Clint Eastwood & Iwo Jima film ~ Marine veteran acknowledged

  Iwo Jima (Photo/wiki)

On December 5, 2009, Richard Morrison flew into Fort Myers, Florida.  He was not alone, along with him were other American airline passengers coming out of Dallas, Texas.

No one on the flight, including this writer, were aware of an elderly man who appeared to be somewhere in his 90s, carrying a red tote and silver cane.

Mid-way into the east bound flight an announcement was made. A male flight attendant's voice announced that Richard Morrison was on board, and that he was the only surviving retired Marine who fought at Iwo Jima in World War II.

American's passengers gave a huge round of applause.  Since Mr. Morrison's seat number was given, I knew he had to be the same red-toted senior, hard of hearing and seated next to me.  When I turned to him to smile, he was also clapping, and then he asked:

What was that about, and what did he say?"

I told him that the clapping was for him, and why.  At that moment the flight attendant who had made the announcement appeared near us.  I told him that Mr. Morrison had not heard the praise, so the attendant repeated it loudly, and everyone clapped again.  This time Mr. Morrison smiled big, but said later to me, paraphrased:

I was in World War II, I was at Iwo Jima, and I still hate the idea of it."

Note:  The following videos are graphic in nature, as is all war.

Immediately following the flight this acknowledgment was shared with a friend in the entertainment business, and she suggested to incorporate this "experience" into anything related to Iwo Jima.  There are many actors who portrayed characters in such films, but Clint Eastwood and a film he directed, Flags of Our Fathers, will be recognized at this time.

(Photo/wiki)

Clinton "Clint" Eastwood, Jr. is an actor, film director, film producer and composer.  He, too, is a war veteran.  Prior to the beginning of his acting career, Eastwood served in the Korean War from 1950-1951 in the U.S. Army.

While in Los Angeles, California two acquaintances of Eastwood's, in the 1950s, helped him to succeed as an actor by sneaking him into Universal studios, showing him to cameraman Irving Glassberg.  Glassberg was impressed with Eastwood's appearance and stature, saying:

[He's] the sort of good looking young man that has traditionally done well in the movies."

Glassberg arranged for director Arthur Lubin to meet Eastwood at the gas station where he was working in the evenings in Los Angeles. Eastwood's first arranged audition was not a positive one, as it resulted with Lubin remarking:

He was quite amateurish. He didn't know which way to turn or which way to go or do anything."

Never the less, Eastwood was told not to give up, and it was suggested that he attend drama classes. Later it was arranged that he would have a 'film' contract, his first being in April 1954 at $100 a week.   This was the beginning of a wonderful acting career for Clint Eastwood. ~ related actors, shows, films: Jude Law, Dark Blue, Burt Reynolds,Gary Sinise, actors who served in the military

Since this article is intended to acknowledge Richard Morrison, and all war veterans, including one of the films that represented Iwo Jima during World War II, more about Clint Eastwood's acting career will be recognized at another time  As Eastwood has an extensive career - Flags of Our Fathers is only a small part of that career...

Flags of Our Fathers is a 2006 American war film directed, co-produced and scored by Clint Eastwood and written by William Broyles, Jr. and Paul Haggis. It is based on the book of the same name written by James Bradley and Ron Powers about the Battle of Iwo Jima, the seven men who were involved in raising the flag on Iwo Jima, and the aftereffects of that event on their lives.

Eastwood also directed a complementary film on the battle from the Japanese viewpoint entitled Letters from Iwo Jima. It was released in Japan on December 9, 2006 and in the United States on December 20, 2006, two months after the release of Flags of Our Fathers on October 20, 2006. The film is produced by Eastwood and Steven Spielberg.

One does not have to recognize war veterans just on Veteran's Day.  So to all veterans, including Mr. Richard Morrison, Mr. Albert Ford and Mr. Clinton Eastwood, we give thanks for your 'participation' in protecting our country, and others.  ~ A photo of Richard Morrison is not available. If anyone has access to such a photo or more positive information on Mr. Morrison, feel free to leave a comment.