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 Supreme Court Goes 9-0 on United States v. Hemani
In United States v. Hemani, The Supreme Court decided that the federal statute that prohibits the possession or ownership of firearms by a person who “is an unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance” violates the Second Amendment when applied to regular marijuana users.
FN Improves Iconic MAG Machine Gun
The FN MAG, better known to Americans as the M240 machine gun, has been in U.S. military service since 1976, and this year, the platform has gotten some serious upgrades.
Switching It Up In West Texas: The WTO SwitchLug System
The SwitchLug by WTO is designed for popular rifles, and it’s a modern system that doesn’t require buying new rifle.
President’s Column | On a Scale of One to 10, Houston Was a 20
As they say, the 2026 Annual Members’ Meeting in Houston is a wrap. More than 73,000 freedom-loving Second Amendment supporters—the highest number since the COVID pandemic—joined us for three days of celebrating freedom.
The Smith & Wesson Academy Reopens
One of the latest expansions at S&W's new Maryville facility is the addition of an entirely new training ground, the new home of the legendary Smith & Wesson Academy.
New for 2026: EAA Balikli BLK Bolt-Action Rifles
This year, EAA Corp. expanded its catalog with a new hunting rifle, the Balikli BLK bolt-action, which has high-end features for its price, as well as compatibility with broad aftermarket.
Interests
New for 2026: EAA Balikli BLK Bolt-Action Rifles | An Official Journal Of The NRA
- SK Guns Marks America’s 250th With Limited-Run 1911 Commander | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
- Safariland and Travis Haley Reengineered the Gun Belt From the Buckle Out | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
- Federal’s 6.5 Creedmoor +Peak Adds 300 FPS to a Cartridge You Probably Already Shoot | An NRA Shooting Sports Journal
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
