Ken, thank you for posting your dad's letters. I am in awe of the depth of his courage. The calm manner in which he spoke of his injuries and the grace with which he seemed to adjust to his new life speak volumes about the kind of man he was.

My heart was breaking both for your father and your grandmother. With each letter, the extent of his injuries expanded and became more awful. Very touching, Ken, very touching. Thank you.

Ken, thank you for posting your dad's letters. I am in awe of the depth of his courage. The calm manner in which he spoke of his injuries and the grace with which he seemed to adjust to his new life speak volumes about the kind of man he was.

My heart was breaking both for your father and your grandmother. With each letter, the extent of his injuries expanded and became more awful. Very touching, Ken, very touching. Thank you.

You're welcome Maggers. He was the best man I ever knew.

My aunt "Max" once told me that when she (grandma Hazel) found out what happened to dad, it was the only time she ever saw my grandmother cry. "Oh, God, not Audrey . . . PLEASE . . . not Audrey!"

Ken V.

You're welcome Maggers. He was the best man I ever knew.

Ken V.

After reading his letters, I have no doubt about that, which also means your grandmother, his mom, did a wonderful job in raising him. (I always like to credit moms for wonderful sons. )

I was particularly struck by his togetherness, his calmness, especially since he must have been so young when this disaster struck.

After reading his letters, I have no doubt about that, which also means your grandmother, his mom, did a wonderful job in raising him. (I always like to credit moms for wonderful sons. )

Credit she deserves!

Granddad was quite a guy too from what I've heard. He died in 1929, so grandma Hazel raised all seven kids by herself. She was quite a woman. I would describe her as cantankerous with a twinkle in her eye.

I was particularly struck by his togetherness, his calmness, especially since he must have been so young when this disaster struck.

When he was hit, his age was 28 years, three months and three weeks.

He joined the Marines because the recruiter promised him he would be placed in a construction unit. Instead, he was placed in a mortar Company. He was promoted to Corporal very quickly, and was assigned the position of Squad Leader. After Bougainville, he was pressured to take the test for Sargent, and when he passed, they assigned him to Headquarters Company and made him a Forward Observer. As Forward Observer, he was placed in a Rifle Company and tasked with directing, and calling in, mortar fire.

Funny thing: my youngest brother -- the one who died earlier this year -- was also in mortars in the Army.

Ken V.

This is a newest trailer with English subtitles. Please check it.

Letters from Iwo Jima:trailer

This is a newest trailer with English subtitles. Please check it.

"Fight to the last man."

There was an incident on Iwo Jima where a Japanese soldier surrendered, and was taken to the commanding General of the Third Division; Gen. Graves B. Erskine. When he was questioned, the Japanese soldier told General Erskine that his officer told his troops to fight to the last man. When asked why he surrendered, the soldier told the General; "I am the last man."

Sad . . .

Ken V.

Thanks, Ken. Very moving.

"Fight to the last man."

There was an incident on Iwo Jima where a Japanese soldier surrendered, and was taken to the commanding General of the Third Division; Gen. Graves B. Erskine. When he was questioned, the Japanese soldier told General Erskine that his officer told his troops to fight to the last man. When asked why he surrendered, the soldier told the General; "I am the last man."

Sad . . .

Ken V.

Thanks, Ken. Powerful, moving, and a poignant reminder.

I was disappointed in "Letters from Iwo Jima." I think highly of Clint Eastwood and have really enjoyed most of the films he directed.

"Letters from Iwo Jima" is a well-intentioned film and everyone involved with it worked very hard, that's clear. The acting is fine, but the lugubrious pace of the direction left me time to think about things other than the film, not a good sign. Here's my barometer for good filming making - at no time during the movie should I be thinking my own thoughts. I should be with the characters on film, into the action up to my neck and viscerally experiencing everything that is on the screen. That did not happen for me during this movie.

Granted, the film is ambitious and does succeed in bringing a very different point of view of WWII to Americans. But ultimately, I found "Iwo Jima" to be uninvolving, though it worked VERY hard to manipulate me to feel for its characters. In a war movie where action takes second place to the relationships amongst the characters, I should have been much more involved with their outcomes. I wasn't. In addition, much was telegraphed loud and clear so very little came as a surprise.

I didn't dislike "Letters from Iwo Jima." It just did not meet my expectations of a Clint Eastwood directed movie.

I was disappointed in "Letters from Iwo Jima." I think highly of Clint Eastwood and have really enjoyed most of the films he directed.

"Letters from Iwo Jima" is a well-intentioned film and everyone involved with it worked very hard, that's clear. The acting is fine, but the lugubrious pace of the direction left me time to think about things other than the film, not a good sign. Here's my barometer for good filming making - at no time during the movie should I be thinking my own thoughts. I should be with the characters on film, into the action up to my neck and viscerally experiencing everything that is on the screen. That did not happen for me during this movie.

Granted, the film is ambitious and does succeed in bringing a very different point of view of WWII to Americans. But ultimately, I found "Iwo Jima" to be uninvolving, though it worked VERY hard to manipulate me to feel for its characters. In a war movie where action takes second place to the relationships amongst the characters, I should have been much more involved with their outcomes. I wasn't. In addition, much was telegraphed loud and clear so very little came as a surprise.

I didn't dislike "Letters from Iwo Jima." It just did not meet my expectations of a Clint Eastwood directed movie.

The Madison Gamblers had a movie night yesterday. We watched FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS, also directed by Clint. I was very disappointed. I don't think the movie gave a clue about the grim reality of invading a defended island. Once talked to a D-Day vet, asked him what his greatest impression was. The old soldier was wry, answered, "Beyond my piss dripping down my leg, Mike? But serious, the noise. The Navy was shelling the Nazis without a stop. Air Force planes above us, really loud. Ike said, if you see a plane overhead, it will be ours. I can't even count how many there were. Any Nazi planes got through, I didn't see any. And on the landing ship, hell, there were guys, the Navy officers with bullhorns, trying to maintain order to get us organized to land. That was my biggest impression. The noise. It was really loud."

And what was the point of the flick? "War Is Hell"? Gee, Clint, thanks. Didn't know about that.

And the flag-raising guys went on a War Bond tour. Like that's evil? To my knowledge, every War Bond drive met its goals and more. The country was =solidly= behind that war. And if a drive fell short, so what? Uncle Sam can =print money!=

And another point, Ira Hayes was allegedely not treated with proper respect. A bad thing, no two ways about it. But not too important in the context of civilization, armed by science, immolating itself.

I found it a poor flick. If I'm missing points, please clue me in, gang.