On February 18th 1945 US Forces began bombing and shelling the island of Iwo Jima ahead of the soon to land Marine Corps that would aim to take the island in only a matter of days. However, despite being the most bombed place in the Pacific theatre, American troops had little idea of how well defended the island would be, with extensive tunnels under Mount Suribachi protecting the vast majority of Japanese General Tadamichi Kuribayashi's men.