Sands of Iwo Jima

A tough, demanding Marine sergeant trains recruits through the Pacific campaign, clashing with a resentful private while pushing his men toward the discipline needed to survive combat. The story follows the squad from training through the invasions of Tarawa and finally Iwo Jima. The film culminates with a recreation of the famous flag-raising atop Mount Suribachi.

Sands of Iwo Jima was released just four years after the actual battle and helped cement the flag-raising image and the archetype of the tough Marine drill instructor in American popular culture. Several real flag-raisers, including Ira Hayes, John Bradley, and Rene Gagnon, appear in the film's climax.

The central characters and plot are fictional, though the film incorporates real combat footage and the participation of actual Iwo Jima veterans in its recreated flag-raising scene.

The first American ground offensive of the Pacific war, fought over a single airfield and the sea lanes that supplied it.

Marines seized the airfield — renamed Henderson Field — and held it through months of night attacks, naval battles and disease. Japan evacuated its surviving troops in February 1943.

Directed by Allan Dwan

Cast: John Wayne, John Agar, Adele Mara, Forrest Tucker

Positioned at February-March 1945 within the Pacific 1945 phase of the war, as part of the Battle of Iwo Jima. This is entry 137 of 150 in the chronological archive.

• Iwo Jima
• John Wayne
• Marines
• flag raising
• classic war film

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  Flags of Our Fathers

  February-March 1945

• 

  Letters from Iwo Jima

  February-March 1945

• 

  In Harm's Way

  December 1941 – 1943

• 

  Wake Island

  December 8–23, 1941

• 

  Back to Bataan

  1942–1945

• 

  Guadalcanal Diary

  August 1942 – February 1943