The Battle of Iwo Jima was one of the most dramatic in world history. An invasion fleet of about 450 American ships landed 60,000 Marines on a heavily bombarded 8 square mile volcanic island defended by nearly 21,000 entrenched Japanese soldiers determined to fight to the death. The following month of bitter fighting cost 45,000 casualties and left only 216 Japanese prisoners.
Perhaps the most iconic image of all of American military history is Joe Rosenthal’s Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, taken atop Iwo Jima’s highpoint, Mount Suribachi. The flags that were raised – including the one photographed – were preserved as relics and are on rotating display in the National Museum of the Marine Corps, which itself is shaped in reference to the Iwo Jima flag raising. But another famous Iwo Jima relic is surprisingly attainable.
Iwo Jima’s black sand beaches – and the US Marines’ almighty struggle across them – were made famous by Hollywood’s Sands of Iwo Jima (and later Letters from Iwo Jima). While Iwo Jima is now closed to the general public, a number of visitors over the years have taken sand off its invasion beaches and put it up for sale. Check out the Iwo Jima beach sand for sale on eBay:
WW2 Iwo Jima Volcanic Sand 10ml Sealed Bottle USMC
eBay
U.S. Marines Corps golden sands of Iwo Jima collector challenge coin / medallion
Volcanic SAND from IWO JIMA beach, Japan battle of WWII, pacific, World War II
John Wayne "Attack at Tarawa" from "Sands of Iwo Jima" Republic Collector Plate
Iwo Jima Landing Beach Sand One (1) Ounce - WWII Collected In 2008
WW2 Iwo Jima Volcanic Sand Vial USMC
Iwo Jima Sand And Mt. Suribachi Picture, 5th Marine Division
Marines World War II Chevrons , Pin, Iwo Jima Volcanic/Sand And Pictures.
USMC Iwo Jima Vial of Black Sand & Anniversary Challenge Coins
