Bill Genaust: Shooting Iwo Jima

In this day and age of digital and pocket-sized video cameras, it is an awesome experience to watch "Shooting Iwo Jima," a fascinating documentary about an American hero, Bill Genaust.  His is not a household name, but should be.  He was a war photographer who fought in the Battle of Iwo Jima, and who is most famous for capturing the (second) flag raising on Iwo Jima on color motion picture film with his 16 millimeter camera.  FDR immediately saw the value of the controversial photograph and seized the opportunity to use it to sell war bonds.

Thanks to Genaust, not only are we able to witness the fiercest battles of WWII right in the thick of it, but are able to follow the story of the nine days he risked his life capturing an up close view of American troops in battle via 23 reels of film and his personal notes.  You never see Bill, himself, in the reels, other than one poignant shot of his left hand wearing his wedding ring and his combat boots as he films from a foxhole.

This forgotten hero was shot to death by Japanese soldiers when he lit the way into a cave for the other marines.  His body was never recovered and he was left behind near the place he made so famous.