 Mushure mekugara paPearl Harbor kusvika musi wa 27 Ndira 1945, Yancey yakaenda kuMariana pamwe nezvikamu nemutoro we5th Marine Division sechikamu cheTask Group TG 51.12 mukutsigira kupinda kweIwo Jima. Mushure mokumira kunotenga mafuta uye zvinhu paEniwetok uye kudzidzira kupinda muTinian, ngarava yakasvika paIwo Jima na6: 24 musi waFebruary 19, D-zuva rekutanga. Mukati memazuva mana okutanga ehondo, Yancey yakarasikirwa nengarava mbiri chete: imwe kupfura kwehondo, uye imwe kumvura yakaoma. Yancey yakakuvadzwa zvishoma apo yakasangana nayo ichipfuudza zvombo zvehondo kune ngarava inorema. 