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”.  

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