Did African Americans fight at Iwo Jima?

Answer 1

Yes. Go to the National Archives Web site. The pics prove it. Yes, they did. There were at least two all-black Marine companies, the 11th Marine Depot Company and the 7th Marine Ammunition Company, according to this article written by the National Park Service for a commemorative series on African-American involvement in WWII.

http://www.nps.gov/archive/wapa/indepth/extContent/usmc/pcn-190-003132-00/sec10.htm

The article elaborates on specific involvement for these and other companies that included black soldiers, and what their particular actions involved. So, yes, African-Americans fought at Iwo Jima.

For further evidence, this webpage has photographs of black soldiers at Iwo Jima and detailed captions:

http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/ww2-pictures/

These three pictures from that page reveal the actions of black Marines on the island:

http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/ww2-pictures/images/african-americans-wwii-013.jpg

'13. "Seeking to rescue a Marine who was drowning in the surf at Iwo Jima, this sextet of Negro soldiers narrowly missed death themselves when their amphibian truck was swamped by heavy seas. From left to right, back row, they are T/5 L. C. Carter, Jr., Private John Bonner, Jr., Staff Sergeant Charles R. Johnson. Standing, from left to right, are T/5 A. B. Randle, T/5 Homer H. Gaines, and Private Willie Tellie." March 11, 1945. S/Sgt. W. H. Feen. 127-N-114329'

http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/ww2-pictures/images/african-americans-wwii-102.jpg

'102. "Iwo Jima...Negro Marines on the beach at Iwo Jima are, from left to right, Pfcs. Willie J. Kanody, Elif Hill, and John Alexander." March 1945. C. Jones. 127-N-11383. '

http://www.archives.gov/research/african-americans/ww2-pictures/images/african-americans-wwii-110.jpg

'110. "Carrying a Jap[anese] prisoner from stockade to be evacuated and treated for malnutrition. Iwo Jima." February 23, 1945. Don Fox. 127-N-110622.'