Seventy-six years ago today, thousands of U.S. Marines landed on the island of Iwo Jima, a tiny Pacific atoll about 760 miles from mainland Japan. Feb. 19, 1945, was the first day of an intense, 36-day battle that became one of the major turning points in World War II.
While the iconic image of six Marines raising an American flag atop Mount Suribachi is one of the most famous photos ever captured, you won’t find it in this gallery. Here are 11 lesser-known photos from the famous battle.
