I watched both movies many years ago...I think those were fine movies...
Posted on 02/23/2021 5:27:41 PM PST by PROCON
The men I know and knew never mention combat much and I learned young not to ask. Women and I partying are a different thing. Australia in 1943 was quite interesting to a 17 yearly old. Tin can and kamkazies nothing, stealing whiskey from a burning Quonset shed? No problem.
When I was a kid had a buddy at church his dad was the kindest guy ever, found out a few years ago at his funeral he was on Iwo Jima - biggest surprise ever in my life.
They were known as the greatest generation. They loved and honored this country. They knew what hardship was and sacrificed for everything they had. They valued the principles that made this country what it was. They taught respect and set the standard. It must have grieved them to witness what America was becoming.
I would give anything if there was a time machine, just to live the times they did. I’d trade in every modern day invention just to live in the world they valued.
“I would give anything if there was a time machine”
I am old and retired, the folks from my childhood in the 50s and 60s are frequently in my dreams.
I seen a documentary a few years back where college age kids had taken it upon themselves to travel the country interviewing the last remaining WWII vets to have their history recorded.
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/15460659-spinning-for-trout
This author wrote books that were very peaceful and relaxing to read. He was on Iwo Jima also.
When I was working in DC with a lot of elderly people, they would often tell little snippets of their lives. I wanted to hear everything, but except for one woman who had wound up in one of Hitler’s camps, most of them didn’t really want to reminisce too much. Things would come out here and there, but they didn’t want to be ‘recorded’.
Can anyone tell me what the strategic reason was for taking this island. Couldn’t we have simply taken the ocean around it depriving the enemy from resupply or leaving to fight elsewhere.
That island had a real nice airport on it with a long runway.. Aftee it was taken damaged B-29s had a place to make emergency landings. The USAAF was very grateful for it.
I watched both movies many years ago...I think those were fine movies...
My Dad was a U.S. Army Technical Sergeant who landed on D+1.
He and his squad set up and operated the first field radar unit on Iwo.
He had the same job on Saipan a few months before Iwo.
After Iwo he went back to Hawaii to train on a new improved radar unit that was designated for the invasion of the Japanese mainland.
He was very happy when two atomic bombs ended the War.
He was always amused and slightly dismissive when after the War people claimed that Iwo had been a tragically wasteful mistake.
He would just ask them why the Japanese expended so much time, labor, supplies, and men to defend a wasteful mistake?
“When I was a kid had a buddy at church his dad was the kindest guy ever...he was on Iwo Jima”
One of the most decent men; friend, father and Marine, I ever knew was a veteran of Iwo Jima. A three war Marine; WWII, Korea and RVN, we met following his retirement from the Corps as a Sergeant Major. We became colleagues of sort for about 10-years until his second retirement. In addition to standup sons, he had two daughters whose personalities only rival was their beauty. Credit Mama for that one!
Now somewhere between age & mileage, humping the hills of the cemetery to visit him is more infrequent as not. But he still lives as I frequently remember him and other shipmates.
Semper Fidelis
“In the Sands of Iwo Jima movie, Sgt. Stryker (John Wayne) hands the flag over to three guys. Those guys were the actual flag raisers”
Early in the film, Colonel David Shoup has a bit role as an officer interrupting a fight between the John Wayne-Forrest Tucker characters. Colonel Shoup later served as Commandant of the Marine Corps, 1960-1963. Cameo appearance at films end by Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes and John Bradley.
Yep, I believe there were a few other real Marines who had minor parts in the movie. That movie is such a wonderful tribute to our military, in particular the Marines.
Semper Fi
I thought most of the guys that were in that picture were killed?
I think, although not completely related to Iwo Jima, that the “Pacific” is very worthwhile too. Though not as good as BOB
Yes, several of them were KIA, but at least three survived and appeared briefly with John Wayne in “The Sands of Iwo Jima”. Sgt. Stryker (i.e. John Wayne) handed them the folded flag with instructions to find something to use as a flag pole. The last few minutes of that movie choke me up every time.
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