The movie, Sands Of Iwo Jima, centers on a tough sergeant with a tough job to take raw recruits and turn them into United States Marines.  He Sergeant accomplishes this goal in the only way he knows how with discipline, authority and his fists when he has too.  Although his men initially hate him because of his cold, callous treatment of them, it is only when they face their first combat on Tarawa that they begin to understand his "hard-bitten" ways.  The climatic battle occurs when the Sergeant and his squad storm the beaches of Iwo Jima and struggle to break the Japanese deadlock on the island.  The Sergeant's work is put to the test when the squad has to depend on each other to achieve their mission and to stay alive.  The famous flag-raising on Mt. Suribachi which immortalizes one of America's boldest conquests comes in the final few minutes of the movie along with a surprise ending.  The movie, Sands Of Iwo Jima, generated four Academy Award nominations including one for Best Actor.  Starring John Wayne, John Agar and Forrest Tucker.  Full screen in color.  Released in 1949.  Runtime 109 minutes.