The purpose of this article is to discuss the Battle of Iwo Jima or Operation Detachment, the events that caused the battle, and the consequences it had on the United States. The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the most important battles of World War II in 1945. Although many battles were fought during World War II, this was one of the most important because the American invasion had the goal of capturing the entire island including its three airfields, to provide a staging area for attacks on the Japanese main islands. It was the fiercest and bloodiest combat of the Second World War. The battle itself was immortalized by Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the raising of the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi by five U.S. Marines and a member of the U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman. Battle Leaders The two main battle leaders were General Holland McTyeire "Howlin' Mad" Smith of the U.S. Army and General Tadamichi Kuribayashi of the Imperial Japanese Army. Admiral Marc Andrew "Pete" Mitscher, General Graves Blanchard Erskine, General Clifton Bledsoe Cates, Lieutenant General Keller Emrick Rockey, Chester William Nimitz, and Admiral Raymond Ames Spruance also helped lead the United States to victory during the Battle of Iwo Jima. General Tadamichi Kuribayashi was assisted by Colonel Baron Takeichi Nishi who commanded the 26th Tank Regiment of the Ogasawara Corps (“The Battle of Iwo Jima,” n.d.). US Battle Leader General Holland McTyeire "Howlin' Mad" Smith Holland Smith was born on April 20, 1882 in Hatchechubbee, Alabama. He earned a bachelor of science degree from Auburn University in 1901. Smith, became the first sergeant of a cavalry company in the Alabama National Guard. He then sought a commission in the Army, but instead was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Navy in ... mid-paper ... ith. (January 21, 2014). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holland_SmithIwo Jima (island, Japan). (n.d.). Encyclopedia Britannica online. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/298379/Iwo-JimaIwo Jima Operation, February - March 1945. (n.d.). Operation Iwo Jima, February - March 1945. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/events/wwii-pac/iwojima/iwojima.htmTadamichi Kuribayashi. (January 21, 2014). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tadamichi_KuribayashiTakeichi Nishi. (2014, January 1). Wikipedia. Retrieved January 23, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeichi_NishiUnited States Marine Corps. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved February 5, 2014, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps#Origins