Tadamichi Kuribayashi

But the battle was beginning to take its toll on the Japanese garrison as well.

General Tadamichi Kuribayashi knew his 109th Division had inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking Marines, yet his own losses had been comparable.

The American capture of the key hills in the main defense sector the day before deprived him of his invaluable artillery observation sites.

His brilliant chief of artillery, Colonel Chosaku Kaido, lay dying.

On this date, Kuribayashi moved his own command post from the central highlands to a large cave on the northwest coast.

The usual blandishments from Imperial General Headquarters in Tokyo reached him by radio that afternoon.

But Kuribayashi was in no mood for heroic rhetoric.

Send me air and naval support and I will hold the island, he signaled.

But the battle was beginning to take its toll on the Japanese garrison as well.

General Tadamichi Kuribayashi knew his 109th Division had inflicted heavy casualties on the attacking Marines, yet his own losses had been comparable.

The American capture of the Key Hills and the main defense sector the day before deprived him of his invaluable artillery observation sites.

His brilliant chief of artillery, Colonel Chisaku Kaido, lay dying.

On this date, Kuribayashi moved his own command post from the central highlands to a large cave on the northwest coast.

The usual blandishments from Imperial General Headquarters in Tokyo reached him by radio that afternoon.

But Kuribayashi was in no mood for heroic rhetoric.

Send me air and naval support and I will hold the island, he signaled.