LtGen. Tadamichi Kuribayashi
Kuribayashi was a lieutenant general in the Imperial Japanese Army. He was a veteran in the military and had served the emperor from his first day out of the academy. After the fall of Saipan Kuribayashi was reassigned to the base on Iwo Jima. LTGEN. Kurybayashi was perhaps the most difficult opponent fought in the pacific for the U.S. He didn't believe in the other Japanese suicide bombers and instead wanted 10 American death for every Japanese. His brutal battle tactics led him very close to his quota but in the end victory was reached. After the first 33 days of battle Kurybayashi went to a hissen cave and commited hara kari, rather than the dishonor of defeat. Kuribayashi thought of "Iwo Jima's crude air strips as a net liability to the Empire, at best providing nuisance raids against the B-29s, certain to draw the attention of American strategic planners", and believed that "Iwo Jima's airfields in American hands would pose an enormous threat to Japan."
Adm. Raymond a. spruance
Spruance was an admiral in the U.S. Navy. Spruance was the leader of many of the Pacific battles during WWII such as Midway, Saipan, and the Philippine Sea. After the battle of the Philippine Sea Spruance led an attack on the Japanese base of Iwo Jima. The Japanese held strong for a month before defeat. The capture of Iwo Jima was one of the last battles of WWII in the pacific and another victory for Spruance.