I felt that it was an unnecessary loss of civilian life... We had them beaten. They hadn't enough food, they couldn't do anything.

No other island received as much preliminary pounding as did Iwo Jima.

Hindsight is notably cleverer than foresight.

Luck can be attributed to a well-conceived plan carried out by a well-trained and indoctrinated task group.

The Japanese had, in fact, already sued for peace. The atomic bomb played no decisive part, from a purely military point of view, in the defeat of Japan.

If you're not making waves, you're not under weigh.

A ship is always referred to as 'she' because it costs so much to keep one in paint and powder.

God grant me the courage not to give up what I think is right even though I think it is hopeless.

By their victory, the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine Divisions and other units of the Fifth Amphibious Corps have made an accounting to their country which only history will be able to value fully. Among the Americans who served on Iwo Island, uncommon valor was a common virtue.

Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.