Illustrated throughout, the historical narrative of a key battle between the USA and Japan. On a Pacific island that was almost unknown, the United States shattered the myth of Japanese invincible innocence. During the first American amphibious assault in World War II, American marines and soldiers halted the seemingly unbeatable Japanese advance. Over 30,000 American and Japanese soldiers were casualties in five months of fierce fighting. From the ranks of the units involved in this campaign, an experienced war force of American veterans was formed that, island by island, would push the Japanese back into the Pacific.