Marines stormed Iwo Jima 75 years ago today. Here are the battle's most iconic pictures

Jay Cannon, USA TODAY
·1 min read
U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945. The Pacific island became the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II against Japan.
U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, 5th Division, raise the American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, on Feb. 23, 1945. The Pacific island became the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II against Japan.

On Feb. 19, 1945, a small island in the Pacific Ocean was etched into history and the tides of World War II were altered when U.S. Marines launched an amphibious invasion on Iwo Jima, Japan, kicking off one of the war's pivotal battles.

The island, a stronghold for Japanese forces, played an important role in facilitating air travel above the vast Pacific Ocean and represented a stepping stone for Allied fighters. Taking the island would open the door for potential attacks on mainland Japan.

More than 80,000 Marines were tasked with taking control of the island, according to the National Museum of the Marine Corps.

On Feb. 23, 1945, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal snapped one of the most iconic pictures in American history as Marines hoisted an American flag on top of Iwo Jima's Mount Suribachi.

The battle waged on for 36 days in total, and the death toll was immense.

More than 6,000 U.S. service members died, making it one of the bloodiest encounters in Marine history, according to the National WWII Museum. Out of about 20,000 Japanese troops, only about 200 survived the battle, according to the museum.

Rosenthal's picture lives on, 75 years later, but it's far from the only one. Here are other stunning pictures from the battle.

U.S. Marines of the 4th Division charge ashore at the start of the Iwo Jima invasion, running for cover in shell holes and bomb craters made by pre-invasion bombardments, on Feb. 25, 1945, during World War II. Warships offshore gave heavy gun support.
U.S. Marines of the 4th Division charge ashore at the start of the Iwo Jima invasion, running for cover in shell holes and bomb craters made by pre-invasion bombardments, on Feb. 25, 1945, during World War II. Warships offshore gave heavy gun support.
A Marine demolitions man hugs the ground to escape flying debris after setting off a high-explosive charge to blast a Japanese pillbox on Iwo Jima on March 2, 1945. After their capture, many Japanese positions had to be destroyed lest the enemy return to the shelters and fire on Marine flanks.
A Marine demolitions man hugs the ground to escape flying debris after setting off a high-explosive charge to blast a Japanese pillbox on Iwo Jima on March 2, 1945. After their capture, many Japanese positions had to be destroyed lest the enemy return to the shelters and fire on Marine flanks.
A U.S. Marine driving an ambulance jeep struggles for traction on the sandy beach at Iwo Jima during the American advance on the strategic Japanese Volcano Island stronghold on Feb. 26, 1945.
A U.S. Marine driving an ambulance jeep struggles for traction on the sandy beach at Iwo Jima during the American advance on the strategic Japanese Volcano Island stronghold on Feb. 26, 1945.
U.S. Marines of the 5th Division captured Japanese battle flags at Iwo Jima on March 2, 1945.
U.S. Marines of the 5th Division captured Japanese battle flags at Iwo Jima on March 2, 1945.
In the Pacific theater of World War II, U.S. Marines hit the beach and charge over a dune on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands Feb. 19, 1945, the start of one of the deadliest battles of the war against Japan.
In the Pacific theater of World War II, U.S. Marines hit the beach and charge over a dune on Iwo Jima in the Volcano Islands Feb. 19, 1945, the start of one of the deadliest battles of the war against Japan.
U.S. Marines kneel in prayer before they receive communion during a pause in the fighting for Motoyam Airstrip No. 1 on Iwo Jima on March 1, 1945.
U.S. Marines kneel in prayer before they receive communion during a pause in the fighting for Motoyam Airstrip No. 1 on Iwo Jima on March 1, 1945.
Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, left, and Lt. Gen. Holland Smith, commander of Marines in the Pacific, watch the bitter fighting on Iwo Jima from a ship offshore Feb. 23, 1945.
Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, left, and Lt. Gen. Holland Smith, commander of Marines in the Pacific, watch the bitter fighting on Iwo Jima from a ship offshore Feb. 23, 1945.

You can follow USA TODAY's Jay Cannon on Twitter: @JayTCannon

Contributing: Emily Johnson

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This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Iwo Jima 75th anniversary: Iconic WWII pictures from Marines' invasion