Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944-1945 (The Pacific War Trilogy Book 3)

by Ian W. Toll

The 4th and 5th Marine Divisions would land on the island’s southeast beaches. The 4th Division would drive directly inland to take control of the larger of the two airfields, Motoyama No. 1, and then turn north to take Airfield No. 2. The 5th Division would push across the relatively narrow and flat neck of the island, and then turn south to isolate and seize Mt. Suribachi. Once the volcano was in U.S. hands, the 5th Division would advance north up the west coast and form a continuous line across the island with the 4th Division. The 3rd Marine Division would be held aboard the transports offshore as a floating reserve, but Schmidt and Smith expected that it would probably be summoned ashore on the third or fourth day of the battle, to be inserted into the middle of the line.