Posts from duker777 in thread „On This Day“

Also, today is the day that US Marines raised the US flag on Mount Suribachi as The Ringo Kid pointed out a few days ago, here's a quick blerb...

During the bloody Battle for Iwo Jima, U.S. Marines from the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Division take the crest of Mount Suribachi, the island's highest peak and most strategic position, and raise the U.S. flag. Marine photographer Louis Lowery was with them and recorded the event. American soldiers fighting for control of Suribachi's slopes cheered the raising of the flag, and several hours later more Marines headed up to the crest with a larger flag. Joe Rosenthal, a photographer with the Associated Press, met them along the way and recorded the raising of the second flag along with a motion-picture cameraman.

Sounds like a good excuse to watch Sands of Iwo Jima again (heh heh).

Have a great day my John Wayne companions!

Interesting that Ethan and Marissa were both born on February 22nd. I didn't know that.

Well, this is stretching it a little, but since the Duke supported the Nixon administration, I thought I would post it anyway...

Note: I posted this once, but I made a mistake and deleted it. Long story...

On this Day (21 February)

1972 - Nixon arrives in China for talks
In an amazing turn of events, President Richard Nixon takes a dramatic first step toward normalizing relations with the communist People's Republic of China (PRC) by traveling to Beijing for a week of talks. Nixon's historic visit began the slow process of the re-establishing diplomatic relations between the United States and communist China.

1970 - Kissinger begins secret negotiations with North Vietnamese
National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger begins secret peace talks with North Vietnamese representative Le Duc Tho, the fifth-ranking member of the Hanoi Politburo, at a villa outside Paris.

...and here is an interesting one that really really related to the Duke, if you don't know how the Duke felt about Communism, just watch "Big Jim McLain" that movie makes it very clear.

1848 - The Communist Manifesto, written by Karl Marx with the assistance of Friedrich Engels, is published in London by a group of German-born revolutionary socialists known as the Communist League.

I know some of these are stretching, but I this "On This Day" topic of Arthur's so much that I posted them anyway. I hope you folks don't mind. I try to only post things I can somehow link to the Duke, but if I get off topic, let me know and I will reign myself in. See you my friends!

I thought this was interesting to add to Arthur's On This Day (20th February).
I wonder if John Wayne had to have his movies censored by the Office of War?

1943 Directors agree to censorship
Movie studio executives agree to allow the Office of War Information to censor movies informally on this day in 1943. World War II led to a proliferation of war-themed films, and the government feared that vital information might be disclosed through movies.

The following John Wayne War movies could have been subjected to such censorship:
Fighting Seabees - 1944
Back to Bataan - 1945
They Were Expendable - 1945
Sands of Iwo Jima - 1949
Operation Pacific - 1951
Flying Leathernecks - 1951
and so on...

Another John Wayne TV appearance is:
February 20th 1978 - People's Choice Awards

Cool, I just finished watching Sands of Iwo Jima. What a great movie. Did you
know that they used the only three living survivors of the historic flag
raising on Mount Suribachi in the movie? I saw them in the credits. I don't
know exactly where in the movie, but I would guess they were used in the flag
raising scene. They are Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon, Pfc. IRA H. Hayes and PM3/c John
H. Bradley.

Here is an interesting interview with PM3/c John H. Bradley talking about memories of the flag raising:
Bradley Interview

and some great pictures at this site:
Suribachi Pics

I have to say, this John Wayne forum has been extremely informative and more fun than I have had in a long time. Everyday (and sometimes twice a day) I can't wait to log on and see what has been discussed next!

Favorite Scene:
When the Duke is with John Agar on the beach, and someone is crying out for
help, and John Agar wants to go help, he says the following to Duke, "The only
way you can stop me is to kill me.
And Duke says,
"That's just what I'll do!"
Man what intensity in the Duke's face! "Bad actor" indeed, nobody in the world
can tell me the Duke couldn't act, that's for sure!

Favorite Line:
John Agar: Your Indestructible.
John Wayne: Well stick close to me and maybe a little of it'll rub off on ya.

That was The Duke!

Hello friends,
Here's a few to add to Arthur's "On this day" topic.

Television appearances:

Feb. 19, 1969 - John Wayne appeared on the "Glen Campbell Show".
Feb. 19, 1976 - John Wayne appeared on the "People's Choice Awards".

and
Here's an interesting one that makes me want to watch "Sands of Iwo Jima" tonight, in fact, I think I will.

Feb. 19, 1945 - Marines invade Iwo Jima.

Arthur,
Thanks for this, these are a lot of fun. I will look forward to them each day. In fact, I am sort of collecting them in a spreadsheet. I will try to add to them also as this is great fun!
duker777 (Chris)