BATTLE OF IWO JIMA - WEBQUEST

INTRODUCTION
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SITUATION

Enemy: Approximately 22,000 Japanese soldiers are dug in defensive positions throughout the island in order to keep a foothold on this strategic island. They are using pill boxes and a variety of small, medium, and heavy machine guns to include mortar and artillery fire. Due to diligence and shear determination, the enemy has dug connecting and intertwining tunnels throughout the island. This provides them with the tactical advantage due to flexibility and freedom of movement. Their most probable course of action would be to wait until we land ashore and establish a kill zone. Friendly: Approximately 30,000 Marines from the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions will conduct the initial landing on Iwo Jima. Later, an additional 40,000 Marines will follow. Although, Iwo Jima has been softened up by bombing raids for more than two months before the actual amphibious assault, very little damage has been caused to Japanese forces. We will use every means possible in order to establish fire superiority and gain the tactical advantage.

Battle of Iwo Jima - Webquest (Online)

CONCEPT OF OPERATIONS
Concept of Operations: In 1944, America and her allies in the Pacific War had the advantage. In the west, the Japanese were being turned back in Burma and the island hopping campaign had isolated Japanese forces in the eastern sector. Americas desire to finally destroy Japans merchant fleet so that the Japanese mainland could not be supplied from the foodrich sectors of South East Asia relies heavily on taking the island of Iwo Jima. Iwo Jima is a very small Pacific island just over 4.5 miles long and 2.5 miles wide (about 1/3 the size of Manhattan) which lies at the foot of the Bonin chain of islands, south of the main Japanese island of Honshu. Despite its size, Iwo Jima is considered to have great tactical importance. There are two airfields on the island under Japans control; they could be used by Japanese fighter planes to attack American bombers on their flights to Japan. Under American control, the airfields could be used as emergency landing bases for damaged airplanes in the bombing raids. They could also be used for American fighter planes to escort the bombers, as they need smaller runways for take-off. 1

MISSION
At 0200, on 19 February 1945 (D-Day), naval guns from three different battleships followed by sorties from over 100 bombers will commence the invasion of Iwo Jima. At 0859, the landing team from 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions will reach the shore and conduct the land invasion of the campaign in order to gain a foothold and tactical advantage.

BATTLE OF IWO JIMA - WEBQUEST

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EXECUTION
Commanders Intent: The enemys Center Of Gravity is their knowledge of terrain and their flexibility. They have the ability to set up ambushes or obstacles along roads and paths of their choosing. Their Critical Vulnerabilities is their limited fire power, a decentralized command, and inability to resupply quickly. I plan to exploit this with superior fire power and an aggressive pace to bypass their obstacles and hiding positions. End State - There will be naval bombardment followed by frontal and flanking attacks in order to overwhelm the enemy by force. Mission has priority. Scheme of Maneuver: On order, American forces will be transported from ship to shore via Higgins boats. Upon reaching the shore, we will maneuver through obstacles and gain a foothold approximately 50 meters inland. After reorganizing, we will gain fire superiority and assess enemy terrain, bunkers, and pill boxes in order to focus the base of fire. The 550 ft. climb up Mount Suribachi will be the primary focus in order to secure the south side of the island.

COMMAND & SIGNAL

Signal: Radio frequencies, whistle blasts, star clusters, and hand and arm signals will be the primary means of signal. Command: - Enemy: Lieutenant General Kuribayashi. Kuribayash - Friendly: Landing Force Commander: LGen Holland Smith Regional Commander: Admiral Raymond Spruance Overall Commander: Admiral Chester Nimitz

ADMINISTRATION & LOGISTICS

Administration: All casualties will be treated by self aid, buddy aid, then corpsman aid. If the wounded is determined in serious condition he or she will be relocated to a safe position, then transported to the rear element for additional medical care. EPWs will be handled in accordance with the 5 Ss and T (Search, Segregate, Silence, Speed, Safeguard, Tag) and turned over to the appropriate section upon return. Logistics: Each Marine will have a days worth of food and water prior to departure. Each Marine will also have an equal distribution of ammunition prior to departure.

BATTLE OF IWO JIMA - WEBQUEST

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TASK
The class will separate into groups of four. Each member will provide a different vantage point of how the war was conducted/viewed from the perspective of the roles listed below. Each group will consolidate all information into a multimedia presentation, to include the following: description of the characters, description of strategic advantages/disadvantages, and summary of combat operations. Ensure the presentation is augmented with maps, pictures, video, interviews, etc.. Each member of the group will assume the role(s) of one of the below listed characters: - U.S. Ground Forces Commander - LGen Holland Howling Mad Smith - Japanese Ground Forces Commander - LGen Tadamichi Kuribayashi - The combat photographer who took the photo - Joe Rosenthal - The flagraisers At a minimum, the group will answer the following questions during the presentation: 1. How many flags were raised on Mount Suribachi? 2. How many flag raisers were there and what were their names? 3. How many days did combat operations last? 4. What was the name of the original combat photographer and what was the name of the photographer who took the most famous flagraising photo on Iwo Jima? 5. Where is the Marine Memorial located? 6. What was the calculation of combat losses for both American forces and Japanese forces? 7. How many Congressional Medals of Honor were awarded for opera tions in Iwo Jima?

PROCESS

The first step in this webquest is to select a role listed under Task. Once you have chosen your role, utilize whatever internet resources you need in order to provide details about the characteristics of those individuals and their perspective on the battle. Ensure you capture pictures, video, interviews, etc. and provide the list of resources used. Each member of the group will then prepare his/her own portion of the project. Once all of the information is collected, each group will meet again in order to address any issues/concerns and to structure the format of the presentation. To assist you in your efforts, I have provided a list of internet sites to use for your web-based search. Although, these links are not all inclusive, they are a good starting point for your research. If you have any questions on how to create the presentation, ensure you ask prior to beginning the project. The format for the project will be presented in Microsoft Power Point. Iwo Jima (Website) Provides a good source of information from all perspectives of the war. Iwo Jima (Wikipedia) Provides the background leading up to the war, both American and Japanese position, a list of heroes who participated in the war, and the aftermath. Iwo Jima (Tribute) Provides a good summary of the details of the battle and the units that participated in it. Iwo Jima (Timeline) Provides a detailed timeline of events from leading up to the battle to the aftermath.

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EVALUATION
Presentation: - Was Microsoft Power Point used for the presentation? - Was the standardized format the same throughout each portion of the presentation? - Were pictures, graphics, video, interviews, etc. utilized throughout the presentation? - Was the flow of the presentation sequential in accordance with the characters and the battle timeline? - Did everyone in the group participate equally in the project? Written Assessment: - Each member is required to take the written assessment individually? - Did each member complete the assessment within the time allowed? - Did each member complete all questions on the written assessment? ************************************************************************************** 1. Content Standards: - Ranks: Staff Sergeant; Chief Warrant Officers 1-3; 2nd Lt - 1st Lt - Subject: Iwo Jima WebQuest - Content Standards: listed in the Required Reading List ~ Marines analyze Americas participation in Iwo Jima; Explain U.S. and Allied wartime strategy during the battle of Iwo Jima. 2. Purpose: to provide Marines the opportunity to research and understand one of the most important battles in American history, while simultaneously complying with the Commandant of the Marine Corps guidelines on required reading. Objective: to integrate chronological and spatial thinking in order for the Marines to compare present history with the past, evaluate the consequences of past events and decision making, and to determine the lessons that were learned from the event. 3. Written Assessment: - As part of the Webquest, there will also be a worksheet with important information about the battle and questions to be answered at the end. This link provides an example of what the worksheet will look like. Resources: Commandants Required Reading List The attached link will bring you to a webpage with the Commandants Required Reading List. Student Lesson (Iwo Jima - Where are you?) Provides a good source of information from all perspectives of the war. The Battle of Iwo Jima Website This site is dedicated to the Battle of Iwo Jima and provides a detailed description of all aspects of the battle. Encyclopedia.com This site is an online encyclopedia which provides links, articles, and blogs regarding the Battle of Iwo Jima.

BATTLE OF IWO JIMA - WEBQUEST

CONCLUSION
Description: - Iwo Jima was considered one of the most challenging and strategic battles in all of WW II frequently the Americans only advanced at several hundred meters per day. By March 11th, the Japanese were trapped in an area around Kitano Point, the islands most northerly extremity. By March 16th, the island was declared secure and all resistance had ceased by March 26th. - The tiny island had taken the Allies over one month to take. What the battle demonstrated to the Americans was how far the Japanese would go to defend their country a decision that would later influence the use of the atomic bombs in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Interesting Statistics: - Allied: - Total: Approx 70,000 - Died: 6.821 - Casualties: 26,030 - Japanese: - Total: 22,785 - Died: 21,570 - Captured: 212 - Medals of Honor - Total: 27 (13 posthumously) - 28% of the 82 MOH awarded to Marines in the entirety of WW II - Marines: 23 - Navy: 4 - Flagraisers: - PFC Ira Hayes - PFC Rene Gagno - PFC Franklin Sousley (KIA) - Cpl Harlon Block (KIA) - Sgt Mike Strank (KIA) - Navy Pharmacists Mate Second Class John Bradley