Flags of our Fathers (2006) - full transcript

Corpsman!

Corpsman!

Corpsman!

For God sakes!
Corpsman!

Corpsman!

Corpsman!

Honey, what's wrong?

Every jackass thinks he knows
what war is.

Especially those who've never
been in one.

We like things nice and simple...

good and evil, heroes and
villains.



There's always plenty of both.

Most of the time, they are not
who we think they are.

Where is he?

Where is he?

Where... where is he?
Where is he?

Mr. Bradley?

Mr. B?
You okay?

Where is he?
Where is who?

Where is he? Where did he go?
Where... where is he?

All right.
Just stay right here, okay?

I'm gonna call an ambulance.
Just... it'll be okay.

Where is he?

Most guys I knew would never talk
about what happened over there.

Probably 'cause they're still
trying to forget about it.



They certainly didn't think
of themselves as heroes.

They died without glory.

Nobody has taken their pictures.

Only their buddies knew what
they did.

I'd tell their folks they died
for their country.

I'm not sure that was it.

Now, there were plenty other
photos taken that day...

but none anybody wanted to see.

What we see and do in war...

the cruelty, is unbelievable.

But somehow we gotta make
some sense of it.

To do that, we need a easy way
to understand truth...

and damn few words.

Film's ruined.

I don't know.
This one looks all right.

And if you can get a picture...

Now, the right picture can win
or lose a war.

You're gonna want to see this.

Look at Vietnam.

The picture of that South
Vietnamese officer...

blowing that fella's brains out
of the side of his head, whammo!

That was it.

The war was lost.

We just hung around trying to
pretend it wasn't.

Took a lot of other pictures
that day.

None of them made a difference.

Thanks.
Appreciate it.

Sounds ridiculous, but it
happened.

Country was bankrupt.

People were becoming cynical
and tired of war.

Oh, my Lord, that's Harlon!

Where?

Right there. Planting that flag,
that's your brother.

Ma, all you can see is his
behind.

And that's his. I powdered and
diapered it, I know my son.

That's him.
Go get your father.

Daddy, Ma's got a picture of
Harlon's keister in the paper.

You watch your mouth, young man.

Thank you.

One photo, almost all on its
own, turned that around.

It's on the front page of every
major paper.

Over 200 dailies and they're all
flooded with requests for prints.

I think we might have found it.

Corpsman!

Corpsman!

Corpsman!

I gotta go get him.
Oh, no, you don't.

Iggy, I gotta go.

I have a whole different theory.

He wants medical attention bad
enough, he'll come to us.

Shut up and crawl over here,
you lazy son-of-a-bitch!

As soon as that flare goes out.

Crap. Okay, well, I'll go with you.
No.

You're actually gonna leave
me, here?

I'll be right back, just shoot
some people. I gotta go.

Oh, God.

Okay, it's okay.

Don't touch them.
Don't touch them.

Get your hands out of there.
Let me do that. I'll do it, okay?

Don't look. Keep your head back.
Keep your eyes on me.

All right, look at me. I'll
get it, I'll take care of it.

We'll get this bandage on you.
We'll get you taken care of.

And we'll get you down to the
bottom, all right?

Look, you're gonna be fine.

It's okay.

I'll do that.
I'll do that.

Here, put some pressure on that.

Put your hands on top and put
some pressure on it.

Keep your head back.
Keep breathing.

Keep looking at me, all right?
Just keep looking at...

Doc.

Help me.

Help me.

All right.
Okay.

How's that feel?

It feels good.
It does? All right.

Good.
All right.

I'm gonna go get a stretcher
and get you down to the beach.

I'll be right back.
I'm all right.

Go and help someone who's hurt.

All right.
Hold on there.

Where'd he go?
Who?

The guy who was right here,
Ignatowski. Where did he go?

I think you jumped in the wrong
hole.

I didn't jump in the wrong hole!

He was right here, now where
the hell is he?

Iggy!

Iggy!

You shut up. You want every Jap
on the island shooting at us?

Iggy!

Holy shit.

They expect us to climb this?

Or something just like it.

So, where you think they're
sending us?

I think it's the desert,
Franklin.

Well, that makes no sense
at all.

Well, it's just military
psychology.

They always train you for the
desert on a volcano.

Now you're just having fun
with me.

Harlon, take your men right.

Watch for Bedouins.
Yes, sir.

What's a Bedouin?
It's a guy with a camel.

Well, Jeez Louise, maybe we
are going to the desert.

Now, you tilt that to the right...

but what if the bullet comes
from the left?

Bullets don't come from the left.
You know any left-handed Japs?

That makes about as much sense as
you showering with your shoes on.

You don't even know why you
do it, do you?

'Cause I don't tell you, mean
I don't know?

You do it 'cause Mike does it.

I'll ask him.

So, you cut hair back home?

Some.

Training to be a barber, are
you, Doc?

No, I just studied it a little.

But not in barber school?

Nope.

Gosh.
Let me guess, Hayes is winning.

Chief, I had very little to do
with Sitting Bull's death...

so maybe you could stop taking
it out on me.

Different tribe. The Pimas fought
on the side of the white man.

See, now that's smart.
That is smart.

Yeah.
Worked real good for us.

Good luck, fellas.

Hey, good night, Lindberg.

Dead bodies.
He cuts hair on dead bodies.

What?
Even I knew that.

Who's in?
Oh, I'm in. I'm in.

It must be a lot easier with
them not moving around and all.

There's that.
Yeah.

You know what I been thinking?

Well, they been telling us
we need to buddy up

and I think we'd make pretty
good buddies.

And how do you figure that?

Well, you know, in that we
have a lot in common.

So, why do you cut dead
people's hair, anyway?

I'm studying to work in
a funeral home.

You tell a lot of people that?

You actually chose the Marines
because they got the best uniform?

No sense being a hero if you
don't look like one.

Jacks.

Queens.

Shit.

Do anything on that reservation
but play cards, Chief?

All right, listen up, you sorry
bunch of leathernecks!

We practice going over the
side tomorrow...

which means we ain't long for
this piece of rock.

All right!

One more thing, any man who
doesn't have his masturbation...

papers in order...

better get them signed by tomorrow
night, or he ain't going overseas.

I got mine, already.
Oh, yeah. I'm square.

Wait. Why am I just hearing
about this?

That's horseshit, Franklin.

I don't have to repeat everything
twice for you.

No, I didn't hear nothing about
no masturbating papers.

Heard they were running short.

You know, nobody tells me nothing.
That's real nice, guys.

All right, get your ass over to
the officer in charge of records.

Maybe he got some more left.

Leave your smokes.
I'll play for you.

Thanks, Mike.

Listen, he calls you an idiot,
you take it like a man, okay?

Just do not leave without
signing them.

I appreciate it, Sergeant.
You got it.

What the hell happened to your
hair, Rene?

Look like a goddamn corpse.

Three points of contact on
that rope at all times.

Next four.
Over the side.

Let's go.
Keep moving.

Next four, over the side.

Just keep your eye on the guy
below you.

That's all you gotta look at.

Watch me, Doc, just watch me.

Keep three points of contact
on the rope at all times.

You see?
No big thing.

Just one step at a time and keep
your hands on the vertical rope.

Remember, once you're in the boat
move away from the rope.

Just make sure you keep three
points of contact on the rope.

I got him!

All right, get that man out
of the water.

Give me a hand.

Grab his pack.

Don't worry about him, Doc.

All right, quit skylarking!
Keep it moving!

He'll be fine.

Our target, Island X...

is an ugly, smelly, dirty little
scab of rock called Iwo Jima.

It means "Sulfur Island," which
accounts for the smell.

Looks sort of like a burnt
pork chop, if you ask me.

After twenty straight days
of bombing...

you won't find a blade of grass
or a twig on it.

It wasn't that pretty, to
start with.

Captain?

Iwo's just five and-a-half miles
long, two and-a-half wide.

There's a lump down at the bottom.
That's Mount Suribachi.

On the maps in front of you,
the island is white.

Not much of it.

The black dots represent known
enemy emplacements.

Coastal defense guns,
dual-mount dual-purpose guns...

covered artillery emplacements.

Rifle pits, foxholes, anti-tank
guns...

machine guns, blockhouses,
pillboxes...

and earth-covered structures.

I don't see any barracks, or any
other structures.

That's right.

And we still don't know why.

Now, this isn't just any
island to them.

This isn't Tarawa, Guam,
Tinian, or Saipan.

This is Japanese soil,
sacred ground.

Twelve thousand Japanese defenders
in eight square miles.

They will not leave politely,
gentlemen.

It's up to us to convince them.

The 28th will land here at
Green Beach.

The 8th Ammo Company will
land here to re-supply.

The Suribachi's guns are the
biggest problem.

They can hit any point on
the island.

We're sitting ducks until we
take them out.

That's our job.

We cut across the island, right
at the base, slit its throat...

lop off its head.

And we take that mountain.

We take that mountain, we take
their big guns.

We take their eyes.

Okay, I'm heading in.
Follow me.

Let's put a good show on
for the Marines.

Close it up.
Take it right down to the deck.

Yeah, boys!

Man overboard, portside!

See him?

Throw me a line!

He's right there.

Where is he?
Watch out, watch out, watch out.

Hawaii's that way!

Just keep paddling, Mac, we'll
catch you on the way back!

Hold on, they're gonna lower
a raft!

They're not gonna stop.

What?

None of them are.
They can't.

So much for "No man left behind."

Sir.
Come on in.

Look, I've had to make a few
other changes.

I'm promoting you to platoon
sergeant.

Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.
You bet.

Trouble is, I already told my
men I'd see them through this.

That your James Cagney
impersonation?

'Cause I've heard better.

Well, I'll keep practicing, then.

Look, this isn't your first
time through this.

You don't need to prove anything.
No, sir.

You're not the best sergeant
I've ever had...

you're just the best one that's
still walking.

Block's a good man.
Yes, sir, he is.

The men know him, he can step
right in.

You know, I have actually
thought this through.

Platoon sergeant puts you further
away from the bullets.

I already gave them my word, sir.

I told them I'd bring them all
home to their mothers...

which means I already lied to half
of them. Can't lie to the rest.

How are your men?
They'll do fine.

Except maybe Gagnon.

Our own Tyrone Power?

Yes, sir. He's a good man, just
might be better use...

further back from the lines.

I'll use him as a runner.

All right.
Thank you, sir.

Now get out of here.

Hear the good news, Doc? We're
going in with the first waves.

Hey, you do that again, I'll
take your head off!

Fucking dominoes.

Iggy, have you ever heard news
you considered to be bad?

The first ones off the ship, Doc.

Means we don't go over the
side of the ship.

We hop on a tractor, they drive
us right there.

Oh, shit, that is good news.

You see?
What'd I tell you?

What's going on?

Look at that.

We're killing them!

We're killing them, Doc.

I was promised ten days of
shelling.

You're giving me three...

and say that's the best you
can do?

I don't give a shit! My men hit
that beach with less than ten...

and I'll be taking them home
to their mamas in buckets!

Yeah, I know exactly why.

Because every Navy man with
a scrambled egg on his chest...

wants to offload us here and
sail to Japan...

so they can be there for the
big finish...

tell their kids they captured
the Emperor all by themselves.

Well, you aren't going to Japan...

unless we take this piece of
shit island!

These little pricks are dug in!

Okay, appreciate that, Jim.

Three days is a fucking beautiful
thing.

Sharpen your knife, or bayonet?

I'm okay.

Sharpen your knife or bayonet?

Jesus, Iggy, just leave me
alone, all right?

How about you guys? Knife?
Bayonet? Kick in the ass?

How about you, Doc?
Sharpen your knife?

You sharpened it three times,
already.

Well, then I better make sure
I didn't nick it.

Good man, Doc.

Hey, Doc.
Yeah.

When we land, try not to wave
this kit around too much.

They got sharpshooters that
are trained to look for them.

And they know that if they
take out a corpsman...

another dozen Marines will die
unattended. All right?

Okay, Mike.

Yeah, right there.

Close the damn door.
For God's sake.

Yeah, like that's gonna help.

That your girlfriend, Chief?

Bet she's a pretty damn
good-looking squaw.

Bet you're missing her, and
that little wigwam of yours.

Welcome, all Marines off
Iwo Jima.

We have a long-time wait...

It's what they do to prisoners...

at least the lucky ones.
Jesus.

If I were you, cowpokes...

I wouldn't think about waving
a white bandanna.

Poor Marines, so far from home
for no good reason.

Think of your girls back home,
waiting for you.

But a girl cannot stay home
every night.

So, who do you think they're
with, tonight?

And will she let him kiss her?

And will he comfort her at
your funeral?

This sweet music is to make you
think of your girls back home...

who are missing you.

This is all, for now.
I'll see you tomorrow night.

Gunners!

Move, let's go!
Let's go, get up on the berm!

Gunners!

We're clear!

Get up the berm!

Baker Company, move out!

Seen Second Platoon?
I don't see them.

First Squad, move it out!

God, this place reeks.

Go, go, go!
Move out!

Go, go, go, go! Go, go! Go!
Go, go! Drop your packs! Go!

All clear!

Jesus, you needed some exercise?
He got lost.

A hundred landing craft heading
for one beach...

and this guy gets lost.

Now I'm glad we did.
Jesus, what a mess.

Any theories why they ain't
shooting?

It's getting on my nerves.

Maybe they're all dead.

What do you think, Doc?
You think they're all dead?

Mike, take six men and bring
that gun onto the beach.

Second Platoon, let's move out!
Stay down. Come on.

Move! Move!

Get down!
Take cover!

Move out!

Cover fire!
Pour it on!

Ray, shift your fire to the
right, now!

Corpsman!

I'm gonna sling your arm...

and then I'll give you a shot
for the pain!

Move, move!
Off the beach!

Take cover!

You got a girl back home, Marine?

We're gonna make sure she sees
you, all right?

I need pressure on this wound!

Where's the fire coming from?

Where are they?

Look for a flash, shoot at it!

Let's go, let...

Twelve o'clock, take out
the bunker!

You're over!

Third Squad, forward!
Move!

Where are they, sir?

We got ten o'clock!
Ten o'clock, pillbox! Sergeant!

Sergeant!
What?

I think I can clear that out.

All right, you go.
Here.

Take these.
Check your weapon.

Yeah?
Go! Cover!

Cover him!

Cover, cover!

Son-of-a-bitch.

Let's go!
Go!

Move it out!

Go, go, go!

Down, down, down!

It's clear.

Good work.

I thought you said it was clear!

It was!

Shit, I guess they're not in
there firing at us, then.

Lindberg!

Yeah!

Light it up!

I'll cover you, Ice!

Don't cover shit! There's already
enough people shooting!

One bullet and this thing goes
up like a Roman candle!

Go!
Shift fire!

Shift your fire!

Go, go!
Shift your fire!

Shift your fire!

Go!
Move it out!

Hit the deck!
Stay down! Wait for support!

Is this a bad battle or what?

It's a fucking slaughter.

Christ Jesus!

Get a machine gun team set up
over here, now!

Thank God!
Tanks!

Runner!
Get those tanks up here!

Oh, shit.

Get down!

Corporal, watch your left flank!

Let's go without them!
Move out! Move out!

Iggy, you gotta lift your side,
he's gonna roll off.

Got it, Doc!

Incoming!

Move, move, move, move!

Keep moving!

Get that LVT up on the beach!

Keep moving!

You're next, pal, we're getting
you out of here.

Move it!

Great news.

Maybe if you live up on Camp
Tarawa...

'cause that's where we're
headed.

Not you and me.

Captain Severance asked me who
else was in that picture...

and Christ if I could remember...

but it was Mike and Doc, and
Franklin and me, and Hank Hansen...

but I just remembered, you were
there, too.

I wasn't there.

'Course you were.

Neither was Hank.
He raised the first flag.

It was Harlon Block that raised
that one.

Shit.
I told them it was Hank.

You weren't there, Mr. Smart Ass,
how'd you know it was Harlon?

You tell them it was me?
No. Like I said, I just remembered.

Good, keep your mouth shut.

They know there was somebody else,
you can see it in the picture.

Then pick someone dead.

They don't want somebody dead,
you dumb redskin...

they want to ship us back to
the States.

What did I tell you?

I wasn't there.

You hear?
All right.

Just settle down.

I'm not going anywhere.
You're not going anywhere.

Who the hell says?

This is horseshit.

You wounded, son?

No, sir.

Did you take out a nest of Japs
butt-naked, with your bare hands?

'Cause if I'm gonna give up
my seat to a hero...

he better have a good goddamn
story to tell.

No, sir.

Then enjoy it, 'cause they'll
forget you before Christmas.

The sixth man, you got a name?

Sorry, still don't remember.

It's a damn shame, 'cause I
promised the Major...

you'd know who it was.

Fact, you not knowing, throws
a doubt on you...

being one of the flag-raisers
yourself.

Since no one wants to be embarrassed,
the moment you land...

they'll turn you around, ship
you off to Okinawa...

in time to meet your buddies
on the beach.

So, why don't you stop screwing
with me? Give me a damn name.

Gangway! Gangway!
Let's go, let's go! Gangway!

Where the hell is that son
of a bitch? Hayes! Hayes?

Hayes, get your red ass over
here!

Make me look like I don't know
what my own men are doing...

with a flag the size of my
mother's house?

God damn it, Ira, you shouldn't
have lied to me.

You made me look like a complete
asshole.

We're gonna miss you around here.
Good luck.

Now your name's in the paper,
too.

Just heard your doctor say we're
postponing your operation.

You're being shipped back
to the mainland.

Everybody who saw that picture
thought planting the flag...

meant victory.

That's all they wanted to know.
Victory.

Within a few weeks of that
picture being taken...

half the men in it were dead.

Mrs. Hansen! Mrs. Hansen!
Did you know Hank was a hero?

Are you proud of him, Mrs. Hansen?
What was he like as a boy?

Look this way, please, ma'am.

What do you have to say about
your son?

But somehow being a part of it
meant something.

Looking at it, you could believe
their sacrifice was not a waste.

Yeah, I might have thought
that was Harlon, too.

It is.

Belle, their names are right
here. It's not him.

And he would be alive and sitting
right here if it wasn't for you.

You think about that when you
look at his picture, Ed.

And I need to rush home and
change...

because there's the Governor's
banquet...

and then there's the parade.

Imagine, the Governor is coming
here to meet us.

Now, I'm wearing blue so, if...
We interrupt this program...

Are you going to change?
to bring you a special news bulletin...

from CBS World News.

A press association has just
announced...

that President Roosevelt
is dead.

The President died of a
cerebral hemorrhage.

All we know so far, is that
the President died...

at Warm Springs, in Georgia.

Further updates, every hour.

Temperatures will remain the
same today...

in the mid-30s to low 40s
with clear skies.

Hello?

Yes.
Of course.

No, we understand.
It wouldn't be right.

Thank you.

Here he is, gentlemen.
Senator Boyd, Senator Robson.

Senator Haddigan. I'd like you
to meet...

Private First Class, Ira Hayes.

Damn good to meet you.

Proud to make your acquaintance,
son.

Sorry?

That's Pima Indian talk, boy.
Don't you know your own language?

Took forever to memorize the
damn gibberish.

Sorry, I've been away from the
reservation too long, Senator.

Doc.
Ira.

And now, the heroes of Iwo Jima!

That's you.
Go, go, go, go. Go.

Please welcome...

Navy Corpsman John "Doc" Bradley...

Private First Class Ira Hayes...

Private First Class Rene Gagnon!

Holy shit.

Come in, come in, come in.
Bud Gurber, Treasury Department.

Rene Gagnon.
Bud Gurber.

You showing the boys the sights?
We saw a hell of a ball game.

That's great.
The bar's there, help yourself.

I got some briefing sheets
for you, here...

just some simple things we want
you to say.

Mostly, "Buy bonds".
Can't say that too often.

Itineraries, those are changing
every couple minutes.

Everybody wants to meet you guys!

I got women sending up envelopes
with stockings in them...

notes written in lipstick.

We won't mention that to the
press, am I right?

Have a drink, for Christ's sake.

My God, what you boys must
have seen over there...

I've been watching the newsreels.

Jesus Christ, that was a fight
and a half.

So, we got a hell of a lot of
money to raise...

and not a lot of time.

White House tomorrow, then we
trot you over...

to shake hands with a couple
of hundred Congressmen...

who won't pull a penny out
of their pockets.

Politicians and actors.

You put them in a restaurant
together...

they'd die of old age before
picking up the check.

Then New York City, Times
Square...

dinners with various hoi polloi,
then Chicago...

Who are these "Gold Star Mothers"?

That's what we're calling the
mothers of the dead flag-raisers.

You present each mother with
a flag...

they say a few words, people
will shit money.

It'll be so moving.

But this says Hank Hansen's mom.

Lovely woman. She knows how
close you and her son were.

He wrote home about you.

She is very, very much looking
forward to meeting you.

Hank wasn't in the picture.

Sorry?

Hank didn't raise that flag.

He raised the other one, the
real flag.

The what? The real... the real
flag? There's a real flag?

Yeah, ours was the replacement
flag.

We put it up, when they took
the other one down.

Am I the only one getting
a headache, here?

You know about this?

It was after it was already
in the papers.

The mothers had already been
told, but...

That's it, that's beautiful.
Yeah, that's beautiful.

Yeah, why tell me?

I'm only the guy that has to
explain it...

to 150 million Americans.
Who is in the goddamn picture?

Are any of you guys in the
goddamn picture?

Yeah, we're in the goddamn
picture.

Six guys raising a flag over
Iwo Jima. Victory is ours.

You're three of them, right?

This was the fifth day, sir.
The battle went on for 35 more.

Well, what'd you do, raise a
goddamn flag...

every time you stopped for lunch?

Can I hit this guy?

You know what, I don't give a
shit, you're in the picture...

you raised the flag, that's the
story we're selling, boys.

Are you deaf? Hank isn't in the
picture. Harlon is in the picture.

Well, who the fuck is Harlon?

Harlon Block. That's whose
mother should be here...

if anyone's should be.

You know, I think this whole damn
thing is a farce, you ask me.

You know what they're calling
this bond drive?

The Mighty Seventh.
They might've called it the...

"We're Flat Fucking Broke And
Can't Even Afford Bullets...

So, We're Begging For Your
Pennies" bond drive...

but it didn't have quite the
ring.

They could've called it that,
though...

because the last four bond
drives came up so short...

we just printed money, instead.

Ask any smart boy on Wall Street,
he'll tell you...

our dollar is next to worthless.
We borrowed so much.

And nobody is lending any more.
Ships aren't being built.

Tanks aren't being built.

Machine guns, bazookas, hand
grenades, zip.

You think this is a farce?

You want to go back to your
buddies?

Well, stuff some rocks in your
pockets...

before you get on the plane...

because that's all we got left
to throw at the Japanese.

And don't be surprised...

if your plane doesn't make it
off the runway...

because the fuel dumps are empty.

And our good friends, the Arabs,
are only taking bullion.

If we don't raise $14 billion...

and that's million with a "B..."

this war is over by the end
of the month.

We make a deal with the Japanese,
we give whatever they want...

and we come home, because
you've seen them fight...

and they sure as shit ain't
giving up.

$14 billion.

The last three drives didn't
make that much, altogether.

People on the street corners...

they looked at this picture,
and they took hope.

Don't ask me why, I think it's
a crappy picture myself.

You can't even see your faces.

But it said we can win this war,
are winning this war...

we just need you to dig a
little deeper.

They want to give us that money.

No, they want to give it to you.

But you, you don't want to ask
for it.

You don't want to give them
hope.

You want to explain about this
person and that flag.

Well, that's your choice.

Because if we admit we made
a mistake...

that's all anybody'll talk
about...

and that will be that.

Gentlemen.

Mr. President, here they are.

Well, hello. Good to see you.
Mr. President.

Darn good to see you, boys.

Heard you had a hell of a fight
on your hands, out there...

hell of a fight.
Yes, sir.

Ira, you're off the Gila River
Reservation in Arizona...

am I right?
Yes, Mr. President.

Being an Indian, you are a truer
American, than any of us.

Bet your people are proud to
see you wear that uniform.

Very proud, sir.

They should be.

Well, I want to thank you for
coming all this way...

to Washington, to help us out.

You fought for a mountain in
the Pacific...

now we need you to fight for
a mountain of cash.

And I don't expect you'll let
us down.

No, sir.
No sir.

Good.
Go get it.

That's the end of this ceremony.

Let's take a look at this famous
photo, over here...

to see if I can pick you out.

My gosh.
There you are.

Boys. Boys, this one's on me.
To those who can't be with us.

Yes, sir.

Excuse me, Mr. Gagnon.
May we have your autograph?

I suppose.

And your name is?

I don't know about you, but
I get the impression...

I'm drinking with the wrong
heroes.

You're such a hero. I feel honored
to be in your presence.

That's just not true.

That's professional work.
Here, to professionals.

Here they are. You're the guys
in the photograph, right?

I heard you were on the train.

Let me shake your hands,
John Tennack.

John Bradley.

These boys are with me, Harvard
and Yale types, didn't fight a lick.

Pappies all rich sons-of-bitches.

Boys, shake hands with some
real war heroes.

Excuse me for one moment.

You can buy them a drink
while you're at it.

That's right. Drinks for these
men all the way around.

Hey, you're the other one, aren't
you?

John Tennack, Tennack Homes.

Rene Gagnon.
Pleased to meet you.

Have a drink, come on.
And here's my card.

Listen to me, Rene...

when you get finished being
famous you come see me...

because if you can sell bonds,
you can sell homes.

Now, they're not gonna build
homes, anymore...

they're gonna deliver them.

You heard of pre-fab homes?
No, sir.

Well, you will.

And you hang on to that card
and you come see me, you hear?

All right?
Certainly will.

All right.

This sure takes it, huh, Doc?

If Mike and the guys could see us.

Yeah, they'd hardly believe it,
would they?

Harlon!

Franklin!

Can you imagine Franklin...

on this train...

eating at the dining car, with
all the silver?

We shouldn't be here, Doc.

There's gonna be a Hallelujah Day.

When the boys have all come
home to stay.

And a million bands begin
to play.

We'll be dancing the Victory
Polka.

And when we've lit the torch
of liberty...

in each blacked-out land
across the sea...

Ira! Hey, Ira! We heard the
picture was posed!

What?

We heard you posed the picture!

Hey, Doc!

We're bigger than life, Doc!

And we'll heave a mighty sigh...

When each gal can kiss the boy
she kissed goodbye...

And they'll come marching down
Fifth Avenue...

The United Nations in review...

When this lovely dream has
all come true...

we'll be dancing the Victory
Polka.

Good job.

Thank you.

Thank you, girls!

And now...

here are the men you've been
waiting to meet...

the men in white.

Right behind me here, the heroes
of Iwo Jima...

Private First Class Rene Gagnon...

Private First Class Ira Hayes...

and Navy Corpsman John "Doc"
Bradley!

Thank you.

It's good of you people to come
out tonight...

in support of the war effort.

We really need you to buy bonds,
that's for sure.

'Cause we can't win the war
without your help.

As far as us being the heroes
of Iwo Jima...

that's just not the case.

We really didn't do much at all.

Especially him.

Especially me.

I was just a runner.
That's it.

We put up a flag.

The pole we attached it to was
heavy, so it took a number of us.

We had our picture taken doing it.

The real heroes are dead on
that island.

And we'd appreciate it, if you
bought bonds in honor of them.

Thank you.

Jump on any grenades, Ira?

Take out any machine gun nests
I missed?

At least I fired my weapon.

All right, knock it off.

You hit anything or were you
too drunk then, too?

What?

Guys!
Come on!

Stop it.
Knock it off.

The tall man with the high hat
will be coming down your way...

Get your savings out when you
hear him shout...

"Any bonds today?"

Any bonds today?

Bonds of freedom, that's what
I'm selling...

Any bonds today?

Rene, right here.
Sit between these two boys.

Here comes the freedom man...

asking you to buy a share
of freedom today...

for us and they need our help.

And, if you think about it,
I think you'll realize

that buying more bonds is not
just the right thing to do...

but the only thing to do.

Yes, this war has gone on
too long.

We have given too many lives.
And its cost...

Chocolate or strawberry, sir?
Strawberry.

has been far too high.

But if we waver now...

if we don't dig deep and give
more than we think we can...

then those sacrifices would
be wasted...

Chocolate or strawberry, sir?

and those lives lost in vain.

Let's move!
Go, go!

Easy Six, this is Easy Two, over.
Where the hell are our tanks?

Stuck in the sand. Captain says
you're to go without them.

Christ.

That's real good work you're
doing there, Rene.

All right, prepare to move out.
Pass the word.

Second Platoon!
Move! Move! Move!

All right, Second Platoon, on
your feet! Let's move out!

Jackass.

Let's move out!

Go, go!
Move, move, move!

Corpsman!

Corpsman!

Second Platoon, move out!

Doc!

Doc, get out of there!

Corpsman!

Doc!

Doc, get the hell out of there!

May I have your attention,
please.

Train number 48 with service
from New York City, Boston...

Rochester, New York...

Toledo, Ohio, and South Bend,
Indiana is now arriving on Track 7.

Train number 48 now arriving
on Track number 7.

Okay, let's go.
Let's go.

Come on, boys.
Let's go.

Watch your step, ma'am.
Thank you very much.

Ladies and gentlemen, may I
present the heroes of Iwo Jima.

Navy Corpsman, John "Doc" Bradley.

Private First Class, Ira Hayes.

And Private First Class, Rene
Gagnon.

Rene!
That's my boyfriend!

Who the hell is that?

I don't know.

Rene, is that your girl?
Hey, what do they call you?

How about a photo?
Hey, look at that!

What's your name, doll?
What's your name?

Hey, she's a beauty.

Let's go find a saloon.

Smile, boys.
Give them their money's worth.

Hey, Doc, how's the tour
going for you?

Thank you.

Where exactly are you staying?

I'm not sure yet.
Just forget about that.

Senator, I'd like you to meet
Corpsman John Bradley.

Doc, right?
Yes, sir.

Nice to meet you, Senator.
Good to meet you, young man.

Now, we appreciate everything
you've done...

and everything you're doing.

Thank you, sir.
Quite all right.

This is Captain White.

Colonel Johns.
We're proud of you, Corpsman.

And then Colonel McCourtney.

Major General Green.
Nice to meet you.

Senator, this is Private First
Class Ira Hayes.

Of course!

Now I hear you used a tomahawk on
those Japs. Is that true, Chief?

No, sir.

Well, tell them you did, makes
a better story, huh?

Attaboy.
This is Captain Green.

John?

Madeline Evelley. I recognize
you from all the photographs.

I'm Hank's mom.

It's so nice to meet you, ma'am.
Hank was always talking about you.

This is PFC Rene Gagnon.

Pleasure to meet you, son.
Thanks for everything.

My pleasure.
Not at all.

Ira, I'd like you to meet
Mrs. Strank, Mike's mom.

It's all right.

When I got the telegram, I...

I don't know what I'm trying
to say, here.

Knowing he was with you that day
and seeing him in that photograph,

I don't know why it makes me
feel better, but it does.

It's so silly, isn't it?
No, it's not.

How are you, son?
Thank you very much.

We're the largest furniture
wholesaler in Illinois.

Thank you.
Excuse me.

I'll make sure he calls.
Well, thank you. Thank you.

Are you Rene?

Yes, ma'am.

I'm Franklin's mother.

It's an honor to meet you, ma'am.

I'm Pauline, Rene's girlfriend.

Would you mind?

Paper said that's Hank...

and I honestly can't tell.

It's horrible of a mother not
to know her own son, isn't it?

But that's him, isn't it?

Well, to be honest, ma'am,
it happened so quick...

and with everything that
was going on...

it's kind of hard to remember
who was where.

But...

Yeah, I think... I think
that's where he was.

That's Hank.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

I'm so sorry for your loss.

Excuse us.

Take him outside.

I'm Pauline.

Very nice to meet you.
Hi, nice to meet you.

He was the best Marine
I ever knew.

Thank you.

You okay, Chief?
Oh, Christ!

I'm okay.

Yeah, you look it. You're gonna
screw this up, aren't you?

You're gonna screw it up for
all of us.

I've got him.

Get some sleep, Ira.

Mike?
Yeah?

You see this?
What?

Mike!
Oh, shit, go!

He's killing me!

Hey, Doc, you think they got
them all?

What?

Well, they're not shooting at us.
Maybe we killed them all.

Or, they ran off in the night
or something.

Or they're waiting for us
to start climbing.

Third Platoon! Grab your gear,
we're going up the hill.

Just us?
Yeah, just us, Igg.

All right, Third Platoon, move!

Can I tag along?

Yeah, you can lead the way, if
you want.

Get a good shot of my face.

It's your ass I'm gonna make
famous, Hank.

Hey, that'll work for me, too.

Lieutenant...

if you make it to the top,
put this up.

Yes, sir.

Don't worry, Iggy. They never
shoot at the first patrol.

They don't?
No.

They want us to go up to the
top, signal to the others...

that it's okay...

then shoot everybody else as
they come up the mountain.

Really?
Yeah.

Unless of course they want to
make an example of us...

and discourage all the others.

I think you're full of crap,
you know that, Hank?

Really?

Jesus.

Thank God that ain't us.

Told you.

Boots, spread them out and
put them on a line.

Set up a perimeter!
First Squad!

Hank? Find me a pole.
Yeah.

Let's put this flag up.

Watch it.

Right over here.

Right here. That's good. That's
good. Right here, right here.

Got that end?
Hold that steady.

Lindberg.

Hey, who's got rope?
Right here.

Give me something.
Yeah, good.

That work?

Do it, fellas.

Keep it coming.

USMC! USMC!

Shit, look at that!

Jeez, look at that.

Get down!
Take cover!

Cover with that .30!
Watch it!

Twenty yards down, Hank!
You see them?

I got about twenty yards, left side.
Lindberg, get the flamethrower!

Boots, you see them?
Cover right!

About twenty yards down! Duck one!
You see them?

Keep the cover on!

Second Squad, you see them?

Get me some grenades!

I see them!

You see them?

Right flank, over to the right!

Cover me, I'm going down!

Careful, Iggy.

Easy.

All clear!

Okay, guys, who wants to
be famous?

Yes, sir.
Right away, sir.

God damn it. Strank!
Sir?

They want a phone line run up
to the top of the mountain.

Let me guess, they picked us.

Second Platoon, let's go.
Get some exercise.

Let's go!
Get off your ass.

Oh, shit!

Hope it still works, 'cause
you're not getting mine!

Get Forrestal!
All right, then.

I don't know whose idea it was,
Mr. Secretary.

Well, it was goddamn brilliant.
I want that flag, Holland.

Mark my words, raising that
son-of-a-bitch...

means a Marine Corps for the
next 500 years.

I want that flag.

Yes, sir. I'll make sure
no one touches it.

You can count on me.

Fuck that. That flag belongs
to the men in this battalion.

That son-of-a-bitch thinks that
our men died taking this ground...

so we could hand over our flag
to some politician...

to pin to his wall?
He's out of his goddamn mind!

Get me that flag, and find
another one to replace it.

You've gotta be shitting me.

Gagnon!

Get your ass over here.

Hey. Hi, fellas.
How's it going?

Missed a beautiful shot, Joe.

It's that kind of day.

Hey, Mike.
Hell of a view, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant!

Captain says he wants that flag.

He wants this flag?

Yes, sir.

We just put the damn thing up.
Yes, sir.

Some kind of flag shortage?

He wants you to put this
one up, instead.

Hey, Mike.

Do me a favor and put this up,
will you?

Yes, sir.

All right, let's find a pole.

Take the flag down, boys.

Captain's orders.

You heard him, let's do it.

There you go.

Lordy, she's a heavy one.

All right, hang on.
Put this on.

One hell of a view, huh?

Good view from up here.
Yes, I'd say so myself.

All right.

Not in your way here, am I, Joe?
Nah, I'm fine, thanks.

Hey, Doc, you wanna give us
a hand, here?

Oh, Jesus, Bill, here she goes.

Ready?
Ready?

Let's go.

You get it?

I don't know. I wish I could've
seen their faces.

Nobody even noticed that
second flag going up.

Everybody saw that damn picture...

and made up their own story
about it.

But your dad and the others
knew what they had done...

and what they had not done.

All your friends dying...

it's hard not to be called a hero
for saving somebody's life.

But for putting up a pole?

You gotta be kidding.

Hey! It took a lot of talented
folks a long time...

to make that thing.

Now, just wait till tonight when
it's lit properly...

and there's thousands of cheering
people in the stands.

It's gonna look a lot better.

So, stadium lights come down...

spotlight comes up and you
get your cue.

You charge up this thing with the
flag, you plant it at the top.

You smile, you wave.
You know the drill.

You want us to plant the flag
on a pile of papier-mache.

Hey, that's show biz.

And try and stand how you stood
the first time you planted it.

Just, you know, pretend the
other three guys are with you.

The dead guys.

Yeah.
Yeah.

Okay, not a problem.

Good.

But where do we imagine Hank
is standing?

Sorry?

Well, seeing that he wasn't
there...

it'll be kind of hard for us
to leave a space for him.

Oh, I think you know exactly
where he was.

You pointed him out to his
mother.

This is bullshit.

I planted that damn thing once,
and I'm not doing it again.

Hayes!
Oh, for Christ's sake.

Hayes. Hayes, get your ass back
here, or you're going on report.

Hayes!

You wanna do your damn job?

Let go of me!
Let go of me!

Come on!

He's with me!

Hey, he's with me!

Back off!
Sri? Sir, he's with me.

Okay?
He's with me.

Ira, put the goddamn chair down!

Put the chair down, son!
Put the chair down, Ira!

Tell them drop their sticks!

Ira, they're cops, they're
supposed to have nightsticks.

You're not supposed to be in
the street swinging a chair.

Calm down, son!
Sir, turn around, please.

That poster right there?
The one on the end, that's him.

That's him?
Yes, sir. You read the papers?

Christ.

We got another fucking hero.
Get him out of here.

Can you do that?
Yes, sir.

Put the goddamn chair down.
And let's go.

Did you start this?

He didn't serve me!

I don't make the rules.
We don't serve Indians.

He needs to go sleep it off.

Soldier Field.

You hear that?

What the hell is that?

I can't figure it out.

Keep an eye out.

It sounds like it's coming
from up there.

They're using grenades.

They're killing themselves.

Ira, let's go.

Come on.

Let's go, Ira.
Come on.

Thank God. Jesus.
Look at you, Chief.

You found him.

Holy shit. You would have
to pick today.

Vandegrift is here with enough
brass to start a fucking band.

Come on, let's go.
Can you walk?

Yes, sir.
By yourself?

All right, look. I don't care
if you have to carry him...

get him to the top, plant that
flag, and don't fucking fall off.

Get him in his stuff.

I'll stall these guys for as
long as I can. Hurry up.

Jesus Christ.

And now, the heroes of Iwo Jima!

Cover!

Harlon!

Harlon! Get your fire team
up in that position!

O'Hare!

First Fire Team!

Work around!

BAR, you, on the side of the ridge!

Covering fire boys, go, go, go!

Jackson, work your team around
to the left!

Cover!

Left flank! Left flank!

Franklin, Gust, go check it out!

Hustle up, boys!

We got them!

Clear!

One hell of an experience.

Move out!

Cease fire! They're my men!
You're targeting our men!

You're targeting our...

Get me another radio!

Sergeant?
Sergeant!

Mike!

Mike, Mike, Mike.

Mike?
Mike.

Hey, where's Doc?

Corpsman!

Oh, shit.

How's his breathing?
Harlon, move, buddy.

Hey, Mike.
Mike, Mike, can you hear us?

It's okay.

It's okay.

Come on, Mike.

Mike?
Mike, can you hear us?

All right, let's go!

Move out!

I'm gonna get a stretcher.

Let's take him down, move him
off the beach.

Ladies and gentlemen, the
heroes of Iwo Jima!

Corpsman!

Hank!

Hank!

Doc, they killed me.

Harlon!

Doc...

they killed me.

Come on, Harlon.
Harlon, stay with me.

Franklin!

I'm fine, Ira.

Corpsman!

Corpsman!

Where'd he go?
Who?

The guy who was right here,
Ignatowski. Where did he go?

I think you jumped in the wrong
hole.

I didn't jump in the wrong hole!

He was right here, now where
the hell is he?

Iggy!

Iggy!

You shut up. You want every Jap
on the island shooting at us?

Iggy!

Does it open?

Iggy!

Iggy!

Iggy, are you down there?

Iggy!

Can't tell who it is, but he's
one of ours.

I had to go outside to throw up.

Look what they did to the
poor son-of-a-bitch.

You okay, Chief?

Just let it go.

If that doesn't pry open their
wallets, nothing will.

Jesus Christ, he's drunk.

Goddamn Indians.

Come on, Chief.
Let's get you home.

That's not what I hear.
I called around, I'm not stupid.

He's been drunk since he
started this damn tour...

making a spectacle of himself.

Just about choked that poor woman
at the reception, blubbering.

Jesus Christ, you're supposed
to be watching these men.

Yes, sir.

Well, he's making us look
like regular asses.

Well, with all due respect, sir...

he never wanted to come on this
trip, in the first place.

We had to pull him kicking
and screaming, off that boat.

He wants to be with his unit.

What unit?
They're all fucking dead.

This is how he honors those
men?

By drinking and throwing up...

You know what? He wants it,
great, we'll send him back.

Get him packed and on a train,
today.

He's an embarrassment to the
uniform.

Yes, sir.

I'll do it.

Yeah, no, that's... that's good.
That's what I want.

I know it's a good thing...

raising the money and that,
'cause we need it.

But...

I can't take them calling me
a hero.

All I did was try not to get
shot.

Some of the things I saw done...

things I did...

they weren't things to be
proud of, you know?

Mike...

Mike was a hero.

You ever meet him?

No.

Best Marine I ever met.

You know, Chief, I think if Mike
was sitting here instead of you...

he'd be saying the same thing
about himself...

not being a hero.

Maybe.

He was a good guy.

But I think that he would
be ashamed of me...

seeing me the way I am.

Think I could see my ma before
they ship me off?

Think they'd do that?
See my ma?

I'm sorry, Ira.

We got stories now to tell
our kids, I guess.

Keep your head down.

All aboard.

Good luck, Chief.

I think I saw him once, after
that.

It was maybe six, or seven years
after the war.

I was working as a salesman,
doing a lot of driving.

I was driving west across Texas.

I was just trying to get where
I was going so I could get home.

And I saw this guy hitchhiking
on the side of the road.

And, for a second, I thought
it might've been him.

I always regret that I didn't
stop, but I was in a hurry.

And he was an Indian.

We always told the press that
Ira insisted...

that he was going back to fight
with his unit...

which was at least partially
true, but...

that isn't what got the headlines.

We're engaged.

Excuse me a minute, darling.

Hey, Doc?
Yeah?

Got a minute?
Yeah.

I'll see you at the car.

You hear I'm getting married?
I did, Rene. That's great.

Yeah, it's something she wants.
She waited for me all this time.

She's not used to all this,
but she's a good girl.

I'm sure you'll be very happy.

So, I was wondering if you'd
be my best man.

Me?

Don't you have somebody at home,
a buddy, you'd rather ask?

Well, I didn't really make many.

The ones who didn't go, it's...

well, it's hard to even talk
to them.

You know?

Yeah, I know.

I'd be proud to.

Thank you.

I better go drag her away from
them, before she announces...

I'm gonna be president of
General Motors, or something.

All right.

Congratulations.
Thank you so much. Thank you.

Rene, you're a lucky man.

Big smile, Mrs. Gagnon!
Say cheese!

I couldn't complain because
the press loved them...

so, they wrote more articles
and people bought more bonds.

The tour went on with just
Rene and your dad.

And the true heroes are the
men...

who didn't make it home from
Iwo Jima...

the men who died at Iwo Jima
and in other campaigns.

We ask that you honor the
memory of those men...

by buying the war bonds and
helping us to win this war.

Thank you.

City after city, I thought the
damn thing'd never end.

And this rumor kept going around
that the photograph had been staged.

I remember your dad telling
them...

that he wished he'd known he
was having his picture taken...

because he would've ducked
the hell out of it.

Whose idea was it?
Who wanted to stage the thing?

Come on, it was you?

Was there truth to the rumor that
that picture was staged, Doc?

Come on! Doc?
Can you answer that?

I remember when your dad got shot.
All hell was busting loose.

People back home saw that
picture...

and thought it was over when
we took Suribachi.

We wished.

Anyways, we're pinned down.

Mortars, shells, machine guns.

Fire coming from every which
direction, right?

And we hear somebody call,
"Corpsman down."

Corpsman down!

Blood was spurting out of
his throat...

and Doc was doing everything
he could.

And the Corpsman looks up
at him...

and he knows what this means,
to be shot in the neck.

He knows he's dying, you can
see that.

But still...

in his eyes, he's pleading with
Doc to save his life.

And Doc can't.

You okay, Doc?
Yeah, I'm fine.

Yeah, you look fine.
I'm okay.

Keep down, all right?
I'm gonna go get a stretcher.

Okay.

Corpsman.
Corpsman!

For God sake, Corpsman!

Corpsman?

Corpsman.

Incoming!

Let me see.

It's not that bad. You're
gonna be okay. All right?

Just stay with me.
Look at me.

Took us a half-hour to find
your dad.

He could've bled to death.
Coming down!

Thanks.

Vets'll tell you about being
hit...

but not wanting to leave their
buddies.

Usually, they're lying.

You'll take any excuse to
get out of there.

But it happens.

You get the feeling you're
letting them down.

I could see that in your dad's
face.

He wanted to go, he'd seen
enough.

But he didn't want to leave us.

Now, he was a hell of a good
man, your dad.

Yeah.

While we were sitting there
on the beach...

we heard this great roar!
And we looked up.

That was the first of thousands
of landings on Iwo.

Look at that.
Yeah.

How about that.

I'm gonna head back, all right?

Good luck.

That island saved a lot of lives.

A lot of lives.

I don't know what else to
tell you.

After the bond tour, my dad
finally got his operation.

By the time he got home, the
war was over.

First thing he did was ask
my mom to marry him.

Ira tried to get on with his life
and put it all behind him.

Thank you for having me here,
today.

It's an honor to be in front
of such a strong people.

Because of the war...

white men will understand
Indians a lot better.

And it's going to be a better
world.

But life had other plans for him.

You're... you're him, aren't you?

You're the hero, right?

Great. All right, kids, go get
your picture taken.

Oh, that's great.
That's great.

All right, now say cheese.

Cheese!

That's great! Okay.
Hey, thanks a lot. Thanks.

Come on.
That's a hero, kids.

Hero, lift this basket, will you?
It's too heavy for me.

Rene tried to take advantage
of those offers he'd received...

on the bond tour.
Yes.

G-A-G-N-O-N.

Right. Pronounced, Rene.
Rene, yes.

Okay, I actually called last week.
Yes. Okay, yes. Mr. Gagnon.

I gave Mr. Tennack your message.
I'm sure he'll call you.

Okay.
All right.

Thank you.

But he was yesterday's hero.

He even applied for a job at
the local police station.

They said he wasn't qualified.

After working the factory with
Pauline he tried a few things...

but spent the rest of his life
as a janitor.

But Ira...

Ira!
You got a visitor.

Ira always made the news.

I could never find out why he
did it...

but one day Ira just took off.

He walked and hitched over
1,300 miles...

from Arizona to Texas.

He found Harlon Block's father
working his field.

His wife, Belle, had left him...

soon after they discovered
Harlon died.

She never forgave him for letting
her son go off to war.

And Ira told him the truth...

that it had been his son who
raised the flag with them...

his son in the photograph.

And then he just turned and
walked away.

Though the flag-raising meant
nothing to him...

he somehow knew it would mean
everything to them.

Thanks for calling.

Just as Belle knew, all along.

The press soon found out...

and called Hank's mom with the
news...

that it wasn't her son, after
all.

The last time they all saw
each other...

was at the unveiling of the
Marine Corps War Memorial.

And even though he planted the
first flag above Iwo Jima...

Hank's mother and father
weren't invited.

Ira.

It's good to see you, Ira.

Hell of a statue.

It wasn't long after that,
that they found Ira.

The papers said he died of
exposure. There was no autopsy.

It was about that same time...

when my father got in his car
early one morning...

telling my mom he had something
to do.

He drove to a town on the other
side of Wisconsin...

where Iggy's mom lived.

Ever since she heard the news
about her son...

she'd been trying to find out
how he died...

and no one would tell her.

I never found out what he
told her...

but I can pretty much guarantee
it wasn't the truth.

My mother would ask him what
was troubling him.

He would never say.

And every year, as it got close
to Memorial Day...

the reporters would start calling
asking to interview my father.

No, I'm sorry.
He's fishing in Canada.

We were always instructed
to say the same thing.

Okay.
Thanks.

When Mr. McCandless retired...

my father bought the funeral
home where he'd worked...

since coming home.

He spent the rest of his life
running the business...

and raising his family.

He never spoke about the war,
or about the flag-raising...

never told us anything.

The first time I heard any of
these stories was after he died.

Where is he?
Oh, God.

He's not here, Dad.

He died.

Who?
Who died?

Iggy.

Iggy.

Christ, poor Iggy.

I hadn't thought of him, for
years.

How do you know about Iggy?

You were calling for him, when
you collapsed.

I wasn't looking for Iggy.

I was looking for you.

I wanted to...

I wanted to tell you I'm sorry
I wasn't a better father.

Talked to you more.

I just...

I'm sorry.

Sorry?

You were the best father a man
could have.

Did I ever tell you they took
us swimming?

No, Dad.

After we planted the flag, we
came down off the mountain...

and they let us swim.

It was the funniest thing.

All this fighting...

and we were jumping around
in the water, like kids.

That's the way I remember
Iggy, now.

I finally came to the conclusion
that maybe he was right.

Maybe there's no such thing
as heroes.

Maybe there are just people
like my dad.

I finally came to understand...

why they were so uncomfortable
being called heroes.

Heroes are something we create,
something we need.

It's a way for us to understand
what is almost incomprehensible...

how people could sacrifice
so much for us.

But for my dad and these men...

the risks they took, the wounds
they suffered...

they did that for their buddies.

They may have fought for their
country...

but they died for their friends.

For the man in front, for the
man beside them.

And if we wish to truly honor
these men...

we should remember them the
way they really were...

the way my dad remembered them.

Come on, Doc!