Part 2 of our American Rifleman TV feature series on the Pacific War focuses on Iwo Jima—one of the bloodiest and most notorious battles of the entire Pacific theater—as well some of the men and guns that made this American victory possible. The tiny black-sand island of Iwo Jima, though seemingly insignificant, was the closest the U.S. military had yet come to the Japanese mainland. As such, it was thought that its capture would enable bombers to strike Japan with greater ease; B29s would now have a closer staging area, as would the P-51s who covered them. The Japanese however, had other plans. Despite a fierce American naval bombardment, the Japanese utilized an intricate cave system to maintain their presence on the island, and met the Marines of the 3rd, 4th and 5th divisions with vicious resistance. To learn more about the men who pushed through to victory, their stories, and the tools they used, check out the above segment from American Rifleman TV.
Additional Reading:
Video—ARTV: Pacific War, Pearl Harbor, Part 1
Video—ARTV: Pacific War, Pearl Harbor, Part 2
Video—ARTV: Pacific War, Saipan, Part 3
Video—ARTV: Pacific War, Guam, Part 4
Video—ARTV: Pacific War, Iwo Jima, Part 5
Remember Pearl Harbor: The Men and the Guns
Video—ARTV: Pacific War, Iwo Jima, Part 2
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
The Six-Hour Gun: Saving a Family Heirloom
Simple math would have told anyone it wasn't worth fixing a $150 revolver. But to one family, this simple, common revolver meant everything.
Idaho Voters Choose the Winchester Model 1873 for their Official State Firearm
On November 3, Idaho voters picked the Winchester Model 1873 rifle (nicknamed the “Gun that Won the West,” in .44-40 cal.) as the leading candidate to be their state firearm.
PROOF Research Opens New Montana Facility
PROOF Research held a grand opening of its new manufacturing facility in Columbia Falls, Mont. at the end of October.
Making the Smith & Wesson Bodyguard 2.0
After more than 10 years, Smith & Wesson discontinued production of its original M&P Bodyguard .380 and began plans for a second-generation model. But the path to the Bodyguard 2.0 wasn't a linear process.
NRA-ILA: Election Results Put Second Amendment Rights Under Immediate Threat
NRA-ILA Executive Director John Commerford issued a statement following the 2026 midterm election results.
Short & Fresh: The Derya TM22 Fresh & RANX Mag Fed
Derya Arms now offers two radical versions of several of its traditional firearms with the new TM22 Fresh and RANX Mag Fed pistols.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
