Operation DETACHMENT-The Invasion of Iwo Jima Part 1 with Jon Parshall-Episode 409

The Unauthorized History of the Pacific War

This week Seth, Bill and great buddy Jon Parshall discuss the Battle of Iwo Jima in the first part of a miniseries on Operation DETACHMENT. The guys get into a deep discussion on Japanese preparations on the island, and how Japanese Imperial Army General Kuribayashi Tadamichi devised his defensive plan. The guys get into the amazing details on the labyrinth of Japanese tunnels inside Iwo Jima and how the defensive system was, without doubt, the finest defensive network in the entirety of the Pacific War. The guys also discuss the American preparations for what was, at that time, the largest amphibious invasion in Nimitz's arena. The 5th Marine Division, in particular, get special deep dives as the team breaks down the "new" division's enviable command structure. The guys then get into the bloodletting on D-Day and the assault on Mount Suribachi, finally ending this first episode on Iwo with the inspiring and unforgettable flag raising on Mount Suribachi.