•HRES 142 IH 
Whereas the tactic of attacking, defeating, and controlling 
Japanese-held outposts using amphibious assault land-
ings against Japanese-held islands and territories (re-
ferred to in this preamble as ‘‘island hopping’’) became 
crucial to successfully countering Japanese advances 
throughout the Pacific region; 
Whereas the goal of island hopping was to secure airfields 
and supply bases— 
(1) in order to launch aerial bombardment attacks 
against the mainland of Japan using the new Boeing B– 
29 Superfortress; and 
(2) in preparation for, and in anticipation of, a 
United States invasion of Japan; 
Whereas, by early 1945, the United States and allied forces 
bravely fought and advanced to the island of Iwo Jima, 
an 8-square-mile volcanic island with 3 strategic airfields, 
located between the Mariana Islands and Japan; 
Whereas Iwo Jima was— 
(1) a strategic island with airfields to support bomb-
ers of the United States with fighter escorts; and 
(2) an essential base for emergency, refueling, and 
diversionary landings for B–29 bombers; 
Whereas, under the command of Japanese Lieutenant Gen-
eral Tadamichi Kuribayashi, Iwo Jima was a heavily for-
tified island with nearly 11 miles of underground and 
networked tunnels, rooms, bunkers, artillery emplace-
ments, ammunition dumps, and pillboxes supporting 
more than 21,000 Japanese soldiers; 
Whereas, on February 19, 1945, under the leadership of 
United States Navy 5th Fleet Admiral Raymond A. 
Spruance, United States Marine Corps V Amphibious 
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•HRES 142 IH 
Corps Major General Harry Schmidt, 3d Division Major 
General Graves B. Erskine, 4th Division Major General 
Clifton Cates, and 5th Division Major General Keller E. 
Rockey, the United States launched an amphibious land-
ing and assault on Iwo Jima that culminated with the en-
gagement of more than 70,000 members of the United 
States Marine Corps, buttressed by thousands of mem-
bers of the United States Navy and the United States 
Army serving as assault, garrison, and support forces 
(referred to in this preamble as the ‘‘Battle of Iwo 
Jima’’); 
Whereas the members of the United States Marine Corps 
who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima overcame numerous 
disadvantages in the 36-day battle that included treach-
erous terrain, unfavorable weather conditions, and heavy 
enemy fire from an embedded, determined, and fierce 
Japanese fighting force in places immortalized by mem-
bers of the United States Marine Corps, including the 
‘‘Meat Grinder’’ and ‘‘Bloody Gorge’’; 
Whereas, on February 23, 1945, only 5 days into the Battle 
of Iwo Jima, members of the United States Marine Corps 
ascended the highest point on the island, Mount 
Suribachi, and raised the flag of the United States 2 
times, the second of which resulted in the iconic, Pulitzer 
Prize-winning image that— 
(1) was captured on film by photographer Joe 
Rosenthal; 
(2) has become a recognized symbol of determina-
tion, perseverance, and struggle; and 
(3) has been memorialized as the United States Ma-
rine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia; 
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•HRES 142 IH 
Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles 
in the history of the United States Marine Corps, re-
sulted in more than 26,000 casualties of the United 
States, more than 6,800 of whom were killed; 
Whereas most of the more than 20,000 estimated Japanese 
soldiers who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima were killed, 
with only 1,083 Japanese soldiers surviving at the con-
clusion of the campaign; 
Whereas the Battle of Iwo Jima led to 22 members of the 
United States Marine Corps and 5 members of the 
United States Navy receiving the Medal of Honor, rep-
resenting— 
(1) the most members of the United States Marine 
Corps ever to receive the highest military decoration in 
the United States for a single battle; and 
(2) more than one-fourth of all members of the 
United States Marine Corps to receive the decoration 
during World War II; 
Whereas the secured airfields on Iwo Jima became emergency 
landing locations for 2,400 B–29 Bombers, saving the 
lives of an estimated 24,000 flight crewmen; 
Whereas 160 days after the end and victory of the pivotal 
Battle of Iwo Jima, the United States received the un-
conditional surrender of Japan on September 2, 1945; 
Whereas the world owes a debt of gratitude to the members 
of the United States Marine Corps who selflessly led the 
fight for the strategic island of Iwo Jima in the middle 
of the Pacific theater; and 
Whereas the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima will 
be marked by commemorative events throughout 2025 in 
Washington, DC, on the island of Iwo Jima, and inter-
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•HRES 142 IH 
nationally, organized by the people of the United States 
and Japan: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) recognizes the 80th anniversary of the am-
phibious landing on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima 
that began on February 19, 1945, and ended on 
March 26, 1945; 
(2) commemorates the iconic and historic 
raisings of the flag of the United States on Mount 
Suribachi that occurred on February 23, 1945; 
(3) honors the marines, sailors, soldiers, army 
air crew, and coast guardsmen who fought bravely 
on Iwo Jima, including the thousands of Japanese 
soldiers who defended the island; 
(4) 
remembers 
and 
venerates 
the 
servicemembers who gave their last full measure of 
devotion on the battlefield; 
(5) recognizes the Allied victory in the Battle of 
Iwo Jima, which— 
(A) was led by the United States Marine 
Corps; and 
(B) made the defeat of the Empire of 
Japan in World War II possible; 
(6) affirms the immortal words of Admiral 
Chester Nimitz, who state that ‘‘uncommon valor 
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•HRES 142 IH 
was a common virtue’’ among the servicemembers of 
the United States who fought on Iwo Jima; 
(7) reaffirms the bonds of friendship between 
the United States and Japan; 
(8) encourages the people of the United States 
to honor the veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima with 
appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities; and 
(9) honors the service and sacrifice of the men 
and women who serve the United States today car-
rying on the proud tradition of the individuals who 
came before them. 
Æ 
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