2.5M views · 68K reactions | The Battle of Iwo Jima began on Feb. 19, 1945, as thousands of Marines landed on a beach of volcanic ash in the Pacific. For five weeks, Marines, Navy Corpsmen and Seabees fought for control of the heavily-fortified island. Medal of Honor recipient Woody Williams recalls the battle. | U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs | Facebook

888K views · 11K reactions | The Pawn Stars look to purchase top-secret maps and battle plans for Iwo Jima. #PawnStars | Pawn Stars on History | Facebook

4.2M views · 81K shares | The Battle of Iwo Jima started 72 years ago today. Remember Iwo Jima, one of the bloodiest battles in U.S. history, with this rare footage. | U.S. Marine Corps | Facebook

On February 19, 1945, United States Marines began their assault on Iwo Jima. At 8:59 a.m., the first wave of Marines set foot on the island’s black volcanic sands. The initial landings went according to plan, and the men quickly started moving inland. But soon, the beaches became choked with men, vehicles, and supplies. The loose volcanic ash made movement difficult, bogging down equipment and slowing the advance. At first, only scattered small-arms fire came from the Japanese defenses. Believin