Flags of Our Fathers

**GerryLP** · 10-19-06, 10:18 AM

I watched last night the premier of Clint Eastwood's (Directing) movie "Flags of Our Fathers", and it was pretty good movie.

The effects were outstanding, but at times seem hard to keep track of the time line. Present time line of a story being told with flashbacks, and flashbacks within the flashback.

I did not remain behind to see all the credits, but basically the story tells us that the famous flag raising at Iwo Jima during WWII was the second time the flag was raised. I like the fact that the movie attempts to honor the people involved in raising the first American flag at Iwo Jima. It also attempts to honor the Marines who raised the second one all on the fact that some senator wanted the flag being flown, and a Colonel refused to let him have it, so he ordered someone to raise a second flag, so that the senator can have that one and not the first one. As fate would have it, the second one was the one immortalized by the famous raising shot.

GerryLP

**XLR8** · 10-19-06, 02:28 PM

I want to see this movie too. I wasn't aware that the monument and photos represent a second flag being raised. In fact, what I know of the story comes from the movie about Native American Marine Ira Hayes.

BTW - this is one of the few National Monuments I personally recall from a childhood trip to Washington D.C. I remember being touched by this Monument and the Changing of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Jane Ann

**Chas** · 10-19-06, 02:30 PM

Clint's son is in the movie, just a bit part , but its his first.
Looking forward to it as well.
Thanks Gerry

**GerryLP** · 10-19-06, 08:01 PM

I was totally blown away by the second flag story. I thought that it had been knocked down, and the second one was then raised. I have to catch the credits and validity claims.

GerryLP

**Culprit** · 10-20-06, 02:47 PM

Take the time to read the book "Flags of our Fathers." It explains things quite well.

**brumbach** · 10-20-06, 03:20 PM

Originally Posted by Culprit

Take the time to read the book "Flags of our Fathers." It explains things quite well.

I see by your profile your a jarhead. Me too -- 20 year career. Retired 1994. My last station was Quantico. I'm guessing you're stationed there now. Am I right?

Semper fi,

**Culprit** · 10-20-06, 10:01 PM

Brumbach,

Actually, I got out about 2 months ago - I guess I should update my profile. I guess I just haven't come fully to grips with the fact that I'm not on active duty anymore - big change after 11 years (the last 7 USMC). But only the last 7 counted towards retirement, so it was time to make a choice.

Anyhow, my last duty station was MCAS Beaufort, SC. I moved up here to take a job with a defense contractor in DC. It's not the easiest commute in the world, but once I learn the business there is a strong possibility that my company will move me from DC working on Navy contracts to their Quantico office working on Marine Corps contracts.

Middleboro, KY - is that the Middleboro where the Glacier Girl P-38 is kept? I really enjoyed watching her fly when I visited in September, 2005. My wife's family lives about 40 min north of Knoxville, so we took a day-trip up there.

Semper Fidelis,
Culprit

**brumbach** · 10-21-06, 07:38 AM

Originally Posted by Culprit

Brumbach,

Actually, I got out about 2 months ago - I guess I should update my profile. I guess I just haven't come fully to grips with the fact that I'm not on active duty anymore - big change after 11 years (the last 7 USMC). But only the last 7 counted towards retirement, so it was time to make a choice.

Anyhow, my last duty station was MCAS Beaufort, SC. I moved up here to take a job with a defense contractor in DC. It's not the easiest commute in the world, but once I learn the business there is a strong possibility that my company will move me from DC working on Navy contracts to their Quantico office working on Marine Corps contracts.

Middleboro, KY - is that the Middleboro where the Glacier Girl P-38 is kept? I really enjoyed watching her fly when I visited in September, 2005. My wife's family lives about 40 min north of Knoxville, so we took a day-trip up there.

Semper Fidelis,
Culprit

M'boro - Glacier Girl, yes that's the one. There's no easy commutes in the DC area but working at Quantico will be far better. Besides, working with USMC in lieu of Navy will be like a homecoming, won't it? Which company? BAE, BAH, other..

**Bonnell** · 10-21-06, 08:05 AM

Originally Posted by brumbach

M'boro - Glacier Girl, yes that's the one. There's no easy commutes in the DC area but working at Quantico will be far better. Besides, working with USMC in lieu of Navy will be like a homecoming, won't it? Which company? BAE, BAH, other..

I look forward to seeing this also. I did two tours in the Marines and got out in '85. I still miss it. Semper Fi

**Culprit** · 10-21-06, 10:16 AM

Alion Science and Technology.

Bonnell - the Glacier Girl is definitely worth seeing - especially if you can catch them on a weekend when she is actually flying!

c5corvtman · 11-01-06, 04:55 PM

I want to see this movie as well. There are so many monuments; it would be hard to say which holds the most. It depends on who the person is. For me, after serving 20 yrs in the Air Force and retiring, the USS Arizona was the most touching thing I can relate to. Once you get off of the ferry boat and you walk up the steps leading onto the memorial, you see the marble wall in the distance. As you walk slowly to it, no words can be said. As you get closer and this wall, with all the names on it, it grows larger as you walk closer. You just stand there being overwhelmed by seeing the names knowing the bodies are just below you.

**o2bnkc** · 11-02-06, 12:42 AM

I spent a year stationed on Ford Island (anti sub warfare training center) and every day I would jog past the Arizona. I would be so close I could see the oil bubbles coming up. One the other side of the island is the Utah. (I think, it's been 25 years) It is a very eerie sight, as it's still laying on it's side. It was used for a target battleship before the Japanese used it for one, also. Anyway, I read the book a few months ago, and it was eye opening. 25000 Americans and 22000 Japanese were killed there! James Bradley wrote another book a few years ago titled "The Flyboys". This was about the squadron of flyers that George Bush was with, when they were all shot down in the pacific. You will never feel the same way about the Japanese after reading this. Bradley is a great writer.

**Bonnell** · 11-02-06, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by c5corvtman

I want to see this movie as well. There are so many monuments; it would be hard to say which holds the most. It depends on who the person is. For me, after serving 20 yrs in the Air Force and retiring, the USS Arizona was the most touching thing I can relate to. Once you get off of the ferry boat and you walk up the steps leading onto the memorial, you see the marble wall in the distance. As you walk slowly to it, no words can be said. As you get closer and this wall, with all the names on it, it grows larger as you walk closer. You just stand there being overwhelmed by seeing the names knowing the bodies are just below you.

I agree. Simper Fi. BTW:My son ships off to Air Force Basic in January.