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
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
More like this from around the NRA
Latest
Gun of the Week: Benelli M4 EXT Tactical Shotgun
Benelli's semi-automatic workhorse shotgun continues to evolve and improve.
The Armed Citizen® Feb. 6, 2026
Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.
New for 2026: Tool Collections from Real Avid
Real Avid just released some new tool collections to help with cleaning, optics mounting and other firearm-related chores.
Review: Bersa M2XI Pistol
The M2XI represents a new area for Argentinian firearm manufacturer Bersa, and this budget 2011 shoots above its price point.
Great American Outdoor Show Opens Feb. 7
America's largest gathering of outdoor enthusiasts opens Feb. 7 and runs through Feb. 15.
New for 2026: CCI Blazer Brass Clean-Fire Ammunition
With the huge boom in suppressor sales, CCI has ammo designed for suppressed firearms.
Interests
SECTIONS
IN THE SPOTLIGHT
EXPLORE MORE NRA PUBLICATIONS
