Undoubtedly, Iwo Jima was the United States Marine Corps' most famous battle of the Second World War. More than six thousand Marines and attached Navy personnel lost their lives wresting the heavily fortified island from the 20,000 man Japanese garrison. With the capture of Mount Surabachi in the first phase of the battle, the Marines quickly raised the American flag from the highest point on the island. The famous flag raising was captured twice in photographs, as the initial smaller flag was replaced by a larger flag donated by a ship from the invasion force. This larger flag is presently on display at the National Museum of the United States Marine Corps, in its unrestored, wind damaged state.
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