Over 80,000 Marines, soldiers, and sailors from our two countries fought at Iwo Jima. More than 26,000 died here. Today, we revere their courage. Today, we remember their valor and

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth on Saturday praised American-Japanese friendship and trust while attending a memorial service on Iwo Jima to honor those who died in a pivotal World War II battle.

A handful of retired Marines — all in the late 90s or over 100 — joined Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Japan’s Prime Minister Takeru Ishida on Saturday to mark the anniversary of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II in the Pacific that ended 80 years ago this week.