Actor Robert Conrad is best known for his role in the CBS-TV series The
Wild Wild West (1965 – 1969) , in which he played the sophisticated Secret
Service agent James T. West, and his portrayal of World War II flying ace Pappy Boyington in the NBC-TV series Baa Baa Black Sheep (1976 – 1978). He was
a recording artist of pop/rock songs in the early 1960s as Bob Conrad before
he started acting. He currently hosts a weekly 2 hour national radio show
called “The PM Show with Robert Conrad” heard on CRN Digital Talk Radio.  
 

Robert Conrad with co-star Ross Martin (left) 

Robert Conrad in Baa Baa Black Sheep

1949 movie poster 

 
On DVD ( 2000)

The three survivors of six men who raised that historic flag on Mt. Suribachi, on the
island of Iwo Jima, are back in Marine uniforms as they make a Hollywood version
of the bloody invasion at Camp Pendleton, Calif., July 27, 1949. Here with sound
trucks in the background they watch the filming of a scene. The survivors are: left
to right, Ira H. Hayes of Babchule, Ariz.; John Bradley of Antigo, Wisc. and Rene
Gagnon of Manchester, N.H.. All three have small parts in the film, including a
recreation of the famous flag raising. The movie is “Sands of Iwo Jima”.  

Lee Marvin at first did supporting roles, mostly villains and soldiers ,but after winning
an Academy Award for Best Actor for his dual roles in Cat Ballou (1965), he landed
more heroic, leading roles. Marvin left school to join the U.S. Marine Corps, serving
as a Scout Sniper. He was wounded in action during the WW ll battle of Saipan and
was awarded the Purple Heart.

1967

The invasion of Iwo Jima continued to March 26, 1945. The battle was a major initiative
of the Pacific Campaign of World War II. The Marine invasion, known as Operation Detachment, was charged with the mission of capturing the airfields on the island
which up until that time had interfered with U.S. bombing missions to Tokyo. Once
the bases were secured, they could then be of use in the impending invasion of
the Japanese mainland.  

 
U.S. Marines on the beach of Iwo Jima

Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima  taken on February 23, 1945, by Joe Rosenthal

Allan Arbus, best known for his role as psychiatrist Dr. Sidney Freedman 
on the CBS-TV series M*A*S*H (Below).