[Badray]

Once the butchering began on the beach, it was time to withdraw and re-group.

I am no military expert or tactician, but suppose they had withdrawn as the casualties began to mount. . . .

Wouldn't there have been more casualties as we retreated and yet more when we renewed the attack on now more heavily fortified Japanese positions? Would it have been a trade off in losses without gaining any territory?

Just asking.

[F16Fighter]

"Wouldn't there have been more casualties as we retreated and yet more when we renewed the attack on now more heavily fortified Japanese positions? Would it have been a trade off in losses without gaining any territory?"

Fair question Ray.

As the Marines waded in through Iwo, they were hit from all different directions. NO trees, NO foliage, NO screens. Buck naked.

It may just be that this was an miscalculated plan in the first place...with NO option "B".