I have just watched "Letters From Iwo" on AMC, and while I am

[rasputin1952]

not a movie critic, I shall say that this movie had me from the beginning...as a student of history, I question some of the storyline, but not much of it.

I was particularly impressed with the conflict of the basic human desires to succeed, to survive, to ensure that military mindset of "accomplishing the mission" all came together in a compelling way. Most ot the history of the battle, like all battles, was written by the victor, rarely do we get a point of view from the vanquished.

There were some powerful scenes, the basic inhumanity and brutality of war, the compassion and empathy that often arises in conflict, and the brutish nature of those who literally have a license to kill, virtually at will.

It was interesting seeing how the characters developed. The Japanese Army was not known for it's "magnanimity" in victory, and I would suppose when the inevitable defeat is staring one in the face, the more glaring the factor of "glorious death" in battle might actually seem like the logical course if you were brought up to believe that is the end-all under the circumstances.

The actual battle was brutal to the extreme...I know a couple of vets that went through it, and I have read extensively on the subject. But in the end, defeat was inevitable for the japanese forces on that rock...so much blood spilled, so many lives ruined.

[MikeNearMcChord]

1. I like the movie because it made the Japanese soldiers

real human beings instead of some cartoon characters. Shame it wasn't a big box office draw, as was it's companion move Flag of our Fathers. Many freepers and Neo Cons hated the movies because the war wasn't glorified to their tastes.

[thunder rising]

3. I love the movie. Like Das Boot, it made the enemy human. War is not the common persons choice.

[rasputin1952]

7. It is extraordinary not to relate to the baker, or the guy who

couldn't shoot the dog...average people cught up in anything but an average time.

[thunder rising]

2. I know a couple of vets that went through it??? I'm a vet and I don't know a couple of vets that

went through it.

Are you like 80 years old or something?

[rasputin1952]

5. No, not at all...VFW/American Legion stuff...

:D

I had the pleasure of knowing a Filipino that retired as a SGM, one of the very few that actually was honored by becoming an American citizen under the BS spread about Filipino Scouts being able to become US citizens. He was captured on Bataan (made the infamous Death March), was captured in Korea...and once again, captured in Nam. I flat out told him to keep away from me if the shooting started...:D

I also had the incredible honor of meeting Roy Benevides, if you get the chance, read his MOH citation, I've posted the link below. You have to scroll down, but it is well worth the read. Roy was a remarkable human being, after his retirement, he went to schools to tell kids they could do anything they wanted to, never give up and be ready for what may come along.


http://www.history.army.mil/html/moh/vietnam-a-l.html

[Captain Hilts]

8. My neighbor was at Guadacanal. Why does that make me 80 years old? nt

[Ghost in the Machine]

11. My grandfather was at Guadalcanal.. I posted some excerpts from his diary

here before...

"My Grandfather's Diary from Guadalcanal"


Monday September 20, 1943
"Diaries are forbidden now, so am going to hide mine. one more entry tho. Tonight saw a beautiful sight. 4 Jap bombers came over and, as they had been getting away clean, an (old) major, 37 (too old to be any good) pleaded for permission to patrol Henderson Field. It was granted and he started over Carney (not sure of this word*) and shot down all 4 Japs. All flamers. Two of them let loose their bombs too damned close, but too late to get away. The sky was full of tracers and planes in flames. At night was an awesome sight. Saw one of them early next AM and what was left of it was brand new. Bodies of 7 Jap airmen were found nearby."

I'll be posting some more as I read it. This is coming from a 64 year old diary. My grandfather was Lloyd Davis. The called him "Red".

http://www.militaryunderground.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=117&topic_id=1&mesg_id=1&page=

Read more here: http://www.militaryunderground.com/dc/dcboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=117

[rasputin1952]

12. Both my Dad, (died in '65) and my Step-dad, (died in '99) were in

Europe during the War...neither of them had the any good things to say about the war, except when speaking of things outside battle that the normal GI does. Both had seen the incredible destruction and the the Camps at the end of the war...once again the brutality and inhumanity that war brings. My dad was of German lineage, my step-dad Italian...both saw the lands of their forbearer's destroyed, but they did speak occasionally of amazing acts of humanity that happened in places one would not expect.

As in all wars and hot conflicts, there are times when humanity and compassion rise to keep the sanity of those engaged. No matter how few and far between, those acts become memorable and raise the possibility that someday, war may no longer be the "norm", but perhaps avoided in the future.

[tuckessee]

14. Are you going to have it published in book or manuscript form?

If so, count me in as a buyer.

Gaudalcanal is one of my specialities and I would love to add your grandfather's illicit diary added to my archives.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

4. Allowing one's self to be captured was the greatest shame under the Jpn military code

That's why, when the Americans did happen to capture Japanese soldiers alive, They were usually exceptionally easy to interrogate. They believed that they would be rejected by everyone back in Japan for having surrendered, and so they decided to switch sides.

[rasputin1952]

6. I took us a long time to understand the mind-set, same thing

in VN and today in the Middle East.

Pearl Harbor was one thing, but the Rape of Nanking was something else entirely, as was Guadalcanal, the first real taste of mass suicide charges. The Bataan Death March did a lot of harm as well as far as the picture Americans got of the Japanese.

Some was well deserved as the reputation preceded them in many instances, but in the end, it is difficult to see people that are as common as you and I through the fog of history...very few people actually want war, but there are times when they must be fought..if everyone saw people as merely people, we could make leaps in conflict resolution...but at least up to today, that is still a far off dream...:(

[tuckessee]

9. Has anyone read Kuribayashi's letters?

They are collected in a book titled So Sad to Fall in Battle.

I first read about Kuribayashi in Toland's two volume classic Rising Sun, another work I would recommend as must reading for any student of the Pacific War.

[rasputin1952]

13. Toland did a remarkable job in showing many aspects of the

war from all sides...I am deeply impressed with his work. In a way, his obsession helped us understand the situation so much better.

[apocalypsehow]

10. I think both movies were under-appreciated.

I admit to a bit of personal conflict of interest in viewing both "Letters from Iwo" and "Flags of our Fathers," because my great-grandfather was on one of those B-29's that had to stage an emergency landing on Iwo Jima at some late stage of the war (long after the battle itself was over).

I think what really comes through is, as you stated, "the basic inhumanity and brutality of war."