Sands of Iwo Jima is the classic 1949 World War II film starring John Wayne as Marine Sgt. John M. Stryker. The film follows Stryker and his platoon as they participate in the battles of Tarawa and Iwo Jima. Filmed near Camp Pendleton in California, the movie featured several veterans of the actual battles as well as actual US Marines stationed at Pendleton.
The following weapons were used in the film Sands of Iwo Jima:
M1 Garands are used by a vast majority of the US Marines in the film, including Sergeant John M. Stryker (John Wayne), Corporal Richard Dunne (Arthur Franz), PFC Peter Conway (John Agar), PFC Al Thomas (Forrest Tucker), PFC Benny Regazzi (Wally Cassell), PFC Charlie Bass (James Brown), PFC Dan Shipley (Richard Webb), PFC Frank Flynn (Richard Jaeckel), PFC Eddie Flynn (William Murphy) and Private 'Sky' Choynski (Hal Fieberling).
US Marines can be seen using the M1 Carbine including Captain Joyce (John McGuire), Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier (who plays himself) and some Marines in the archival footage.
Error creating thumbnail: File missingWorld War II Era M1 Carbine, with Dark Walnut Stock, 'L' peep sight and no bayonet lug - correct for most of WWII, shown with khaki sling and oiler and a period twin magazine pouch for buttstockError creating thumbnail: File missingOn Iwo Jima, Lieutenant Harold G. Schrier (an actual veteran of the battle and one of the Marines to put up the first flag on Mt. Suribachi) holds the M1 Carbine.Error creating thumbnail: File missingThe Marine holding the M1 Carbine is Ira Hayes, who along with John Bradley (middle) and Rene Gagnon (far left) were three of the six actual men seen in the iconic photograph raising the second flag on Mt. Suribachi. Their story was told in Clint Eastwood's Flags of our Fathers.
