Sands of Iwo Jima Page #6

Again scuttlebutt knew a hundred

destinations, all wrong.

This time we were a sound fighting unit,

blooded and trained.

Tarawa had blooded us.

Stryker had trained us.

- Now, I'll show you something.

- What you got there?

- What does it look like?

- A flag.

- What are you gonna do with it?

- Occupy this island in the USA's name.

- You think we'll have an easy time?

- You got me with you.

- Maybe we need two of you.

- One was enough in Tarawa.

Stick with me.

I'm a battle-hardened veteran.

Know how many Japs I knocked off

in Tarawa? 32. Did I get anything for it?

I got enemies in Washington.

If the Marines didn't have me,

they'd never have made it.

Now, this is how you fold a flag!

Do you believe in intuition?

Yeah... in women. Why?

It's hard to explain. I've a feeling

I'm not coming out of this operation.

Don't talk that way.

- I can't help it. It's the way I feel.

- Why?

I don't know. It's like a voice in my ear.

I can't shake the feeling off.

Take my advice, shake it off.

No dice. When things like that get in you,

it's no use trying to fight them.

If a marine waits long enough

he gets the word.

Our sealed orders came aboard

after five days at sea.

This island is volcanic and sandy.

It's five and a half miles long

and two and a half miles wide.

This mountain here

is a dead volcano. It's called Suribachi.

There's nothing on the island except

three airfields and about 20,000 Japs.

The Army Air Corps B-24s have been

bombing this place for 62 days.

- Maybe it'll be an easy operation then.

- We can't be sure.

Every yard is covered

by some kind of fire.

There are two possible landing beaches,

one on the east side, one on the west.

The rest of the coastline is cliffs.

They'll try and keep us off the beaches.

If they don't, they'll try and catch us

at this first airfield,

between the heights of Suribachi

and these high rocky ridges in the north.

They'll shell us from both sides. Nobody

knows what they've got on this island.

But they've had 40 years to put it there.

Saipan was our last stop.

The men who were going to hit

the beach first transferred to LS Ts.

A few more days at sea

and the time for landing came.

Saddle up!

Skip along and into the amtracs.

Anyway, it's a good day for it.

- It's cold.

- Stick around, it'll get warm.

Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of.

Hey, look!

- Driver, you the joker that wrote that?

- "Semper fi", Mac!

We should take you in along with us.

Hey, McHugh's going in with his pocket

full of books! Five books he's got!

So? The kid's a reader.

That shouldn't worry a dope like you.

When we're through with this operation,

I'm gonna break both your legs!

- I feel sick.

- I know. I felt the same way at Tarawa.

Hey, Stein, "Shalom aleychem".

Aleychem shalom.

- Sarge, I'm scared.

- So am I.

- Not you!

- Fowler, I'm always scared.

Line of departure! Get down!

Lock and load! Drop those lifebelts

when we hit the beach!

All right, hit the beach!

It ain't Brooklyn!

If this place was a blanket

I'd pull it over my head!

This is the poorest soil I ever saw. What

does anyone want an island like this for?

- That's war.

- What's war?

Trading real estate for men.

When God made the world, he must

have put all the rubbish left over here.

Corpsman! Corpsman! Take it easy.

Doggone it, almost the same place

they got me before!

Getting shot for this!

They're sure pouring it into Suribachi.

Not enough. Those Nips

are shooting right down our throats.

- Stryker!

- Yo!

- Lieutenant Shrier wants to see you.

- Lieutenant Shrier?

Stand fast.

- Stryker reporting, sir.

- I know.

Your platoon's been hit hard.

What's left has been assigned to me.

- Yes, sir.

- Naval gunfire lifts at 1100. Stand by.

Aye, aye.

Move out!

Keep your distance!

- Go on, go on!

- Corpsman! Corpsman! Corpsman!

Spread out! Dig in!

- Dunne, where's my brother?

- Back there. He's hit.

Flynn!

That's enough!

I told you you'd need this bad

some day. Thanks, Marine.

Flynn! Get down!

- You ain't got the sense of a rabbit!

- You can still be a hero crawling!

- Corpsman!

- Ma'll dust me off if I don't get him back!

Harris!

Well, I'll get a good night's sleep tonight.

Corpsman!

He won't need him.

- Pillbox too big to handle with these.

- A bazooka?

- If we had one.

- I got nothing to do. I'll go pick one up.

Regazzi didn't make it.

You never know what's happening.

Listen.

- It's a tank.

- Yeah, but whose?

Ours!

It's Regazzi.

Pillbox at 2 o'clock.

OK, give 'em a hot foot!

Thanks, Mac.

- I couldn't find a bazooka.

- You did all right. Saddle up!

No one had ever seen anything like it.

No one would have believed it possible.

That smoking, miserable, bloody island.

After three days and three nights,

and at the end of that time,

we'd barely reached the foot of

Suribachi, where we were the first day.

- We'll sack here for the night.

- Best news today.

Pair off and one man awake at all times.

Keep alert. Let's go.

It'll start getting rough tomorrow

against Suribachi.

It started getting rough

when you put on that uniform.

You wanna see a good-looking kid?

Husky little boot. What's his name?

We're gonna name him Sam,

Sam Conway.

A name that's been awarded the Navy

Cross is good enough for any kid.

There's something I've been trying

to say but... I can't find the words.

Two universities and you can't find

the words to say you were out of line?

- OK, I'm out of line.

- No, you were. There's a difference.

We'd better get some sack time.

Wanna sleep first or watch?

- I'll watch.

- OK.

Everybody gets out of line

once in a while.

Thanks, gyrene.

Where's Sergeant Stryker?

- Stryker?

- Right there.

- What do you want?

- Lieutenant Shrier wants to see you.

- Stryker, sir.

- Yes, sir.

I'm taking a patrol up Suribachi.

Get your men squared away

and be ready at 0700.

- The rendezvous is that Nip tank there.

- Aye, aye, sir, 0700.

That little voice whispering

in your ear again?

Don't worry. I've known

a million guys that have heard it.

Most of them make it. A few don't.

The percentage is on your side.

- Did you ever hear it?

- No.

- Don't you ever worry about it?

- What good would it do?

- You're indestructible.

- Stick close. It might rub off!

I'll do that.

Banner Three, this is Easy Five. Patrol is

ready to move. Request supporting fire.

Ow!

Sh'ma Yisrael, Adonai elohenu...

Adonai echad.

Amen.

Radio!

Banner Three, this is Easy Five. Over.

This is Easy Five. Cease fire,

we're preparing to move over the top.

- Roger and out. Stryker!

- Yes, sir.

Colonel's ordered that we put up this flag

when the top's secure. Get it there.

Aye, aye, sir.

What is this?

Put yours away.

This is the one we're gonna use.

First squad. Find something we can use

as a standard and we'll put this up.

- Conway, you made it.

- I guess that little voice was wrong.

- I feel better.

- I feel better, too.

I never felt so good in my life.

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