[Chewie84]

I just saw the film this afternoon, and I thought it was okay. The only small problem was that I thought it focused just a little bit too much on Ira and not enough on the three other flag- planting soldiers who died at Iwo Jima. For instance, "Iggy" Ignatowski was only actually seen in a few of the flashback scenes, and even then, he was portrayed as just a stereotypical dumb comic relief character up until his death.

[Snoopers-868th]

I would be curious how many black marines there were in WW-II. I suspect none and that is the reason they are not in the film.

[ArmstedFragg]

almost 900 African-American troops took part in the battle of Iwo Jima

About three percent of the total.

[hodaka]

To be honest with you. I have seen a lot of war programs on the History and various other channels, and I sure don't remember seeing too many people of color in those old films. I am sure what Clint was doing was giving his honest portrayal of what took place. What's next? Hey Clint I don't remember seeing any flamboyant gays on the battle field.

[cyborg]

The military forces were segregated, even blood and plasma products were segregated according to race in WW2. The historical facts about black people's second class status would easily explain why there aren't any in this movie. I visited just about every major WW2 museum in Normandy and hardly saw ANY. This author didn't do his research. Sounds to me like this author doesn't have a clue and is just being contrarian and trying to start a fight, stir up racists,etc.

[jordan8]

Certainly it wouldn't have hurt to throw in a few black extras (still can with today's technology) but the black contribution to Iwo Jima was quite small.

At Iwo Jima, the 8th Marine Ammunition Company and the 33d, 34th, and 36th Marine Depot Companies served as part of the shore party of the V Amphibious Corps. Elements of the ammunition company and the 36th Depot Company landed on D-Day, 19 February 1945, and within three days all the units were ashore, braving Japanese fire as they struggled in the volcanic sand to unload and stockpile ammunition and other supplies, and move the car go inland. Eleven black enlisted Marines and one of the white officers were wounded, two of the enlisted men fatally.

Concern over this sort of thing from the ruling elite betrays a nervousness about the cohesion of modern mutlticultural America.