Tadamichi Kuribayashi | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Kuribayashi in 1943 | |
| Born | 7 July 1891 Nagano Prefecture, Japan |
| Died | c. 26 March 1945 (aged 53) Iwo Jima, Japan |
| Allegiance |  Empire of Japan |
| Service |  Imperial Japanese Army |
| Years of service | 1911–1945 |
| Rank |  General |
| Unit | 1st Cavalry Brigade 2nd Cavalry Brigade 2nd Guards Division 109th Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun (1967; posthumous) Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure Order of the Rising Sun with Gold and Silver Star (2nd class) Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon (3rd class) |
| Alma mater | Imperial Japanese Army Academy Army War College Harvard University |
Tadamichi Kuribayashi (Japanese: 栗林 忠道, 7 July 1891 – c. 26 March 1945) was a general in the Imperial Japanese Army, diplomat, and commanding officer of the Imperial Japanese Army General Staff. He is best known for having been the commander of the Japanese garrison at the battle of Iwo Jima.
Even before the battle, General Kuribayashi insisted upon sharing the hardships of his men. He also refused to permit banzai charges, which he regarded as an unnecessary waste of his men's lives. The United States Marine Corps had expected to capture Iwo Jima in five days, but Kuribayashi and his men held out for 36 days. It is believed that Kuribayashi was killed in action while leading his soldiers in a night-attack on American troops, but his body was never identified by the United States military. U.S. Marine Corps General Holland Smith said of Kuribayashi that "Of all our adversaries in the Pacific, Kuribayashi was the most redoubtable."