Same reaction from me brother. I only spent 8 years. I still consider the worst mistake in my life was getting out. Semper Fidelis all who have had the honor of wearing the EGA.
My mom's favorite cousin, Field Music Sergeant Ted Skolny, 21st Marines, was KIA on Iwo Jima. He was one of over 400,000 Americans who did not come home from WorldWar II. Every American born since the war owes them a debt that can never be repaid.
John Wayne was best in Westerns, I can't tolerate him in War movies, he never served in WW2 although a multitude of his Hollywood Colleagues did, and no I don't buy the BS thats been peddled about he was needed to make movies. As for his "Green Berets" movie what a comical facades that was, I remember watching it with fellow Soldiers in the 70s and we were all pissing ourselves laughing. Anyone remember the scene where Wayne jumps from the Caribou aircraft with his Static line hook still conspicuously secured on the rig he was wearing ? 😂😂😂😂
My dad served on Iwo Jima after the battle and after Germany surrendered as he transferred from teh 8th Air Force, to the 5th. He was at that time, in a Weather Detachment.
The flag raising is my all time favorite picture. I knew a man who was a USMC tanker. He saw the flag raised. Thank you for your service Mr. Joe Garza!!
I viewed an interesting RUclips video that identified one of the unknown raisers who never sought recognition and declined a trip Stateside to sell War Bonds with Ira Hayes and the other two ( only three survived the battle), one of the two others DID NOT participate in the second, (photographed) flag raising. I apologize for not remembering the title of the video, but perhaps you can find it.
From the halls and to the shores.......the USMC, Semper Fi.......my dad was a first day lander on Tarawa, 2nd Marines Red Beach 2......when he saw this movie he had tears in his eyes.....I cannot imagine what his eyes witnessed.....he was wounded on day three, months in the hospital.....reassigned to the USS Intrepid.......
My Dad was a CPO in the USN. He was on CL46 USS Phoenix on Sunday December 7th 1941 in Pearl Harbor just adjacent to Battleship Ship Row. sh*t I can't go on.
Three words sum these people up who raised those two flags atop Suribachi in February 1945: United States Marines! I was never good enough to be a Marine. I served in the Navy and I dearly love the United States Navy. But to the day I die, I love the United States Marine Corps and the Marines the Corps produces even more than I love the Navy. Semper Fidelis, Marines. And Semper Fidelis to all branches of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and to the men and women who serve in our beloved Armed Forces. God bless the United States of America. (Andy McKane, former hospital corpsman, U.S. Navy, 24 August 1970 - 10 November 1971.)
Hey Andy: Officially, it's: "United States Marine Corps / Department of the Navy." So, you're "Big Brother" and we're "Little Brother", but either way, we're both brothers, and don't you forget it.
Please don't say you weren't good enough, The reason the United States has a Marine Corps is that it has a Navy. Without a Navy, there would be only the Army. There is an anchor in our emblem.
@@sesankata Semper Fidelis, Marine! Before I'd reached the age of 12 in 1960, Holland M. Smith, "Howlin' Mad" Smith was my hero. To this day I think the world of General Holland M. Smith. In the 1990's, I had the great good fortune to discuss General Smith with Lieutenant General V.H. "Brute" Krulak. I've the utmost respect for every U.S. Marine I've ever met. Thank you for your service, and thank you for helping to make our beloved Marine Corps what it is! Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Hawaii.
Ron Kovic the author of "Born on the Fourth Of July" did. On the day he was injured he described moving his squad prior to the fight that it was.... "just like the movies"..
I must have seen this movie 100 times! And this movie still touches me every time I watch it; I spent 10 years of my life in the Marines!I had the perimeter serving under The Honorable Ronald Reagan at The Honorable George HW Bush!in this movie to this day still makes my heart swell with pride in being a Force Recon Marine! Semper fidelis! once a MARINE always a MARINE!🇺🇸💪✝️ God bless the Marine Corps and may God bless America!
My Uncle who was a Marine from 1939 onward and died in 1976 told me some stories of those days that no one knows to this day, not even his children...we had a connection...
Victoria Calhoun is 100% correct. It was U.S. Marines who raised that flag on 23 February of 1945. "Soldiers" is a reference to Army men, whether of the USA, or other nations. It is a common misconception on many people's part, so don't take this personally. Just setting the record straight. ~Semper Fidelis~
They played this scene over speakers while on the rifle range during night fire maneuvers in boot camp at Camp Pendleton in 87'. Sent shivers down everyone's spine. No one spoke or moved. We all just listened and many cried.
The marine he hands the flag to is Rene Gagnon….originally thought to be one of the six flag raisers but it was recently revealed that he wasn’t in the flag raising picture at all…instead he was mistaken for another marine who raised the flag that day
My uncle was a Company commander on Okinawa...I met him for the first time in 1970 after rabbit hunting one Sunday evening in the fall of that year...he drove to Arkansas from Yuma Arizona in an Oldsmobile 98 with Aunt Jean...we struck up a relationship that lasted 6 years before his death in 1976...he was one of the finest men I've ever known...he told me several stories about the war after I coaxed him in a subtle way...I was cool about how I did it in an indirect way...knowing of the pain the soldiers experienced...I was a young boy but kind of savvy...he received the Silver Star for actions on Okinawa and the purple heart...
My dad was a Korean War combat vet. He didn't talk about his combat experience until he was past sixty. Took him more than forty years to grapple with what he'd seen and done.
@@Falconlibrary I totally understand...Uncle Leo was the same...I have a Jap 8mm Nambu pistol he gave me taken off a dead Jap Captain on Okinawa, he talked about it very little...it was like pulling teeth to get anything out of him...30 years later in the 70's...I was interested in the war then, and studied it...and still do today. Uncle Leo was an artillery officer in Korea...but, never told me one thing about that war...He was a professional soldier for 20 years.
My Dad, Master Gunnery Sergeant Retired Deceased Robert E. W. Carlson Sr. Joined the Marines when he was 17 years old. He saw combat in WWII, and Korea. I'm sure there were other conflicts in which he was involved, but because he passed away before I could ask what all he was involved in, I will never know. Anyway his final post was in 29 Palms, California which is where I was born 6 months after he retired. LOL. Dad was active duty 25 years, to say he loved his MARINE CORPS is putting it mildly. He was a true Patriot. The state of the nation would have him up in arms. Dad and I watched this movie just about every time it came on and he welled up everytime Stryker got shot. He did say he was on Midway Island. I'll never be able to get all the info straight. Smh
Only America could put a stop to the atrocities and slaughter inflicted by Japan on the Eastern Hemisphere, not to mention the fucking NAZIs in Europe and Africa. Only American Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and yes, Coast Guard I should say.
I couldn't watch these older movies when I was younger, as much as I enjoyed war/history films... but once I went through life and gained some wisdom, I could appreciate movies like this and scenes such as the reading of the letter.
Even as a Canadian, a John Wayne fan, one who wanted to serve but was rejected, I still salute that flag being raised above Iwo Jima! Thanks and Blessings to all who serve and sacrifice!
Yea, but it is the Navy that has to get them there, with the equipment and soften the gates ahead of time. Marines never go where Navy Aviation or guns have gone before.
One of our elderly men at church was at Iwo Jima and watched the Marines raise the flag. Kenneth was a living treasure, he has since passed several years ago.
As my dad said the first time we watched it together, I love how John Agar echoes John Wayne even in his delivery of “Alright! Saddle up! Let’s get back in the war!” What a glorious film.
Oh I didn't know there were 110,000 Navajo in that attack? No wait you mean the Navajo who spoke on the radios. Over 6000 American men in our military died in that battle and the Navajo where PART of it. Their part helped they didn't WIN it. They helped win it like all the others. My father was in the Pacific and fought and was wounded. Don't take all the credit.
Yes, the Code Talkers had an important role, but the Marines were the ones that braved the embedded Japanese defenses and were able to root them out only after suffering many casualties and brutal fighting.
Cannot tell you how many times , i watched this movie with Dad. It was like watching it for the 1st time. Dad loved his Marine Corp. We watched this, the Flying Leathernecks, Battle Cry, Guadalcanal diary, All the Youngmen and the D.I.
Little known--the USMC had to fight for its life in post-WW2 halls of Congress--as the country demobilized, some said the U.S. Army could do what the USMC was doing. THE "SANDS OF IWO JIMA" WON OVER THE U.S. CONGRESS AT A CRUCIAL TIME...This classic film captured the fighting spirit of our great U.S. Marine Corps...And the spirit of America itself...An all-time great heroic moment in American history, in honor of the true warriors who paid for our freedom with their own blood...SEMPER FI!!
True...sort of. The movie had nothing to do with saving the Corps. The National Security Act was signed July 26th 1947 saving the Corps. The movie came out in 1950. The ARMY could do what the marines do just as well if not better. Proof being that they did. The ARMY had 22 divisions fighting in the Pacific to the marines 6. ARMY killed vastly more enemy soldiers than the marines did. Yet only had a casualty rate of 3% to the marines 3.5%. Tactics, leadership and over-aggresive attacks were to blame.
I am I the only one standing at attention feet at 45 degrees with thumbs along the trouser seams and a tear in his eye???ooorahh!!!!!!!! Semper -Fi Do or Die Gung Ho Gung Ho!!!
Lost a Neighbor in Vietnam. USMC.......1969. 18 years old...........every time i watch this movie,,,,,,ending.......I think of his Smiling Face at our front door.....Philadelphia Pa, , birthplace of The USMC....RIP...........Buddy.
I'm sick of hearing in Britain the war ended on May 8th 1945. For the men in the Far East, there was still another three months of heavy fighting to go and the relief when Japan surrendered on August 15th was enormous. However, the USMC taking Iwo Jima probably shortened the war by becoming a base for the USAF to hit Japan with fewer losses and started to wreck morale in Japan.
My father was an 2ARM on the USS Ticonderoga CV-14....gunner and radioman with the VB-80 Squadron....flying in Curtis SB2C Helldivers ("Son-of-A Bitch 2nd Class). After winning a Navy Air Medal for bravery when the "T" was hit by a kami pilot in January 1945 and saving himself and his pilot during the Battle of Manila, he was then sent to Guam to train for a land based war as an Infantry Soldier....basically Marine Corps work..as it was all boots on the ground to be ready for what possibly would have been the bloodiest action of any war...at any time in history. Because of the service of 2 "Boys"...my Dad came home...and gave birth to me...instead of being buried in a military plot in the Pacific....or just lost and scattered DNA somewhere in Japan...
0:04 Just from watching Flags of Our Father this one shot of the three seems to be that movie in a nutshell. Gagnon seems to be enjoying himself but looks at the camera, Bradley being professional about the whole thing and Hayes clearly not wanting to be there at all and doesn't make eye contact with anyone.
Thank you...this is the scene I wanted to see... Our military are the salt of the earth...they may not sometimes get along, but they will share their last drop of water & their last bit of food...they allow us to remain free & write posts like these...THANK YOU!! Our Flag...our Battle Flag....it represents all the best & beautiful of our Land...it represents everything we most love : family, friends, our Freedoms...we see in Her our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles & comrades - in- arms...that is why it is hurtful to see Her spat upon, stepped on, soiled, insulted, vilified & burned...would we do these things to those we love? Hell no!! That is why many people embrace Her because She is ours & we the people, are Hers...Many thanks again to our veterans & may God bless all of you & may God bless our Country & all the good she represents!!
@@shack8110 true. It wasn't no 'Vietnam' type BS. I find the Korean War to be one of the most forgotten wars in history, like mostly everyone else. Poor veterans.
I. Am. A. American. Veteran. Of. The. United. States. Army. Armed. Forces. But. I. Will. Always. Respect. The. United. States. Marine. Corps. I. Served. In. Hidelberg. Germany. I. Was. Supposed. Too. Be. Deployed. Too. Cam'ron. Bay. Vietnam. But. I. Came. Down. On. My. E. T. S,. End. Of. Term. Of. Service. My. Son. Randy. And. I. Admire. John. Wayne. Mr. Duke. My. Late. Passed. Wife. And. Mother. Of. My. Son. Randy. Miss. Marianne. Also. Was. Impressed. And. Admired. The. Duke. In. Real. Life. I. Would. Have. Been. Proud. Too. Have. Had. A. Sargeant. Like. Mr. Wayne. Played. I'm. The. Republic. Movie. Sands. Of. Iwo. Jima. Sargeant. Striker. From. P. F. C. Dennis. Lee. Jensen. Of. The. United. States. Army. Hidelberg. Germany. 64a1o,. 56b2o,. 56n4o,. 7. Steps. Too. Hell. Ubiquitas. Too. The. United. States. Marine. Corps. I. Salute. You. My. Fellow. Conrad's. Semper. Fidelis. Always. Faithful. Never. Leave. A. Fellow. Soldier. Behind. God. Love. And. Bless. The. United. States. Of. America. Respectfully. Dennis. Lee. Jensen. And. Randy. Lee. Jensen 💝💝🇺🇸🇨🇱🇮🇱🇺🇦✝️🙏🙏🙏✝️✝️🕎🔯✡️✝️🕎✝️✝️🙏💝💝💝🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱
my father and i watched the movie together. when the flag went up he had tears in his eyes. He was there and i bet thinking about those that did not make it back...the greatest Generation .
The fact that Stryker never finished the letter always made sense to me, even the way it’s written is clunky and awkward. He always kept up that tough exterior until it was too late.
I watched a lot of john wayne movies growing up. My dad was a truck driver and would be on the road a lot while hauling cattle. But when he was home, some of my fondest memories were laying on him on the couch as a kid watching one of his films or old tv westerns like Gunsmoke or wagon train. I always have a hard time trying to pick which one of John wayne's movies I liked better. Most of what I watched I watched repeatedly to the point I can tell you just about which movie a line quote is from and what point of the movie. Probably the one I watched the most was Rio Bravo.
Can't help but wonder why they didn't get to a safe place before reading the letter ? Bullets flying, John just got hit and let's set here and read this letter.
After spending a hitch as a Gyrene...I realized the wrong part of the movie was this was about a squad in the 2nd Marine Division. Only the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions were at Iwo Jima.
This movie, To Hell & Back (Audie Murphy) and the Combat Weekly series (Rick Jason and Vic Morrow) was what made me want to serve as a soldier in the United States Army (April 1974 - May 2002). Semper Fidelis to all my Service Brothers in the Marine Corps!
Anyone notice that when Wayne gets shot, he falls backward? When the flag goes up & all the Marines surrounding Wayne stand up, you see Wayne on his back. Yet, the parting shot of Wayne/Stryker shows him face down. Continuity!!!!!!
For an even more dramatic touch. I wished they had fixed his bayonet onto his M1 Garand rifle and drove it into the ground beside his body with his helmet on top as a calling card for the graves registration people.
And to think, Iwo Jima is still an active volcano, with several parts of the original landing beaches no longer recognizable due to minor volcanic activity.
The three men john wayne handed the flag to in the film were the last three surviving soldiers who raised the flag during the battle and the flag they used was the original flag and was on loan from the marine corps museum
As another famous marine once said ‘Marines die. That's what we're here for. But the Marine Corps lives forever, and that means you live forever."
Gunnery Sergeant Hartman, Full Metal Jacket
Amen!
Semper-Fi, Guys.
@packetmonger23 Semper-Fi, Guys.
Yeah even if they die in a shitty John Wayne movie lol
After spending 20 years in the Marine Corps, still sends a shiver up my spine.
Thanks for serving brother !!!🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
It doesn't matter whether it was five minutes or even fifty years ago like me it will always send Shivers up your spine Semper Fi oorah
God bless you for your service and protection of our nation 🙏
My father spent 30 yrs 1948-1978 in the Marine Corps, I think if they would have let him stay another 30 years he woud have.
Same reaction from me brother. I only spent 8 years. I still consider the worst mistake in my life was getting out. Semper Fidelis all who have had the honor of wearing the EGA.
My mom's favorite cousin, Field Music Sergeant Ted Skolny, 21st Marines, was KIA on Iwo Jima. He was one of over 400,000 Americans who did not come home from WorldWar II. Every American born since the war owes them a debt that can never be repaid.
There are those of us that repaid that debt with our own tours of duty, and by doing so, upheld the ideals & honor of the Corps.
As an Aussie veteran I have the highest regard for the USMC and those Marines who served.
To me, this is one of the greatest war films ever made, and one of John Wayne's best movies.
He Should Got the Oscar For That Movie.
This and the big red one are the greatest ever
No it's quite horrible just like Wayne's "acting"
Forrest Tucker...was an AWESOME Actor!
John Wayne was best in Westerns, I can't tolerate him in War movies, he never served in WW2 although a multitude of his Hollywood Colleagues did, and no I don't buy the BS thats been peddled about he was needed to make movies. As for his "Green Berets" movie what a comical facades that was, I remember watching it with fellow Soldiers in the 70s and we were all pissing ourselves laughing. Anyone remember the scene where Wayne jumps from the Caribou aircraft with his Static line hook still conspicuously secured on the rig he was wearing ? 😂😂😂😂
My dad was at iwo on his ship he could see the flag . his respect for marines skyrocked to 300% !!!
My dad served on Iwo Jima after the battle and after Germany surrendered as he transferred from teh 8th Air Force, to the 5th. He was at that time, in a Weather Detachment.
My father was there too on his ship too. He told me the same thing!
Wayne should have won the Oscar for this role. It may not have been *his* favourite, but it's certainly mine.
Out of his 100 plus movies, hes only died in 7.
@@jameswhite1320 there’s a dispute in exactly how many. 4 confirmed. 3 MIA
These were brave men in real life. As a Limey, I totally respect the American armed forces for helping us and winning the war.
And we respect you too!!!
Definitely a team effort.
Respect from America.
Allies always.
Rule Britannia.
Hey LIMEY ! My dad said you fellows weren’t so bad yourself !
Hell, America saved Great Britain in both WW I and WWII
I liked this ending. Portrays how fast your luck could end in battleground. Plus there was so many things in a short time
The flag raising is my all time favorite picture. I knew a man who was a USMC tanker. He saw the flag raised. Thank you for your service Mr. Joe Garza!!
The picture was the secound flag that went up as the photorapher didnt get it the first time.
@makeitsonumberone1358 I know. I don't remember how I learned that, though. 🙂
I viewed an interesting RUclips video that identified one of the unknown raisers who never sought recognition and declined a trip Stateside to sell War Bonds with Ira Hayes and the other two ( only three survived the battle), one of the two others DID NOT participate in the second, (photographed) flag raising. I apologize for not remembering the title of the video, but perhaps you can find it.
@@peghead Thanks for the info! I'll have to see if I can find it.
@@ameliafroehlich2577 I'll help.
I guess this is why I joined the Marines!! It still gives me goose bumps!! SEMPER Fi MY BROTHER'S AND SISTER'S!!!
I never served, but this makes me wish I had. Thank you for your service!
From the halls and to the shores.......the USMC, Semper Fi.......my dad was a first day lander on Tarawa, 2nd Marines Red Beach 2......when he saw this movie he had tears in his eyes.....I cannot imagine what his eyes witnessed.....he was wounded on day three, months in the hospital.....reassigned to the USS Intrepid.......
Thank you. and your Father.
My Dad was a CPO in the USN. He was on CL46 USS Phoenix on Sunday December 7th 1941 in Pearl Harbor just adjacent to Battleship Ship Row. sh*t I can't go on.
Three words sum these people up who raised those two flags atop Suribachi in February 1945: United States Marines! I was never good enough to be a Marine. I served in the Navy and I dearly love the United States Navy. But to the day I die, I love the United States Marine Corps and the Marines the Corps produces even more than I love the Navy. Semper Fidelis, Marines. And Semper Fidelis to all branches of the Armed Forces of the United States of America and to the men and women who serve in our beloved Armed Forces. God bless the United States of America. (Andy McKane, former hospital corpsman, U.S. Navy, 24 August 1970 - 10 November 1971.)
Hey Andy: Officially, it's: "United States Marine Corps / Department of the Navy." So, you're "Big Brother" and we're "Little Brother", but either way, we're both brothers, and don't you forget it.
Please don't say you weren't good enough, The reason the United States has a Marine Corps is that it has a Navy. Without a Navy, there would be only the Army. There is an anchor in our emblem.
@@sesankata Semper Fidelis, Marine! Before I'd reached the age of 12 in 1960, Holland M. Smith, "Howlin' Mad" Smith was my hero. To this day I think the world of General Holland M. Smith. In the 1990's, I had the great good fortune to discuss General Smith with Lieutenant General V.H. "Brute" Krulak. I've the utmost respect for every U.S. Marine I've ever met. Thank you for your service, and thank you for helping to make our beloved Marine Corps what it is! Andy McKane, Maunaloa, Hawaii.
As an American it gives me a shiver and a swollen chest of pride. This surely can't be gone in our Republic now.
one of john waynes best
As a retired sailor myself, I prefer his Navy flicks, Operation Pacific, In Harms Way to name a few.
Forrest Tucker was great too
@@sanchoproudfoot2 One of the about 4 movies they made together.
how many men were inspired to join the Marine corps watching this scene, Lord only knows
Just an opinion...John Wayne should have won an "Oscar" for his role in this movie.....
I was.
Ron Kovic the author of "Born on the Fourth Of July" did.
On the day he was injured he described moving his squad prior to the fight that it was.... "just like the movies"..
@@jimshoe6699 Here, Hear!!!
Probably every Marine that served in the Korean and Vietnam war.
one of the greatest ever....
I must have seen this movie 100 times! And this movie still touches me every time I watch it; I spent 10 years of my life in the Marines!I had the perimeter serving under The Honorable Ronald Reagan at The Honorable George HW Bush!in this movie to this day still makes my heart swell with pride in being a Force Recon Marine! Semper fidelis! once a MARINE always a MARINE!🇺🇸💪✝️ God bless the Marine Corps and may God bless America!
God Bless thank you for your service
My Uncle who was a Marine from 1939 onward and died in 1976 told me some stories of those days that no one knows to this day, not even his children...we had a connection...
Did you know that the three soldiers that raised the flag in real life did it again in this movie.
Those were the only ones that survived, even though bradley raised the first flag.
tom robey did you know that Marines aren't refered to as soldiers.?
Victoria Calhoun is 100% correct. It was U.S. Marines who raised that flag on 23 February of 1945. "Soldiers" is a reference to Army men, whether of the USA, or other nations. It is a common misconception on many people's part, so don't take this personally. Just setting the record straight.
~Semper Fidelis~
tom robey soldiers? don't think so
+tom robey: I watched this movie like forever when I was a kid. Didn't know that. Glad I do now. Thanks.
True Americana at its best...God Bless our Troops and may God Bless America.
They played this scene over speakers while on the rifle range during night fire maneuvers in boot camp at Camp Pendleton in 87'. Sent shivers down everyone's spine. No one spoke or moved. We all just listened and many cried.
The actual flag raisers were in this film. You can spot them when John Wayne hands the flag to a Marine
The marine he hands the flag to is Rene Gagnon….originally thought to be one of the six flag raisers but it was recently revealed that he wasn’t in the flag raising picture at all…instead he was mistaken for another marine who raised the flag that day
when they Read the letter , it grabs me down deep
Great ending of a great movie John Wayne was Oscar nominated for his performance in this
My uncle was a Company commander on Okinawa...I met him for the first time in 1970 after rabbit hunting one Sunday evening in the fall of that year...he drove to Arkansas from Yuma Arizona in an Oldsmobile 98 with Aunt Jean...we struck up a relationship that lasted 6 years before his death in 1976...he was one of the finest men I've ever known...he told me several stories about the war after I coaxed him in a subtle way...I was cool about how I did it in an indirect way...knowing of the pain the soldiers experienced...I was a young boy but kind of savvy...he received the Silver Star for actions on Okinawa and the purple heart...
My dad was a Korean War combat vet. He didn't talk about his combat experience until he was past sixty. Took him more than forty years to grapple with what he'd seen and done.
@@Falconlibrary I totally understand...Uncle Leo was the same...I have a Jap 8mm Nambu pistol he gave me taken off a dead Jap Captain on Okinawa, he talked about it very little...it was like pulling teeth to get anything out of him...30 years later in the 70's...I was interested in the war then, and studied it...and still do today. Uncle Leo was an artillery officer in Korea...but, never told me one thing about that war...He was a professional soldier for 20 years.
My Dad, Master Gunnery Sergeant Retired Deceased Robert E. W. Carlson Sr. Joined the Marines when he was 17 years old. He saw combat in WWII, and Korea. I'm sure there were other conflicts in which he was involved, but because he passed away before I could ask what all he was involved in, I will never know. Anyway his final post was in 29 Palms, California which is where I was born 6 months after he retired. LOL. Dad was active duty 25 years, to say he loved his MARINE CORPS is putting it mildly. He was a true Patriot. The state of the nation would have him up in arms. Dad and I watched this movie just about every time it came on and he welled up everytime Stryker got shot. He did say he was on Midway Island. I'll never be able to get all the info straight. Smh
Prayers for you and your family.
God bless him for his service .
Seeing that flag go up brings tears to my eyes. I am proud of all who served in WW2! My dad was in the Navy on the USS Blueridge AGC-2 .
God I love my country.
One of the greatest movies ever made. Semper Fi
The raising of that flag is what America is all about. And always will be. Freedom and the constant fight for it. America has ALWAYS been great.
thanks USMC, US NAVY, USA and USAAF the world and words are free ...
GABRIEL ERNESTO ORTIZ MEDINA p
Thanks Coast Guard as well. Much appreciation for them too.
Only America could put a stop to the atrocities and slaughter inflicted by Japan on the Eastern Hemisphere, not to mention the fucking NAZIs in Europe and Africa. Only American Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, and yes, Coast Guard I should say.
GABRIEL ERNESTO ORTIZ MEDINA word up.
I couldn't watch these older movies when I was younger, as much as I enjoyed war/history films... but once I went through life and gained some wisdom, I could appreciate movies like this and scenes such as the reading of the letter.
This is when 20 year olds were men - not the vegan skinny-jean wearing, video game playing sissies who can't even change a tire 20 year olds of today.
Even as a Canadian, a John Wayne fan, one who wanted to serve but was rejected, I still salute that flag being raised above Iwo Jima! Thanks and Blessings to all who serve and sacrifice!
John Wayne pussied out of the war
@@arnoldjack7956 He didn't. He tried everything he could. Educate yourself.
@Sven E. oh look another Wayne apologist, whatever dude.
@@arnoldjack7956 Grow up little person.
If the Army and the Navy ever looked on heavens scenes, they would find the streets are guarded by United States Marines.
lol
Dedlok What’s so funny? Never heard the Marine Corps Hymn??????
Rocdog! Amen raaahhh
Yea, but it is the Navy that has to get them there, with the equipment and soften the gates ahead of time. Marines never go where Navy Aviation or guns have gone before.
@@brucedull6058 The can't fly to heaven with their ships.
Bless all our military families that fought to maintain the freedoms we all enjoy today. I think of them every day. 🇺🇸
Me too!!!
I play this regularly. Semper Fi
I watch this with my grandfather. He was a World War II veteran in the Navy. Never saw combat which I’m grateful for.
The most epic mag dump in cinematic history. Get em Bass!!!
One of our elderly men at church was at Iwo Jima and watched the Marines raise the flag. Kenneth was a living treasure, he has since passed several years ago.
As my dad said the first time we watched it together, I love how John Agar echoes John Wayne even in his delivery of “Alright! Saddle up! Let’s get back in the war!” What a glorious film.
Thanks to Navajo marines for winning iwo jima!
Oh I didn't know there were 110,000 Navajo in that attack? No wait you mean the Navajo who spoke on the radios. Over 6000 American men in our military died in that battle and the Navajo where PART of it. Their part helped they didn't WIN it. They helped win it like all the others. My father was in the Pacific and fought and was wounded. Don't take all the credit.
Yes, the Code Talkers had an important role, but the Marines were the ones that braved the embedded Japanese defenses and were able to root them out only after suffering many casualties and brutal fighting.
That reply was actually the worst reply and actually offensively racist on it's own.
Actually, he admitted, he NEVER touched the flag or pole. He was to help but in actuality, technically didn't help at all.
@@shack8110 The Choctows were Code Talkers in WW I.
United States Marines are the best of the best - and that's coming from a sailor.
djohn4096 semper fi sailor your good to go.. outstanding humility in your heart
Oorah. If it wasn't for the Navy, the Corps wouldn't exist.
We all have an opinion.
My Favorite World War II Movie!
Two other USMC movies. "Shores of Tripoli" and "Halls of Montezuma" seemed like Part One and Part Two.
Cannot tell you how many times , i watched this movie with Dad.
It was like watching it for the 1st time.
Dad loved his Marine Corp.
We watched this, the Flying Leathernecks, Battle Cry, Guadalcanal diary, All the Youngmen and the D.I.
Mark, my father as well.
Little known--the USMC had to fight for its life in post-WW2 halls of Congress--as the country demobilized, some said the U.S. Army could do what the USMC was doing. THE "SANDS OF IWO JIMA" WON OVER THE U.S. CONGRESS AT A CRUCIAL TIME...This classic film captured the fighting spirit of our great U.S. Marine Corps...And the spirit of America itself...An all-time great heroic moment in American history, in honor of the true warriors who paid for our freedom with their own blood...SEMPER FI!!
True...sort of.
The movie had nothing to do with saving the Corps. The National Security Act was signed July 26th 1947 saving the Corps. The movie came out in 1950.
The ARMY could do what the marines do just as well if not better. Proof being that they did. The ARMY had 22 divisions fighting in the Pacific to the marines 6. ARMY killed vastly more enemy soldiers than the marines did. Yet only had a casualty rate of 3% to the marines 3.5%. Tactics, leadership and over-aggresive attacks were to blame.
God Bless the Marine Core past and present and future
Required viewing at every USO near every Marine Base!.....
I am I the only one standing at attention feet at 45 degrees with thumbs along the trouser seams and a tear in his eye???ooorahh!!!!!!!! Semper -Fi Do or Die Gung Ho Gung Ho!!!
Classic Hollywood, no CGI all cinematography and acting.
That weapon he fires is the Browning Automatic Rifle. 15 rounds of 30.06
Bass does the most epic magazine dump in cinematic history! It wasn’t duty, it was vengeance!
Lost a Neighbor in Vietnam. USMC.......1969. 18 years old...........every time i watch this movie,,,,,,ending.......I think of his Smiling Face at our front door.....Philadelphia Pa, , birthplace of The USMC....RIP...........Buddy.
I'm sick of hearing in Britain the war ended on May 8th 1945. For the men in the Far East, there was still another three months of heavy fighting to go and the relief when Japan surrendered on August 15th was enormous. However, the USMC taking Iwo Jima probably shortened the war by becoming a base for the USAF to hit Japan with fewer losses and started to wreck morale in Japan.
Glenn Cumbria well said
The USAF was created in 1947.
My father was an 2ARM on the USS Ticonderoga CV-14....gunner and radioman with the VB-80 Squadron....flying in Curtis SB2C Helldivers ("Son-of-A Bitch 2nd Class). After winning a Navy Air Medal for bravery when the "T" was hit by a kami pilot in January 1945 and saving himself and his pilot during the Battle of Manila, he was then sent to Guam to train for a land based war as an Infantry Soldier....basically Marine Corps work..as it was all boots on the ground to be ready for what possibly would have been the bloodiest action of any war...at any time in history. Because of the service of 2 "Boys"...my Dad came home...and gave birth to me...instead of being buried in a military plot in the Pacific....or just lost and scattered DNA somewhere in Japan...
John M Baran Nuking Japan was terrible, but far better than the war drag on for years more, and once the war ended, Japan was changed for the better.
Respect to the USMC and all Allied forces who smashed imperial Japan and Nazi Germany.
One of my favorites and a classic!
I like that it’s the one who didn’t like Stryker who takes over and even uses his “saddle up!” line
It was clear to anyone who watched that the "I don't want to be a marine" guy was going to behave most like a true marine at the end.
@@justanobadi6655
Its a hokey old movie and i have it on dvd...love it...i get tears every time at the ending thinking of the brave me. Who served and died
My favorite movie. The reason I chose the Corps over the Army. Semper Fi :)
I still get chills over Iwo..
0:04 Just from watching Flags of Our Father this one shot of the three seems to be that movie in a nutshell.
Gagnon seems to be enjoying himself but looks at the camera, Bradley being professional about the whole thing and Hayes clearly not wanting to be there at all and doesn't make eye contact with anyone.
John Wayne was such a legend! It always was hard to watch him die in movies but it also should you that even hero's are human.
Thank you...this is the scene I wanted to see... Our military are the salt of the earth...they may not sometimes get along, but they will share their last drop of water & their last bit of food...they allow us to remain free & write posts like these...THANK YOU!! Our Flag...our Battle Flag....it represents all the best & beautiful of our Land...it represents everything we most love : family, friends, our Freedoms...we see in Her our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles & comrades - in- arms...that is why it is hurtful to see Her spat upon, stepped on, soiled, insulted, vilified & burned...would we do these things to those we love? Hell no!! That is why many people embrace Her because She is ours & we the people, are Hers...Many thanks again to our veterans & may God bless all of you & may God bless our Country & all the good she represents!!
How could any American not feel proud of that the flag being raised. I can't believe the way people are acting now. I don't understand why.
Me neither.
This was one of several movies that motivated me to join the USMC when I graduated HS.
Unfortunately, I turned out to be goddamn 4F.
What motivated me to join the Marines was the DI with Jack Webb, but this was the movie my series watched in Boot Camp. Nineteen eighty three
A year after that movie was produced, the Marine Corps were in Korea, to fight in yet another war.
to protect the people of South Korea from being slaughtered by the Chinese.
@@shack8110 true. It wasn't no 'Vietnam' type BS. I find the Korean War to be one of the most forgotten wars in history, like mostly everyone else. Poor veterans.
I. Am. A. American. Veteran. Of. The. United. States. Army. Armed. Forces. But. I. Will. Always. Respect. The. United. States. Marine. Corps. I. Served. In. Hidelberg. Germany. I. Was. Supposed. Too. Be. Deployed. Too. Cam'ron. Bay. Vietnam. But. I. Came. Down. On. My. E. T. S,. End. Of. Term. Of. Service. My. Son. Randy. And. I. Admire. John. Wayne. Mr. Duke. My. Late. Passed. Wife. And. Mother. Of. My. Son. Randy. Miss. Marianne. Also. Was. Impressed. And. Admired. The. Duke. In. Real. Life. I. Would. Have. Been. Proud. Too. Have. Had. A. Sargeant. Like. Mr. Wayne. Played. I'm. The. Republic. Movie. Sands. Of. Iwo. Jima. Sargeant. Striker. From. P. F. C. Dennis. Lee. Jensen. Of. The. United. States. Army. Hidelberg. Germany. 64a1o,. 56b2o,. 56n4o,. 7. Steps. Too. Hell. Ubiquitas. Too. The. United. States. Marine. Corps. I. Salute. You. My. Fellow. Conrad's. Semper. Fidelis. Always. Faithful. Never. Leave. A. Fellow. Soldier. Behind. God. Love. And. Bless. The. United. States. Of. America. Respectfully. Dennis. Lee. Jensen. And. Randy. Lee. Jensen 💝💝🇺🇸🇨🇱🇮🇱🇺🇦✝️🙏🙏🙏✝️✝️🕎🔯✡️✝️🕎✝️✝️🙏💝💝💝🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇮🇱🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇦🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱
my father and i watched the movie together. when the flag went up he had tears in his eyes. He was there and i bet thinking about those that did not make it back...the greatest Generation .
SEMPER FI OOHRAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
i love this mvie
its one of my favorite ww2 movies
Best movie ending EVER!!!
Only thing missing was all the horns and whistles from all the ships as the Flag went up.
Would not have heard what was said.
Never talk about Family or plans on the Battlefield, or it allways gets you first. True in movies and in games ... sO mUcH eMoTiOnAl iNvEsTmEnT
maximum respect us marines
The fact that Stryker never finished the letter always made sense to me, even the way it’s written is clunky and awkward. He always kept up that tough exterior until it was too late.
I watched a lot of john wayne movies growing up. My dad was a truck driver and would be on the road a lot while hauling cattle. But when he was home, some of my fondest memories were laying on him on the couch as a kid watching one of his films or old tv westerns like Gunsmoke or wagon train. I always have a hard time trying to pick which one of John wayne's movies I liked better. Most of what I watched I watched repeatedly to the point I can tell you just about which movie a line quote is from and what point of the movie.
Probably the one I watched the most was Rio Bravo.
Can't help but wonder why they didn't get to a safe place before reading the letter ? Bullets flying, John just got hit and let's set here and read this letter.
After spending a hitch as a Gyrene...I realized the wrong part of the movie was this was about a squad in the 2nd Marine Division. Only the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Marine Divisions were at Iwo Jima.
Eye watering.
The flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi was only the beginning of the battle for Iwo Jima.
This is why we stand......Semper Fi.......
This should have been and Oscar winner for John Wayne Hollywood blew it
That first scene is reminiscent of what happened in Peleliu. A single marine held back an enemy platoon by himself. He won the CMA for what he did.
I just did 55 pushups watching this
Ex national guard but semper fi
It was Joe Rosenthal who took the picture of the marines who raised the flag at Iwo Jima.
General John Archer Lejeune / luh jern (CMC XIII )
would be proud
This movie, To Hell & Back (Audie Murphy) and the Combat Weekly series (Rick Jason and Vic Morrow) was what made me want to serve as a soldier in the United States Army (April 1974 - May 2002). Semper Fidelis to all my Service Brothers in the Marine Corps!
Anyone notice that when Wayne gets shot, he falls backward? When the flag goes up & all the Marines surrounding Wayne stand up, you see Wayne on his back. Yet, the parting shot of Wayne/Stryker shows him face down. Continuity!!!!!!
Kevin Nivek Possibility they were looking for the gunshot wound to try and save him?
The 1st flag was a little American flag, later on the Marines went back to place a Larger American flag
For an even more dramatic touch. I wished they had fixed his bayonet onto his M1 Garand rifle and drove it into the ground beside his body with his helmet on top as a calling card for the graves registration people.
Would have been an excellent ending.
That scene is reminiscent of what happened in Pelielu. A single marine held back an enemy platoon by himself. He won the CMA for what he did.
Ira Hayes who was one of the Marines who raised the second flag recreated his part in this film. He was the first one on the right.
Awesome!
Burners29
THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR VIDEO (MILITARY MACHINES OF WAR)
🇺🇸THANKS AGAIN 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Burners29, I have to ask, where did your handle come from? Stationed in 29 Palms by any chance?
If the Army and the Navy ever look on Heaven’s scenes, the will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines. Semper Fi.
Life’s tough, but it’s tougher when you’re stupid. -Stryker
And to think, Iwo Jima is still an active volcano, with several parts of the original landing beaches no longer recognizable due to minor volcanic activity.
Really cool how they pasted in real footage during some scenes
Here it breaks my heart ❤️😢😢😢😢😢😢😢 0:24
The three men john wayne handed the flag to in the film were the last three surviving soldiers who raised the flag during the battle and the flag they used was the original flag and was on loan from the marine corps museum
Great Scene
Haha, I saw this movie when it first came out, just as great here in 2021