The Lions of Iwo Jima

The Story of Combat Team 28 and the Bloodiest Battle in Marine Corps History

By: Major General Fred Haynes (USMC-Ret.), James A. Warren

Narrated by: Michael Prichard

It was the bloodiest battle in Marine Corps history, claiming a third of all marines killed in World War II. The relentless fighting on Iwo Jima lasted for 36 days, but most of us only know the iconic photo of five soldiers raising the American flag on Mount Surabachi. For Fred Haynes, a young captain in Combat Team 28, Surabachi was one marker in a ferocious blood-letting against an enemy of 22,000 warriors who were dug into caves and tunnels.

The stories told here for the first time will seem too cruel, too heartbreaking, even too fantastic to be believed. As one veteran remarked, "Each day we learned a new way to die." By the time Haynes's unit had broken through the main Japanese resistance, 75 percent of the three assault battalions---the frontline fighters who charged enemy positions---were gone. Many of the exhausted survivors were shattered. In five weeks, Combat Team 28 had advanced 5,600 yards, closed 2,088 caves, and lost 5,885 lives.

The Lions of Iwo Jima helps answer the essential questions: who were these men, how were they trained, and what accounts for their extraordinary performance in battle?

©2008 Major General Fred E. Haynes USMC (Retired) and Fred Haynes (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Capturing the author's stoic and bluntly descriptive recollection of the battle with a gritty military cadence of his own, Michael Pritchard marches side by side with the grunts of CT 28." ( AudioFile)

Excellent Account of the Battle

On the west and north, almost nothing about what the other 5 or 6 regimental combat teams are doing but then it says this is about RCT 28 only. This book also begs to have a map laid out showing each battleground, but even in the print edition there is no map. You will have to google a battle map of Iwo Jima to properly see and place each of the locations described in the book. Otherwise a fine addition to any military history library. One truly gets a sense of how unrelenting the battle was - sort of like a Tarawa that goes on for 30+ days instead of only 3.

Pretty good story about the hell of Iwo Jima

Any WWII buff, especially a Marine, should know about Iwo Jima. The island's importance was vital to ending the war and minimizing loss of Allied lives. Unfortunately, it cost a great many lives, on both sides, to make that happen.

This story is about one of the groups of Marines who made it happen. A fine group who acquitted themselves very well. Maybe the story, or one like it, has been told before. If so, I can't compare it to those. I can tell you that this is a story that should be known.

Hit On All Cylinders

The story as told by Major General Haynes is engrossing. I thought it was moving. I felt a certain attachment to those marines

MY Uncle Fought on Iwo ...

So, I Listened intently for his name and even though his sir-name was Williams, I knew him as, Uncle Bill. I do remember him telling me, when I was very little, that Bill wasn't his real name. They had named him something he didn't like, so he had everyone call him, Bill. I will have to look up the information of my Mother's side, to confirm. What I remember of him was ~ first, his Size. He had huge hands. He had graduated from Ole Miss and play all the sports, football, basketball and baseball. My Mom said it was an injurie that happened during a basketball game and that ended a likely & promising, athletic career. I remember seeing a picture of him in Green Utilities with 1st LT bars. His Gov Standard headstone says he was Capt. And according a memory I have of talking to my cousin at his passing, they got his Birthdate MO WRONG on his Headstone. I don't believe anyone has seen to correcting that. After my graduation from Hight School, I enlisted in the USMC. My Permeant Duty Station was HQ Co, Base Comm, Camp Pendleton, 5th Mar Div. I am interested to learn everything I can about the battle and hopefully, somethings about his participation in it. I am Very Proud to have 'Stood-On-His-Shoulders'. I love him very much.

why we are free

This book recounts one of the toughest battles in history and when you learn of the sacrifice why we live in freedom today.

The Lions of Iwo Jima.

A great book. Very interesting and it kept my interest through the whole book. I would recommend this book to a friend, or ant one.

Awful narration!!

I’m pretty sure this is the same dull narrator that’s is in all the military films from days long ago. I really really wanted to listen to the book but I haven’t made it past chapter 4 yet.

Very informative but no Old Breed

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Yes but only if they are a die hard WWII Pacific reader.

Would you recommend The Lions of Iwo Jima to your friends? Why or why not?

Is this the same questions as the one above? Come one Audible.com....you're better then that.

Which scene was your favorite?

I was happy when they got past the flag raising. Its an interesting story but it has been told, and told, and told, then told again. I wanted more of the stories from the fox holes. The last 1/4 gave me what I was looking for.

What else would you have wanted to know about Fred Haynes and James A. Warren ’s life?

I would have been happy not knowing anything about their lives. To be honest I am really only interested in the top decisions makers and the guys on the front line.

Any additional comments?

If you're looking for another WWII Pacific book to add to your list this is a good one.Put this one on the back burner If you haven't listened to With the Old Breed at Peleliu or Unbroken yet.

Terrible Narration

I'm not certain, but I may have enjoyed this work with a compitant narrator. Nevertheless the narration in this audiobook sounds exactly like one of those WWII government documentary's to promote the American military. In other words, it sounds awful.