Author Topic: D-Day Plus Two - Iwo Jima (Read 280 times)

Yeager · « **on:** May 31, 2007, 08:23:15 PM »

I read this passage last night and was brought to tears, truly one of the most heartbreaking accounts of war I have ever come across, paraphrased:

"He put his head up above the protective ridge and placed binoculars to his eyes--just for an instant--to spot a sniper who was harassing the area. In that instant the sniper shot him through the throat. I took my forceps and reached into the wound to try and grasp the severed artery and clinch it off. His blood was spurting. He had no speech but his eyes were on me. He knew I was trying to save his life. I tried everything in the world. I couldn't do it. I tried. The blood was so slippery. I couldn't get the artery. I was trying so hard. And all the while he just looked at me, he looked directly into my face. The last thing he did as the blood spurts became less and less, was to pat me on the arm as if to say, 'Thats all right.' Then he died."

United · « **Reply #1 on:** May 31, 2007, 08:28:56 PM »

That is an amazing quote. Where did you read that? I'd love to read more from it if there is some.

Ripsnort · « **Reply #2 on:** May 31, 2007, 09:13:15 PM »

Damn. Just to carry that experience your whole life...that's gotta hurt.

Incidently, I saw Flags of our Fathers for the first time Sun night. Wasn't impressed with the movie, directing, etc..

Is "Letters from Iwo Jima" any better?

midnight Target · « **Reply #3 on:** May 31, 2007, 10:54:08 PM »

Letters is better.

Angus · « **Reply #4 on:** June 01, 2007, 08:08:53 AM »

Letters is very good, while IMHO Flags was better than the book.
They're both worth seeing. I saw Flags twice, and it grew on the second time.

VOR · « **Reply #5 on:** June 01, 2007, 09:49:55 AM »

I just watched Letters a couple of nights ago. I enjoyed both films, but liked Letts better simply because it gave a glimpse into the minds and lives of the other side. It was very interesting to me.

Yeager · « **Reply #6 on:** June 03, 2007, 01:50:04 AM »

Watched "Letters" last night. Well done. Eastwood has definitely earned my respect for covering such a complex, difficult, and historical subject as Iwo Jima.

I have read several in depth accounts of the battle over the years and one thing that had escaped my comprehension was how the infighting and distrust between the different branches of the Japanese military adversely affected their campaign against the invasion. Also, the whole militant suicidal Bushido Japanese pitted against the typical average life preferring Japanese was a refreshing contradiction to bear out. A very good film. Excellent really.