Summary Part of Battles at Sea week On February 17th, Landing Craft Infantry 449 was among a dozen warships preparing for main invasion of Iwo Jima two days later. The commanders had thought they had weakened Japanese forces in the area so they were not expecting much action From the towering slopes of Mount Suribachi, Japanese forces opened fire, forcing the U.S. commanders to recalculate battlefield plans. They shelled and bombed the newly discovered enemy positions. It was a move that saved countless lives two days later, when tens of thousands of Marines stormed the beach. Author Mitch Weiss will share the previously untold story of the crew of Landing Craft Infantry 449. Based on 130 exclusive interviews with sailors who survived the battle, the families of the men killed in the fight, and more than 1,500 letters the sailors mailed to loved ones during their long months at sea, this is a story of duty, brotherhood, love, and courage.

• War
• Documentary
• History
• Talk Show