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Caption:
Iwo Jima, Japan -- Amphibious Assault Vehicles (AAVs) line the beach
below Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima in a static display for
the 58th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima Commemoration, March
12. Mt. Suribachi is the historic site where four Marines and one
Sailor raised the American Flag during the WWII battle. The AAVs are
embarked aboard ships of the Essex Amphibious Ready Group, consisting
of USS Essex (LHD 2), USS Fort McHenry (LSD 43), USS Harpers Ferry (LSD
49), and USS Juneau (LPD 10). Iwo Jima was the largest sustained aerial
offensive of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The U.S. sent
over 110,000 Marines in 880 ships in what also became the largest
invasion force of the Pacific Campaign. It took 36 days of
fighting and more than 25,000 U.S. casualties to break through and
bring the island under American control. Today's forward deployed
Sailors from the Essex ARG and embarked Marines of the 31st Marine
Expeditionary Unit, Special Operations Capable, continue to sail
throughout the Pacific to help promote peace and stability in the
region. Official U.S. Navy photograph by Journalist 2nd Class Wes
Eplen. (RELEASED)
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