he Battle of Iwo Jima was supposed to take only five days according to U.S. military analysis. This invasion quickly became a killing field. Facing Japanese soldiers who were ordered to sacrifice their lives, the Americans fought a dedicated foe. Iwo Jima was a major battle in the Pacific Theater and a costly victory for the United States. The island became a base for bombers on their way to Japan and a refueling station for U.S. troops in the Pacific. The Battle of Iwo Jima was immortalized by the photo of six men raising an American flag atop Mount Suribachi, but of these men only three left the island and only one led a normal life. Over 6,800 Americans gave their lives, 27 earned medals of honor, and for those who went home, they would never forget the killing fields of Iwo Jima.