Marines advance under fire across shattered coral terrain during the Battle of Okinawa, April-June 1945. The lead Marine wields an M2 flamethrower, a weapon frequently paired with riflemen to clear entrenched Japanese defenders from caves, bunkers, and fortified ruins. This official Marine Corps photograph, numbered 17-16 and captioned 'Flame throwers and riflemen move forward on the double,' captures the close-quarters, methodical fighting that characterized one of the Pacific War's costliest campaigns. Project: 218500