The area of Iwo Jima, like Okinawa, played significant part in Pacific situation, as it had been near enough to Japan to be utilized as a base for U.S. Bombers. The battle for Iwo Jima was fought between February and march 1945 and saw the Marines associated with 5th Division facing more than 25.000 Japanese led by General Kuribayashi. After the landing of the Marines, the battle was intense and ended with all the securing of Mount Suribachi. On its top, the famous picture of U.S. Troopers raising the banner ended up being taken.