: The squad witnesses the iconic raising of the American flag. The film famously features three of the actual surviving flag-raisers—Ira Hayes, Rene Gagnon, and John Bradley—playing themselves.
: Stepping into the leadership role, Conway finishes the letter and echoes Stryker’s signature phrase—"Saddle up! Let’s get back in the war"—leading the surviving men back into the fight. Behind the Scenes & Authenticity Sands of Iwo Jima
: Private Peter Conway, a college graduate and son of Stryker’s former commanding officer, resents Stryker’s harshness and sees him as a "cold-hearted sadist". : The squad witnesses the iconic raising of
: In a sudden shock, a Japanese sniper kills Stryker during a lull in the fighting. The men find an unfinished letter to his son on his body, expressing the love and pride he could never say in person. Let’s get back in the war"—leading the surviving