Posted on 11/02/2006 5:25:12 PM PST by edpc
Shootout : Iwo Jima: Fight to the Death. Friday November 03 08:00 PM
The Battle of Iwo Jima is best known for the famous flag-raising photograph taken on Mt. Suribachi, but there's an untold story behind the picture. Just before the photo was snapped, there was a bloody shootout on the mountain crest. This is just one of the true stories told by veterans of one of the Pacific's bloodiest battlefields, where 70,000 US Marines fought 21,000 entrenched Japanese over eight square miles of death. Follow the men of the 5th Pioneer Battalion as they fight off a savage, last-ditch suicide attack in the waning days of the battle.
Dog Fights Friday Nov. 3 10PM
Viewers will feel like they're in the battle, facing the enemy, while watching this new series that recreates famous battles using state of the art computer graphics. US Air Force fighter pilots risk their lives flying sleek F-86 Sabres above "MiG Alley", the most dangerous piece of sky in the Korean War. The high-speed twists and turns of history's first jet dogfights pit American aces Robbie Risner and Ralph Parr in the battles of their lives against nimble Russian-built MiG-15 fighters. First-hand accounts, rare archival footage and original shooting will supplement the remarkable computer graphics. Tank, helicopter, ship and submarine battles will also be included.
My father, may he rest in eternal peace, was at Iwo Jima. Of aobut 120 marines in his company, he was one of six who survived. This was one fight to the bitter end. I don't think me Da ever got over it.
I know a guy in his 80's who was there. ON the way up, you went to a hole shooting, and you basically fought whoever was inside of it to the death. Getting to the top of that hill is one story most Amercians have no clue about.
Me Da only spoke of his service one time. I was 16 and we were deer hunting. He related four lieutenants who commanded the platoons and named them, but I do not recall their names (may they rest in peace). Also, he named twelve sergeants who lost thier lives. I don't think Da exceeded two stripes but maybe he had three? In any event, that one night at the campfire filled me with honor for his plight. There were many nights where he played out the fight in his dreams. I think this is why the guys of the greatest generation just didn't speak about events. Such young men and carrying it for the rest of their lives.
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