Iwo Jima: Red Blood, Black Sand

On February 19, 1945, the Japanese island of Iwo Jima was invaded by an armada of U.S. Marines bent on securing the site in preparation for an invasion of the Japanese mainland. Although the battle was expected to last only a few days, it went on for over a month, claiming the lives of nearly 7,000 American soldiers. The Japanese army, heavily fortified in caves and tunnels, were under orders to repel the American invaders or die in the attempt (surrender was not an option). Decades later, some 25 Marine survivors recall painful memories of Iwo Jima—about the difficulty of advancing and finding cover on Iwo's abrasive volcanic ash beaches, and the relentless noise and chaos of the fighting (as one veteran puts it, survival was just a matter of luck). The iconic raising of the American flag on Mount Suribachi turned out to be a brief moment of celebration, only to be followed by more fighting and dying. In the end, the survivors learned how to make peace with their memories, even allowing for some forgiveness of their former Japanese enemies, after realizing those soldiers probably had no desire to be at Iwo Jima, either. The documentary concludes with these aging warriors reconnecting with old comrades at emotional reunions. Enhanced by rare and vivid color combat footage culled from over 40 historic reels, Iwo Jima: Red Blood, Black Sand is highly recommended. Aud: H, C, P. (S. Rees)