(KRON) -- A teenager who lives in Fremont was among twelve Young Marines who traveled to Iwo Jima, Japan to honor the 80th anniversary of the WWII Battle of Iwo Jima. Akshaya Krishna and 11 other teens climbed Mt. Suribachi and planted a flag on the summit. The site was famously photographed durin g the 1945 battle as U.S. Marines raised an American flag. Krishna is part of the Young Marines, a youth leadership program organized by a national nonprofit. Col William P. Davis USMC (Ret), national executive director of Young Marines, said, "Standing atop Mt. Suribachi with these Young Marines is more than a privilege -- it’s a living tribute to the courage and sacrifice of those who fought here in 1945. Watching them reenact the raising of the flag reminds us that the legacy of Iwo Jima isn’t just history, it’s a torch being passed to the next generation." Capturing the island of Iwo Jima, which is only 8 square miles, was considered crucial to America's WWII Pacific campaign strategy, according to the U.S. Department of Defense. Hegseth orders fitness standards to be gender neutral for combat jobs "The task for doing this fell to the 3rd, 4th and 5th Marine divisions, the Army's 147th Infantry Regiment and the Navy's 5th Fleet," the DOD wrote. The Battle of Iwo Jima took place from Feb. 19, 1945 to March 26, 1945 with heavy casualties suffered on both sides, according to DOD. Marines raise the U.S. flag on Mt. Suribachi, Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945. The Pacific island became the site of one of the bloodiest battles of World War II against Japan. (AP Photo/Joe Rosenthal, File) "One of the most iconic images of World War II was taken by The Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal. His photograph captured six Americans raising the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945. Marine Sgt. Bill Genaust, who was standing beside Rosenthal, captured the same moment on video. Genaust was killed March 4, 1945, by Japanese fire while clearing a tunnel," DoD wrote. ...read more read less