to the US during WWII. Iwo Jima was located 650 miles from Tokyo and halfway between Japan and American bases in the Marianas. Its three airfields would allow US bombers to attack Tokyo and provide a stepping stone for invading Japan. The US bombarded Iwo Jima for three days before invading on February 19, 1945. The battle lasted 36 days with heavy casualties on both sides, though most of the 21,000 Japanese defenders were killed while the US suffered over 6,800 deaths capturing the island.