Final answer:
The Americans invaded Iwo Jima and Okinawa as part of their 'island hopping' campaign to get closer to Japan in World War II. These islands provided strategic airfields and bases for further invasions and attacks on mainland Japan.
Step-by-step explanation:
The two Pacific islands that the Americans invaded to get closer to Japan during World War II were Iwo Jima and Okinawa. These invasions were part of the U.S. military's island hopping campaign, which was a strategy to advance towards Japan by capturing strategically important islands in the Pacific. The U.S. aimed to establish airfields and bases in these locations to secure pathways for further invasions and to launch attacks on mainland Japan. After capturing these islands, American forces were significantly closer to Japan, setting the stage for further military actions.
The Pacific Campaign included other significant battles such as the Battle of the Coral Sea, the Battle of Midway, and the struggle for Guadalcanal. Battles like Iwo Jima and Okinawa were characterized by intense and brutal fighting. These victories were crucial for the United States as they provided key positions from which to launch an eventual invasion of Japan's home islands.