[tet68]

Nimitz announced that Iwo had been "officially secured" on March 17 D-plus 26 but the fighting continued for several weeks,with the last Bonzai charge occuring on March 26th,Foragers and straglers were still being picked up Months later.

Interestingly Gen.Holland M.Smith was not on the Missouri for the signing of the surrender,Nimitz would not allow it.

[tet68]

Also while the average casualty rate was 30 percent,the rate among assault platoons was 60 percent.

Horrific,but the result of the fast assault tactics needed to protect the landing fleets,something the Army was not prepared to do.Which of course is what drove "Howlin Mad" to such a rage.

[Poohbah]

I think Nimitz was trying to keep the peace with MacArthur (the Army was REALLY PO'd that Smith had relieved the commander of the 27th Infantry Division during the battle for Saipan--and, looking at the history, I think that Smith gave the Army a bum rap on that one) WRT Smith not being allowed aboard the Missouri.