During World War II, Iwo Jima, a tiny island 660 miles from Tokyo, was defended by 21,000 Japanese soldiers determined to fight to the death. The U.S. campaign, which began on February 19, 1945, was expected to last only a few days. Instead it claimed the lives of nearly 7,000 Marines and lasted for over a month. Features interviews with twenty-one veterans of the 1945 battle and rare combat footage.

All regions; Dolby digital.

Prologue : the Marines want you -- Iwo Jima bound -- Red blood, black sand -- Send in the artillery -- "It must be tough there" -- "We're here to stay" -- "You never got too close to people" -- The enemy -- "Nobody went unscathed--" -- "That's when I left the island" -- "The devils are in you" -- Epilogue : reunions.