The US island hopping campaign in the Pacific during 1944 and 1945 was brutal, long,
hard work over a long period of time with battles like Saipan, Guam, and Iwo Jima working
themselves into the different events that made up World War II. The US strategy relied on
capturing key islands to establish airbases and logistical hubs, progressively strangling Japan’s
ability to continue in the war. Losing a single island wouldn’t have taken away this strategy
entirely. The US could have bypassed that island and focused on the next objective.

Iwo Jima’s primary strategic value could be seen in their airfields. Capturing them would
provide emergency landing strips for crippled B-29 bombers returning from raids on the
mainland of Japan which was a benefit realized later on during the war. Iwo Jima’s strategic
significance stemmed from its location. Roughly 750 miles southeast of mainland Japan, the
island housed two airfields, South Field and Central Field. Capturing these airfields would
provide critical progress for long range US bombers, potentially crippling Japan’s ability to
defend its home islands. However, the Marianas Islands which had been captured a few months
prior had already served this purpose to a degree. Iwo Jima was a huge victory for the US,
despite how costly of a battle it was. During the five short weeks that made up this barrel, this
battle consisted of some of the most gruesome fighting of the war. US casualties (nearly 7,000
dead and 20,000 wounded) surpassed those of the Japanese defenders (estimated 18,500 killed).
This manpower loss was significant for the United States, especially considering the invasion
that was to come from Japan. The Japanese fight on Iwo Jima is characterized as a defense in
which the nation was holding on too tightly, and was avid to not let go of until they came out
victorious– a refusal to surrender demonstrated their determination to persist on fighting despite
the negative consequences that could come from not surrendering. This wasn’t a turning point in
their resolve to fight, however, it was a continuation of their established strategy. Despite their previous victories earlier, which consisted of other turning points in favor of the US and the
Allied Powers, the defeat Japan suffered at Midway and the Philippine Sea significantly reduced
their naval strength and air power, hindering their ability to wage offensive war during this
battle. Additionally, the Manhattan Project’s success in developing the atomic bomb persisted
which would present a new option for ending the war from the US and Allied Powers.

The US victories in the Pacific stemmed from a confluence of factors, not just luck or
sheer manpower. The US outproduced Japan in ships, planes, tanks, and other forms of weaponry
which allowed them to replace losses faster and maintain a constant offensive pressure. The
bombing campaign by B-29 Superfortresses would continue to destroy the Japanese industry and
infrastructure, further hindering their ability to continue fighting the war. The US military
developed and employed superior tactics throughout the Pacific War. This included deadly
assaults, combined arms warfare, and effective use of naval gunfire support. US Marines that
were hardened by island warfare developed new tactics to overcome heavily held positions of
their opponent. Their unwavering determination to close with the enemy and win the ground war
ultimately proved decisive. Furthermore, the ability for the US to decipher Japanese
communications was extremely helpful when it came to strategic and tactical advantages
throughout the Pacific campaign.

While this was not the biggest turning point, Iwo Jima stands as a turning point that
would cripple Japan’s defenses and showed unwavering determination of both sides. The cost in
human life underscored the gravity of the war and the desperate measures both sides were
willing to take to achieve victory. The battle served as a reminder of the challenges that the US
faced in defeating their persistent and determined enemy and the sacrifices necessary to achieve that goal. The true turning points of the Pacific War were likely a combination of factors,
including the crippling defeats at Midway and the Philippine Sea, the relentless industrial might
of the US, and ultimately, the threat of the atomic bomb.