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80th Anniversary of the Battle of Iwo Jima Remembered
Eighty years ago marked the culmination of the Battle of Iwo Jima, a pivotal World War IIengagement that concluded with an Allied victory after a month of fierce combat against Japanese forces. The brutal Pacific battle remains a significant event in history.
Hollywood Reenactment: “Sands of Iwo Jima”
In the aftermath of World War II, the epic conflict was immortalized on the silver screen with the release of “Sands of Iwo Jima,” starring John Wayne. This cinematic endeavor vividly recreated the intensity of the battle for audiences.
Casting and Production
Initially, John Wayne, then 42, reportedly felt he was beyond the appropriate age to portray Sergeant John M Stryker. Studio considerations even included Kirk Douglas for the role. However, director Allan Dwan ultimately secured Wayne for the part, recognizing his star power.
Iconic Flag Raising and its Reenactment
The film prominently featured a dramatic reenactment of the iconic flag-raising photograph. This historic image captured six U.S. Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945.
Tragically, three of these Marines – Sergeant Michael Strank, Corporal Harlon Block, and Private First Class Franklin Sousley – perished in subsequent action.
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Identifying the Marines
The surviving flag raisers were Privates First Class Ira Hayes, Harold Schultz, and Harold Keller. Remarkably, the identities of Schultz and Keller were not officially confirmed by the U.S. Marine Corps until 2016 and 2019, respectively. John Bradley, previously misidentified as Schultz, was present at the first flag raising. Rene Gagnon participated in raising a larger flag on Mount Suribachi but was not in the famous photograph.
For “Sands of Iwo Jima,” Bradley, Gagnon, and Hayes, inaccurately portrayed, reenacted the second flag raising. Only Hayes had actually been present at the depicted event. Despite this historical divergence, these three veterans symbolically represented the famous moment in the John Wayne World War II film. The actual American flag used in the reenactment was provided on loan from the U.S. Marine Corps Museum, adding to the film’s authenticity.
Film’s Legacy and Hollywood Recognition
The success of “Sands of Iwo Jima” garnered Wayne his inaugural Best Actor Oscar nomination. Interestingly, the actor himself believed his performance in John Ford’s Western, “She Wore a Yellow Ribbon,” was more deserving of the accolade. Following the World War II film’s acclaim, Wayne was invited to immortalize his handprints and footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.
Iwo Jima Sand in Hollywood History
In a unique tribute to “Sands of Iwo Jima,” black sand from the actual Iwo Jima beach was specially transported to Los Angeles. This distinctive sand was then incorporated into the cement during Wayne’s hand and footprint ceremony and remains embedded there today, a lasting connection to the historic battle.