The heroism on Iwo Jima Stephen Woody The Notebook The film, ‘Flags of Our Fathers,’ opens tomorrow nationwide and will likely come here shortly. Clint Eastwood is directing the movie, and early reviews have been good. What helps, of course, is that it’s one helluva good story. William Broyles, former editor of Texas Monthly, wrote the screenplay. He’s also written ‘Apollo 13,’ ‘Cast Away’ and others. If you get a chance before the movie opens here, read the book of the same name. It’s by James Bradley, the son John Bradley, who was one of the six people in the famous Pulitzer-Prize winning photo of the Iwo Jima flag-raising. Associated Press photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, who recently died, captured the moment for history. The book was published in 2000. James Bradley came across his father’s legacy by accident after he passed away and was going through some of his effects. The elder Bradley, a Navy medic, received the Navy Cross for heroism on Iwo Jima. He and two others, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes, were the three survivors of the six men who raised Old Glory. Iwo Jima was a spit of a volcanic island, about one-third the size of Manhattan, with nothing much going for it except location. The U.S. needed it for air bases in a final push against Japan. Casualties were high. Some 6,821 U.S. servicemen perished, another 20,000 wounded. The Japanese started the defense of this native territory with 22,000 men; just over 1,000 survived. There were 27 Medals of Honor awarded during Iwo Jima, the most of any battle. The other three Marines in the photo never made it off the island, they died fighting. After the war, Bradley came home to Wisconsin, became a successful businessman and local civic leader, and never talked of his heroism. The book chronicles the lives of these men before and after WWII, the battle and how a photo changed a national mood. It’s a good read. I would believe one our fine local bookstores either have it in stock, or can get it quickly. Of heroism….. Six years ago, the Daily Press published a year-long weekly series, which was put into a magazine, ‘Courage of a People.’ The format was simple. We asked local WWII veterans, in all combat theatres, to describe their experiences. Now and then, I get an email from someone via a Google or Yahoo link about the articles, usually wanting to know more about a shipmate, or a particular incident which was mentioned in ‘Courage.’ Of special sections….. We’ve got another “keeper” coming Sunday. Our 2006 local restaurant guide, ‘Dine,’ is in a slick magazine format. It’ll also be distributed to motels, tourism centers and places where people need a little nudge on where to eat and imbibe. Kudos! City Markets locally donated 10 gees to Bosom Buddies. Generous, this. Fearless prediction: That Olde English D on those uniforms stands for Destiny. Elaine Moore’s Detroit Tigers win it in six. Coming Sunday, in your Daily Press….. Quotable “Develop your eccentricities while you are young. That way, when you get old, people won’t think you’re going crazy.” —David Ogilvy, advertising expert, author, pollster |