Iwo Jima From Combat to Comrades

Last Updated on May 3, 2022 by ellen

Marty loves movies about war and history so he was very excited to have the chance to watch Iwo Jima From Combat to Comrades from PBS. World War II is one of the wars he most enjoys learning more about, although I admit that I’m not as up on the more recent wars as I should be. 

Iwo Jima From Combat to Comrades

An unforgettable journey back to the iconic site of one of the fiercest battles of World War II, “IWO JIMA: FROM COMBAT TO COMRADES” is the powerful and moving story of the American and Japanese servicemen who came together 70 years after ferocious combat for a historic reunion in March 2015. This island battlefield is the only former combat zone in the world that sees men who once were enemies return as friends in a ceremony of peace and remembrance for the fallen of both sides.

Two film crews were used to capture the historic reunion for the program. An American unit followed three U.S. veterans — Lt. General Larry Snowden, USMC (Ret.), US Marine Hershel “Woody” Williams and Army Air Corps fighter pilot Jerry Yellin — while a Japanese crew filmed Tsuriji Akikusa, the only Japanese survivor able to make the arduous trip to Iwo Jima. Through their firsthand accounts, the film takes viewers back to 1945 when these men first encountered each other as four of the 90,000 combatants on an eight square mile island, a dot in the Pacific Ocean just 650 miles from Tokyo. Twenty-eight thousand soldiers died either defending or taking Iwo Jima. Seventy years later, men who lost so much make the emotional pilgrimage back to face the defining moment of their lives.

“IWO JIMA: FROM COMBAT TO COMRADES” is part of PBS Stories of Service, a multiplatform initiative that explores veterans’ experiences and provides a deeper understanding of our country’s military history. Stories of Service was announced in May 2014 as part of an initiative with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to share veterans’ stories, provide a deeper understanding of our nation’s military history, and increase dialogue as our nation’s veterans transition to civilian life. The initiative includes national, multi-platform content as part of Stories of Service on PBS, and funding by CPB for local station productions, national productions, and community engagement as part of Veterans Coming Home.

Iwo Jima from Combat to Comrades was really fascinating. I got to see actual footage from the war and listen to first-hand accounts of what the soldiers on both sides went through. The footage really touched me. I don’t generally watch a lot of real war footage and it made me sad to see what they went through on both sides. I did enjoy at the end when the soldiers from both sides, who are in their nineties now, were able to be friends and put this behind them.  If you enjoy historical programming, you’ll want to watch Iwo Jima from Combat to Comrades.

ellen

Ellen is a mom of a 25-year-old son and 30-year-old daughter. She is Grandma to one adorable toddler. In what little spare time she has, she loves to read, watch movies, and check out the latest toys and games.