2nd Batl, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Div.

• Iwo Jima Landing: The 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines, 5th Marine Division is best known for its pivotal role in the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II, landing on the island on February 19, 1945. • Mount Suribachi Flag Raising: Members of the battalion were directly involved in the famous flag raising atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945—a moment immortalized in Joe Rosenthal’s iconic photograph. • First to the Summit: The 2/28 Marines were the first Allied unit to reach the summit of Mount Suribachi, overcoming fierce Japanese resistance in the process. • Heavy Casualties: The battalion suffered significant casualties during the Iwo Jima campaign, reflecting the brutal and intense nature of the fighting on the island. • Medal of Honor Recipients: Several Marines from the 2/28 received the Medal of Honor for extraordinary bravery during the Iwo Jima operation, including Cpl. Hershel “Woody” Williams. • Short-Lived but Historic: The 2nd Battalion, 28th Marines was activated in 1944 and deactivated in 1945, making its operational history brief but highly significant. • Key Objective: The battalion’s primary objective at Iwo Jima was to capture Mount Suribachi, a strategic high point that dominated the island and its beaches. • Combat Leadership: LtCol Chandler W. Johnson, the battalion commander, famously ordered the raising of the larger American flag after the initial flag was judged too small to be seen at a distance. • Legacy in Marine Corps Culture: The battalion’s exploits and the image of the flag raising became enduring symbols of Marine Corps courage, sacrifice, and esprit de corps. • Memorialized in Film and Monuments: The story of the 2/28’s flag raising has been retold in films like “Sands of Iwo Jima” and is commemorated by the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.