Flags of Our Fathers

Another month or so till this film is released. I'm not big on war films, but I read the book because I found out Jamie was in the movie. It got me to thinking of my own father. He was not at Iwo Jima or in the Marines, but he did fight in the Army during WWII. He didn't say much about the war. His big war story was the time ants got into his army troop's stew. He ate the stew, wondering what his buddies were reacting to lol. The original Fear Factor, I guess. As an anti-war kid of the 60's, I never quite understood why this patriotic man, who saluted the American flag at parades, only had this one silly story to tell. I know, now, that my dad so a lot of pain and death. One buddy died in his arms. That must have been magnificent. To die being held by someone who loves you! Another yound man threw himself onto a live grenade to save the other men. Of course my dad would prefer to tell of a light and funny moment. I felt inspired to show my love and respect in this way. My dad died of cancer in 1982. I brought three small flags to his grave. The American flag, Irish flag and the UK flag (since our background is a mix of Irish, British ,Scotish and Welsh. I planted them one by one. "This is the flag of my father; this is the flag of HIS father; this is the flag of our ancestors."

My next step in my FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS journey was the big question of gays in the military. How about my own rainbow flag?
Certainly, gays have fought in WWII, including the battles on Iwo Jima. I had heard the testimony of former gay soldiers in docu films like BEFORE STONEWALL but I wanted a bit more. I discovered a book called COMING OUT UNDER FIRE by Alan Burube, telling many facinating stories of gays who served during WWII. Men and women who had both positive and negative experiences.
Among them was a Naval officer named Edmond Cole. He and his lover both fought on Iwo Jima, though he never gives the other man's name. It's a wonderful story I wouldn't mind seeing a movie made from one day. Maybe. Maybe one day.

Flags has just been released. I'm going to see it later today. I'm not a fan of war movies and have no plans to see LETTERS FROM IWO JIMA, but I'm making this exeption for Jamie Bell.
I only read the book because I found out Jamie made the film and I almost opted out of seeing the film because I knew the sad but heroic fate of poor
Iggy, whom he plays. When I read about how happy Jamie was to do the film and work with Clint Eastwood, I melted.
I'm grateful to Jamie for being the indirect and unintentional instrument which lead me to the book and to a better understanding of and love for my own dad. Oh, I'm sure he wouldn't want credit but that's as it should be.
We never know what good we do because these things usually happen as we go about our daily business, not really giving it all much thought.
It's been my observation that those who do us good seldom take credit, while those who become indignant and say "I helped you this and I helped you that!" often haven't done a bloody thing.
In closing, I wish my dear Jamie well in all his does. We may never meet but that's okay. I love him just the same.

I guess Clint isn't a goony for Bush anymore, eh? This will put Mr. Eastwood in the "clout" section in Hollywood for directors. The last movie about the female boxer was not that great. Mr. Eastwood needs to do a movie like this. It'll put him over the top in Hollywood.

vincent ward wrote:

My next step in my FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS journey was the big question of gays in the military. How about my own rainbow flag?
Certainly, gays have fought in WWII, including the battles on Iwo Jima. I had heard the testimony of former gay soldiers in docu films like BEFORE STONEWALL but I wanted a bit more. I discovered a book called COMING OUT UNDER FIRE by Alan Burube, telling many facinating stories of gays who served during WWII. Men and women who had both positive and negative experiences.
Among them was a Naval officer named Edmond Cole. He and his lover both fought on Iwo Jima, though he never gives the other man's name. It's a wonderful story I wouldn't mind seeing a movie made from one day. Maybe. Maybe one day.

You are a f'ing homo and if you served?, a disgrace to the uniform. Don't ever post this kind of stuff again.

We wouldn't have to fight wars if we had less intolerant people. Have you got rose coloured glasses on?

Oh, brother! As I say, I'm not a big fan of war films, but my experience with Flags of OUR Fathers has been too awesome for anyone to take away!
James Bradley seems to have written the book because he never completely understood why he spoke so little of a war other people considered him a celebrity for his part in. A lot of us whose parents served in WWII had similar feelings.
It would be great to read postings from others who had great emotional connections to FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS! If not, I know they're out there and I hope they're sharing their feelings through other venues.

hey anybody here have an address where i can send barry pepper a piece of fan mail? anybody???

comunsens wrote:

hey anybody here have an address where i can send barry pepper a piece of fan mail? anybody???

I don't but you can, certainly, click on to his name on the cast listing, which will lead you to Barry Pepper fansites, etc, and places which list fan mail addresses!

vincent ward wrote:

Oh, brother! As I say, I'm not a big fan of war films, but my experience with Flags of OUR Fathers has been too awesome for anyone to take away!
James Bradley seems to have written the book because he never completely understood why he spoke so little of a war other people considered him a celebrity for his part in. A lot of us whose parents served in WWII had similar feelings.
It would be great to read postings from others who had great emotional connections to FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS! If not, I know they're out there and I hope they're sharing their feelings through other venues.

Oops, my bad! I meant to say that James Bradley wrote the book because his FATHER didn't talk a lot about the war!

Adam Beech is an inspiration to the native american community were proud of him. I hope he keeps on doing what he is doing. 6495

Adam Beach is absolutely great and, out of all the cast, he most resembles the man he plays (Ira Hayes). Alchohol was my dad's way of coping with the pain of WWII memories, as well, but not as bad as poor Ira! I hope Beach gets the Oscar nomination.

Great as my own experience with Flags of Our Fathers was the film was a bit overshadowed by Clint Eastwood's companion film Letters From Iwo Jima.
I really hope there are a lot of people out there who were moved in their own way. I believe that my own dad reached out to me through the book and film of Flags and even through my favorite actor, young Mr. Bell.

This remains my favorite thing I wrote on Topix. saying.