Kuribyashi, Todomichi (1885–1945)

Japanese general of World War II; commander of Japanese forces on Iwo Jima. He constructed a powerful series of defensive positions held by some 23,000 troops. The US invasion of the island 1945 was not made any easier by Kuribyashi issuing orders to his men that each had to kill 10 enemy troops before they died. He signalled ‘Goodbye’ to his surviving troops 23 March 1945 and went into the front line to his death.