When we call someone a hero, we may think they’re a great person, who are brave enough to sacrifice something. Heroes usually depicted as “the one who saved the day” in most of the movie like Spiderman….Superman…etc.
The same thing happen in WWII too. It was reconstructed in movie -”Flags of Our Fathers”. This movie was based a book (the title was used to make movie eventually) written by James Bradley. The book, I think is dedicated to his father and those who died in the battle of Iwo Jima.
If you watched the movie, the author’s father, John Bradley, a.k.a. Doc was a marine during that Pacific campaign. The raising of the Flag on the mountain Suribachi (a mount in Iwo) quickly become an inspiration for the American to fight till the end and bring the metaphor that the American are winning the war. Quickly, the flag raisers earned their fame and became so called “heroes” among American citizens. Among the seven flag raisers, four of them were dead in combat.
In order to raise bond (a type of fund to support the war effort). The remaining three iconic soldiers (Rene Gagnon, John Bradley, Ira Hayes) were sent home for the bond raising campaign. They were annoyed by the title “hero” the citizens gave them. One of the survivor, Rene Gagnon (Doc’s friend) stand out and gave a speech which left a deep meaning inside my heart, it’s a follow:
“Ladies and gentlemen, in order to support….we need you to buy bond…etc. As far as us for the heroes of Iwo Jima, that’s not the case. We really didn’t do much at all…especially me, I’m just a runner. That’s it. We put up the flag…the flag pole was heavy, it took a number of us. We had our picture doint it. The real heroes, are dead on that island. And we’d appreciate it if you buy bond’s in honour of them…”
Well, the movie was quite touching. If you’re sentimental, you may cry at the end of the movie. Below are the narration at the end of the movie, which the I finally know the meaning of “hero” deeper.
“I finally came to understand that my dad (John Bradley) was right, why they were so uncomforted being called heroes. Maybe there’s no such things as heroes. Heroes are something we create, something we need. It’s a way for us to understand what’s almost incomprehensive. How people could sacrifice so much for us. But for my dad and these men, the risk they took, the wound they suffered. They did that for their buddies.
Maybe they fought for their country, but they died for their friends. If we really wish to honour them, we should remember them the way they were. The way my dad remember them….”
Well, if you still don’t feel the influence of the emotion, then maybe my description is not detail enough. Why not watch the movie yourself, I’m sure it’s worthed.
