28 July 2024 Garand Picture of the Day

[Mark in Rochester]

At 08:59, one minute ahead of schedule, the first wave of Marines landed on the beaches of the southeastern coast of Iwo Jima. After allowing the Americans to concentrate men and machinery on the beach for just over an hour, Kuribayashi engaged his countermeasures. Shortly after 10:00, machine guns, mortars, and heavy artillery began to rain down on the crowded beach

I suspect that the photo was taken in that window of time. To many troops spread out down the beach for it to be staged