The Battle for Iwo Jima, against the Japanese, during World War II, was one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Marine Corps.

Marines suffered over 25 thousand casualties taking the island. The United States awarded twenty-seven Medals of Honor to warriors of the battle, many of the awardees died on the battlefield.

The monument is based on a photograph which is an icon of the Marine Corps. It was taken of five Marines and a Navy corpsman raising an American Flag over Mount Suribachi during the battle. It inspired a generation of Americans.

The flag-raising image is the epitome of the spirit all Marines proudly share, and provides meaning to the motto "Semper Fidelis" - always faithful to the nation to which they serve. A strong esprit de corps bonds all that have served into a brotherhood for life.

Admiral Chester Nimitz's comment carved on the base of the monument sums up the feeling of a nation, "For those who fought on Iwo Jima, Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue."

The Marine Corps War Memorial lists all the conflicts in which the Marine Corps have participated since its 1775 inception at Tun's Tavern. Future conflicts will be added if needed as the nation calls her Marines to duty in every climate and place when the occasion demands.

Edited by Cynthia Catellier, University of West Florida Department of Public History