Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Mo., interviews six Marines, veterans of the Battle of Iwo Jima, on July 14, 2012.
Marines during WW-2 are my Heroes. I served in the Marine Corps 5 Oct 73 to 4 Oct 77, but WW-2 Marines were toughest. Semper Fi from an old Marine Sergeant.
My dad went in on D-plus 5 on Iwo Jima. He was attached to the 3rd Marine Division and was in the 2nd separate combat engineer battalion. They worked along side with Navy Seabees rebuilding both airstrips...they saw the first B-29 come in from a raid over Japan. 1 engine was smoking and only 1 landing gear was down. The crew got out and ran away from the aircraft and one of them kissed the ground and said he was so happy they made it back. Others didn't! My dad was 20 yrs old then. Passed away in 2004. He always spoke of his time in.
I'm not american (I'm Irish) and none of my relations have had to fight in any of the world wars but I have nothing but the utmost respect for these men and their comrades. I'm 21 and i just can't imagine how tough it would have been for guys even younger than me having to endure what they endured. These men and all the guys that didn't make it home are all heroes. I've always wondered whether my generation could do what those men did, and honestly I don't think so.
I think our generation would rise to the occasion if we had a clear and present danger like these gentlemen had. Unfortunately, the wars we fight today are insurgent, Vietnam style, wars. If we had a conflict with an axis of clear evil, like the Nazi's of World War 2, I believe we'd fight tooth and nail. We'd especially fight if we were attacked unprovoked like Pearl Harbor. I only say this because I'm American, and the lines I witnessed at military recruiting offices on September 12, 2001 made me very proud. Hundreds of men and women, of all ages, were around the block! :-) I was only 15 at the time or I would have been in line myself.
lukem93, Thank you for your kind words and honest observations. My father served in the South Pacific during World War II on several ships But mostly Destroyers. My mom was a wac in the army, and she was part of a crew that flew b-17s from here in Washington State, from the Boeing plant down to whatever base they were assigned to in California. The planes were then shipped to the South Pacific. She absolutely loved her B-17! She said on several occasions she got to fire the 50 caliber machine guns and was just thrilled! I think that they truly were the greatest generation and I really don't know if my generation or the generations coming after me could rise to the call in the way that my parents generation did. I like to think that they would, but it's such a different day now.
My uncle was 18 when he was drafted in the Marines. He was a machine gunner on Iwo Jima and Okinawa. On Iwo Jima he said he never took off his boots for 30 days. When he did, only the tops of the socks remained. He died in 2009 and I didn't start reading about the Pacific until 2011. He would talk about his time in the Corps and I wished I had known enough to question him. My loss. The greatest generation!
Jeff Ingram Yes Jeff, so many people don't, ask questions or even want to know. How sad ! These guys are Our hero's, all of them ! How very brave these men are.
@@franke2273 I believe God made this generation unusually strong, both mentally and physically, since He knew the task before them. Also, they had grown up during the depression era which made them resilient and mature young people.
All those brave soldiers that died in all the great wars to make this the greatest country on earth!!!!!! It’s just sad that we as a free Society because of there sacrifice don’t realize it. But what do you expect from a bunch of spoiled brats and clowns that know nothing of sacrifice.
what about the musclehead douchebags in the military today? pissing on dead afganistan soldiers or running away to join ISIS and we get a traitor back for 5 prisoners? oh boy how far we have fallen
All of them, and above all the ones who fell there and in WWII, are real HEROES. Thanks a lot for their efforts and for their sacrifice. Always in our hearts, never to be forgotten.
I am an Englishman, who has had had family die fighting in the two world wars. I would like to add to the wonderful posts by also expressing my admiration for these wonderful American veterans of WWII, Hero's every one. American and British soldiers are still giving their lives for freedom in the 21st century.
bull shit england just fighting to keep it colony , you guy only give up your colony after ww2 cause you know either you gift them up volunteer and still have some power over the local or tottally lost all power and get kick out in a humilated way like the french get after ww2
I am the widow of an extraordinary Englishman (I'm American) whose father flew Spitfires in WWII. My Brian was in the RAF but thank God didn't have to go to war. Truly I love England as I love my own country, and I can't wait for England to become England again-she is on the way by confirming Brexit. God Save our beloved countries; and thank God for the men who fought WWII (my Dad, uncles and godfather, all gone now RIP).
@@inouelenhatduy yeah just like the whites did after the civil war!!! They were afraid the blacks would raise up yeah right nothing happened unless the white man said it happened back then bud better go touch up on your history and while you at it check out who put blacks in slavery to start with before they got on the boats to come to American it will be a shock for you but you might learn something about your past instead of all this bull hit!!!!!
My father just passed away at the age of 96 , 4/26/19 He took the 1st wave of Marines into Iwo and was a member of a new group of guys called UDT-1 . He was also a excellent swimmer up to the age of 94 years old .
The greatest generation, no doubt about that! I hope that future generations never forget the sacrifices These fine men gave for the precious freedom that we enjoy today. Thank you all for your service!
These are true American hero's all. My college mentor was with HQ Company, Third Battalion, 24th Regiment, 4th Marine Division and fought alongside these distinguished veterans.
My father was in the navy at Iwo Jima. He never talked about it until later in my life. He was called into the captain's quarters and was told to get a photographer safely on land with two other men during the middle of the bombing. The 3 crafts in front of him got bombed and never made it to shore. My father's craft got the photographer safely to shore. The next day, that photographer, Joe Rosenthal, took the most famous photo during WW 11..."The Raising of the Flag".
Thank you for posting. I've had the honor of knowing a number of vets from WWII. Some were relatives, others neighbors. My most interesting memories were of a Luftwaffe fighter pilot and a U-Boat sailor. Also had an Uncle that was a turret gunner on a B-17 and another several others that served in the Pacific. True heroes.
WoW!!! - These guys are in GREAT shape for their age - 67 years ago, when the film was mad = 86 plus. I hope they got to see this on youtube - and possibly saw the comments and thanks. - Hero's All
What a great priveledge to see and hear these brave American men. Wish I could hug and kiss each of them. Thanks to them we are Here. I honor these guys with my very soul.
FYI; When the marines went to Iwo Jim's. The volcano was thought to be inactive. Since then, the island has had 2 or 3 small eruptions. Two, on the northwest and northeast, have caused depressions. The water off the island has coloration caused by gases escaping. Currently it is listed as one of the top ten dangerously active.
My high school history teacher was a marine on Iwo Jima with the rank of lieutenant. He was injured and almost bled to death. A young student asked him in class whether he had killed anyone or not. He replied, “We don’t ask that question.”
Damn, these fellas look great for their age. Thank you gentlemen for your sacrifices. This interviewer's military tank is Capt. Obvious. He's also asking relatively the same question three different ways it seems..and that whistle when he speaks lol
I raised the flag on Iwo as a U.S. Coast Guardsman and it still brings a hint of pride to me to know I followed in the steps of Heros. I especially admire Ira Hayes and I had the honor of meeting several code talkers at an Iwo Jima reunion at Camp Pendleton.
Two of my uncles were at Iwo Jima, both survived. One, my uncle Sam, recently died at the tender age of ninety three. His brother, my uncle James, made it to 87 before being killed in an auto accident. Hit by a drunk driver.
My grandpa was a naval pilot in the pacific. One time he had his crew bail, got out near the wing and looked down then decided to try and land where he succeeded. He was involved in the firebombing of tokyo said they looked like ants; He'd scream in his sleep
This is why you should never disrespect the American Flag. I am a 3rd Generation Marine. Semper fi my Brothers.. My Grandfather was there also. He passed away in 1985.
I would like to know what division they were in my uncle what's in the 4th Marine Division he was in the second wave of the landing he didn't make it off the beach he was 19 years old
Im not gonna lie. I respect those Japanese soldiers. They fought hard and long even though they were underground. Thats hot must of been hot af down there.
I dislike the fact that officers forced a landing ( similar to wars previously) that was simply preposterous. Why land I don’t get that. I’m very thankful to those men Continue to be
I`m from Canada, Our Prime Minister marches, dances and waves the gay flag on gay pride day and hands out $10.5 million to terrorists who killed our troops. I`m not serving our armed forces to die for what?! for him?!
Typical America exaggeration. Not taking away from the bravery of these soldiers and the outnumbered Japanese defenders but Iwo Jima was a day on the Russian Front.
Couldn’t the producer hire a decent narrator and not a fruit loop hollywood wierd talking type. Oh and one that NEVER interrupts the greatest generation EVER !!!!! I barely made it through the interview strictly because of the narrator !!! UGH
