Why was capturing the Island of Iwo Jima significant for the U. S. strategy in the Pacific Theater? A. It provided the U. S. with a base from which to launch nuclear weapons. B. It provided the U. S. with a critical outpost near the coast of Japan. C. A key U. S. general was freed from a Japanese POW camp after capturing Iwo Jima. D. It served to eliminate Japanese troops in what was becoming a war of attrition.