Vivid storytelling brings World War II history to life and place readers in the shoes of the people who experienced one of the most pivotal battles in the Pacific War. On February 19, 1945, U.S. Marines landed on the island of tiny Iwo Jima. Facing rugged terrain and a deeply entrenched enemy, they embarked on a fierce, five-week battle to take the island and its airfields from the Imperial Japanese Army.

Foreword -- "I pray for a heroic fight" -- "Be ready to go in five minutes" -- "I will try as hard as I can to live" -- "The flag's up" -- "I'm not going back" -- "Even the gods would weep" -- Epilogue -- Timeline -- Glossary -- Critical thinking questions -- Internet sites -- Further reading -- Selected bibliography -- Index -- About the author.