Chapter Seven: D Day and Chapter 8: D Day Plus One Summary and Analysis

Early on the morning of February 19, 1945, the boys from Easy Company walked down the metal ramps of the Missoula to their waiting amphibious tractors. When the Navy bombers halted their assault, hundreds of amphibious tractors began landing on the black shores of Iwo Jima. There was no immediate gunfire from the enemy when the Marines first vacated their amphibious vehicles. The Marines followed their attack plan and began climbing the terraces. A short time later, the barrage of enemy gunfire began. The Marines became targets in a crossfire shooting gallery from snipers located at various points around Suribachi. The Marines were taking heavy casualties and the prospects of victory seemed bleak. Although the volcanic ash created a soft terrain that slowed the men...