The Sands of Iwo Jima

[ArtyScout]

 

While this movie is a great movie, I find this rather ironic considering John Wayne used his deferment twice during WWII in order to avoid serving in the military. Many movie/TV/sports personalities served with distinction and honor during the war. John Wayne never wore a uniform in the service and preferred to star in movies about war rather than serve.

Since the movies, Flying Leathernecks and The Sands of Iwo Jima, we Marines knew that he didn't serve. But he ALWAYS put the Marine Corps in good light, and he was ALWAYS FAITHFUL in his portrayal of Marines. Since then John Wayne has become a way of life, speech and recognition with the Marines. The P-38 can opener is affectionately called a 'John Wayne', and when I was going through artillery school, if the student was having trouble trying to bracket a target during a fire mission, he would try for a direct hit and just say: "I'll just John Wayne it." John Wayne did for the Marines what he did for westerns.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

[ArtyScout]

In 1948-49 President Truman and others proposed have the US Marines become part of the US Army. It seems Truman an old US Army artilleryman held a certain distain for Marines due to the publicity they received in France in WW I. There were senate hearings about litterally ending the US Marines existence. Republic pictures was a pretty small studio compared to the big ones like Fox and Warner Brothers and had little budget for this film, but... The Commandant of the Marines saw a great PR opportunity when he saw it and made just about every resource he could available to Republic Studios, that is why the film has a big budget look. Hell, half of Camp Pendleton is probalable in that movie in one scene or another. That is the REAL Surabachi flag and Hays, Gagnon and Bradley in the dcene where the flag is hand off to be raised.

 

The movie is released and turns out to be one of the top grossing films of 1949, Wayne is nominated for an Award Academy and US Marine elistments quadruple, especially the US Marine Corps reserve. Public support for the US Marines is never higher and efforts to disband the Marines are permanently squelched. Damn good thing too, because less than one year later, US Marines are some of the first in to defend the Pusan Perimeter in South Korea, those college boys reservist are called up ( most only half trained, BTW) landed at Inchon and became the heros of the Chosin Reservoir.

 

A poll was taken in the mid 1980s as to why enlisties had chosen the Marines as their service of choice. Even as late as then, over forty percent said something to the effect of "Well you see, as a kid, I saw this movie called "The Sands of Iwo Jima..."

 

"ALL RIGHT, SADDLE UP....LET'S GET BACK IN THE WAR !" .....

The Marines were so angered by President Truman's proposal to make the US Marines part of the Army, that they came up with their own version of the Marines Hymn, directed at the President. Here it is, just sing it to the tune of the official Marine Corps Hymn:

 

 

The New Marine’s Hymn

(In answer to President Truman’s letter of 5 September 50)

From the Halls of Montezuma

To the shores of Tripoli

We’ll police our God damn Navy

As long as they’re at sea.

First to fight the Army’s battles

And to win the Navy’s fights

And still our old friend Harry

Tries to louse up all our rights.

Our flag’s been flown from every ship

Since the Navy’s had its start

A Marine Detachment in their midst

Kept the fleet from falling apart.

Uncle Harry says we’re just police

And he should really know

We’ve arrested wars since we began

And dealt the final blow.

We have Honor, we have Glory

We’re the finest ever seen

But still our propaganda

Is a second rate machine.

Harry’s Army and his Navy

Never look on Heaven’s scenes

Cause they know the Angels

Are all in love

With United States Marines.

 

​Semper Fi.

 

​Manny

[patches]

And lets not forget the old C-Ration John Wayne Bar ArtyScout.

 

Me enjoying one in early May 1982 in Alaska

 

[cutiger83]

Since the movies, Flying Leathernecks and The Sands of Iwo Jima, we Marines knew that he didn't serve. But he ALWAYS put the Marine Corps in good light, and he was ALWAYS FAITHFUL in his portrayal of Marines. Since then John Wayne has become a way of life, speech and recognition with the Marines. The P-38 can opener is affectionately called a 'John Wayne', and when I was going through artillery school, if the student was having trouble trying to bracket a target during a fire mission, he would try for a direct hit and just say: "I'll just John Wayne it." John Wayne did for the Marines what he did for westerns.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

 

 

Both of those movies were made AFTER WWII. There is no doubt that his post WWII movies did a lot for recruitment AFTER WWII. I was talking about during WWII not post WWII.

 

If you want to talk about great recruiting movies, what about "Top Gun"? Recruitment for Navy pilots skyrocketed after this movie came out.

[BOLO]

John Wayne made several war movies during WW2

 

Flying Tigers (Oct 1942)

 

Reunion in France (Dec 1942)

 

The Fighting Seabees (Jan 1944)

 

Back to Bataan (Jun 1945)

 

They Were Expendable (Dec 1945)

[38Driver]

I've seen mentioned in a few Marine comments that the movie "To the Shores of Tripoli" in 1941 got folks to Join the Marines in WW2, and how once in the Marines, they realized they'd been fooled. The real deal and the movies were nothing alike!

[ArtyScout]

I've seen mentioned in a few Marine comments that the movie "To the Shores of Tripoli" in 1941 got folks to Join the Marines in WW2, and how once in the Marines, they realized they'd been fooled. The real deal and the movies were nothing alike!

 

Well I never met a recruiter that didn't "promise" (fool) a prospective recruit into joining their service. The Marine recruiting posters always sold the idea that the Marines were not going to be a rose garden. You earn that title of "Marine". You have to admit that movies paint a different picture of military life, although the closest representation of Marine Corps boot camp was in Stanley Kubrick's "Full Metal Jacket". R. Lee Ermey might've been eligible for an Academy award nomination but it wasn't much of a stretch for him. Now Lou Gossett's portrayal of GySgt Foley in "An Officer and a Gentleman" was extraordinary, and earned Gossett the award in a supporting role.

 

Semper Fi.

 

Manny

[USA.mil.history]

As historians as well as collectors I think it important to document all aspects of a subject. In regard to the recent discussion surrounding John Wayne's decision to pursue an active military role in World War II, may I present some actual facts along with some interesting speculation? The following can be verified via the Selective Service Records, National Archives and documentation.

1. Prior to WW II in 1925 Marion Michael Morrison (later to be John Wayne) applied to the US Navel Academy. He was almost accepted as he was his states (California) first alternate candidate.

2. In 1927 "Duke" Morrison was so severely injured in a body surfing accident that he lost his football scholarship to USC. Later in his professional career the young actor John Wayne performed many of his own stunts, further aggravating his injuries. He also suffered from inner ear issues and chronic ear infections incurred during two undersea films "Men Without Women" (1930) and "Reap The Wild Wind" (1941-42). He most likely was 4F anyway due to these physical limitations and this would be a devastating image for an action star.

3. In 1942 he was a father of four children and classified by Selective Service as 3-A (deferred for family dependencies). In 1944 he was reclassified as 1-A and Wayne did not contest this classification. But...Republic Pictures filed for his reclassification to 2-A (deferred in the "national interest" ie: war bonds). Existing Selective Service records show this request was not filed buy John Wayne but "by another" ( Republic's legal department.

4. There exists a letter in the Indiana State University archives written by John Wayne to his mentor John Ford requesting his assistance to enlist in Fords Office Of Strategic Services Film unit through either the Marine Corps or the Seabees. John Fords unit was often exposed to direct combat, suffering deaths and wound casualties ( including Ford himself). Ford never responded to Wayne's request.

5. In the US National Archives is John Wayne's official August 2, 1943 application to join the OSS. If I can figure out how to do it I will post a PDF image of the application.

 

Now here is where things get interesting.

6. Recently, at a charity auction of things from John Wayne's estate, a 1945 document has surfaced that is signed by non other than Major General Willam J. Donovan (MOH). The document recognizes "Brevet" John Wayne for his service as a member of the OSS. As many of you understand "brevet" is a rather archaic term for a temporary military officer assignment with certain duties and responsibilities but without the corresponding pay grade. As a World War I veteran, Donovan would be familiar with the "brevet" classification.

 

Soon there after his 1943 OSS application John Wayne left on a 1944 USO tour of the Central Pacific, not as part of a structured show presentation but as a very small group that was to "informally visit troops" in the war zone. For years there has been speculation that this USO tour was actually a cover for an information gathering mission at the request of MG William Donovan. While the OSS was very active in Europe and CBI, General MacArthur was adamant in not allowing the OSS to operate in the Central Pacific. MacArthur was obsessed with controlling any information or analysis from that area of his command. The OSS reported directly to the Whitehouse. And Donovan considered MacArthur a martinet. Since John Wayne was one of the most recognizable faces in US pop culture, it would be near impossible for him to conduct traditional undercover surveillance...except if he used the cover of John Wayne, movie star. Did Wayne conduct an intelligence gathering mission on what MacArthur was really doing for the OSS? We will never really know. Certainly John Wayne never spoke of it, but then again, why would anyone want it known that they had spied on someone who was almost revered as a national deity such as MacArthur was. Wayne was so unimpressed by the official OSS certificate of service that he never picked it up from OSS officer John Ford's home until after Ford's death. Maybe he was embarrassed by the nature of the mission or maybe he did not think the information he gathered had much significance. Vital intelligence information is often many small insignificant details that compose a larger picture.

 

What is known fact is that John Wayne did not willfully avoid any type of military service during World War II. He was not a "draft dodger" who sought to compensate for his guilt over not serving by becoming a "super patriot" as some modern press have labeled him. No he didn't fly in B-24s or B-17s or command a life saving LSI off Tarawa (Eddie Albert Heimberger). But he did try in some form to enter the military and did go to combat zones in the Pacific. He later visited combat zone fire bases in Viet Nam. He did what he could. Not as much as some but maybe more than we will ever know.

[USA.mil.history]

[USA.mil.history]

John Wayne's August, 1943 application to enlist with the OSS.

[USA.mil.history]

Second image of the 12 page OSS application from Marion Robert Morrison (Later Marion Michael Morrison) aka John Wayne.

[BILL THE PATCH]

Thanks for sharing this piece of unknown history about John Wayne, Bravo!

 

Sent from my XT1031 using Tapatalk

 

 

[Garandomatic]

Cool...

[patches]

Indeed, thanks USA mil history.

[Sgt. BARney]

I'm with Arty Scout and Patches - John Wayne had hero status in the Corps and it was common knowledge that he had not served in WW2. While I was in receiving barracks at MCRD San Diego in October 1979, we watched Sands of Iwo Jima on closed circuit TV. Also, when firing the M60 machine gun in any position other than tripod mount, prone on bipod or braced against the thigh, you were called out as "John Waynin'" it.

[patches]

I'm with Arty Scout and Patches - John Wayne had hero status in the Corps and it was common knowledge that he had not served in WW2. While I was in receiving barracks at MCRD San Diego in October 1979, we watched Sands of Iwo Jima on closed circuit TV. Also, when firing the M60 machine gun in any position other than tripod mount, prone on bipod or braced against the thigh, you were called out as "John Waynin'" it.

I kinda forgot now

 

But weren't the old C-Rat can opener, the P-38 called by some and or occasionally a "John Wayne"?

[Sgt. BARney]

Yes, I remember the can opener being called a "John Wayne" more than P-38.

[patches]

Yes, I remember the can opener being called a "John Wayne" more than P-38.

Yeah, that's right I thought that was it, me personally, P-38, though I did think some guys called it the John Wayne, but we called the round coco bar a John Wayne universally.

[usmce4]

 

While this movie is a great movie, I find this rather ironic considering John Wayne used his deferment twice during WWII in order to avoid serving in the military. Many movie/TV/sports personalities served with distinction and honor during the war. John Wayne never wore a uniform in the service and preferred to star in movies about war rather than serve.

 

I quote what someone else said about this fact....."sigh"

But on the other hand, here's a little known fact about another movie star in WW II:

Clark Gable served in the Army Air Force in England as a waist gunner on a B-17. His C.O. made sure he only went on "milk runs" because he (the C.O.) was afraid of what would happen if he were to be killed or captured.

Sgt. Gable walked into his office and told his C.O. in no uncertain terms unless he was treated just like every other G.I he was going to have a press conference and tell the reporters who followed him around what was going on.

When you consider the casualty rates of B-17's over Europe at that time, you GOTTA respect that guy.

------Jimmy Stewart likewise as a B-17 Pilot

[patches]

Hey what's up with this period movie poster, shows Wayne wearing a Helmet Net rather than the USMC Camo Cover  

 

I see, it's from Italy, maybe the illustrator just was going on what was familiar to him being from Italy, the recent war with U.S. Army troops and their Nets.

[Miguel Fiz]

Greetings everyone. This is my first post in the forum, sorry if my English isn't the best, I can read it well but when it comes to writing I'm a disaster.. 

 

It's about a very specific question related to this movie, of which I have many good memories since I saw it for the first time when I was a child. It was partly thanks to films like this and many others like it that I became a fan of World War II history.

 

Specifically, as is known, in this film the USMC provide a lot of help, And it is well known that many veterans participated making cameos, many of them even appear in the credits of the film. A friend recently pointed out to me on X (ex twitter), that at the end of the Tarawa sequence, when we see Stryker's group marching, there is an officer on the left side of the scene who looks at them with a very martial attitude.

 

Could it be some other veteran who wasn't credited for his cameo?

[Miguel Fiz]

* Sorry, The officer in question is ON THE RIGHT!!!

[Rakkasan187]

If I remember correctly there were also military advisors to the film and he may have had a short cameo appearance without his name being mentioned in the film credits as one of the USMC military advisors. 

 

Just my thoughts

 

Leigh