Battlefield Return // The Pacific // Iwo Jima 74 Years Later
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- Опубліковано 29 сер 2024
- We recently were fortunate enough to take 7 incredible #PacificWar #veterans back to the #MarianaIslands and #IwoJima.
Our program started in #Guam, where most of our guys fought and served. The welcome they received was overwhelmingly beautiful. The people of Guam are eternally grateful for the sacrifice that our boys made to liberate their island. It had been 74 years since most of them had been there. Watching them experience the island again was magical.
Our journey then brought us to Iwo Jima. Iwo is only open to the public 1 day a year and that number of people is very limited. For 3 of our heroes, this was very important day, because they were there 74 years ago. When the island first came into view from the plane, everyone pretty much went silent. What an amazing thing to see. Once we landed, stories and memories began flooding out of the veterans. There was a touching wreath laying ceremony at the Reunion Of Honor site followed by a short ride up to the top of #Mt.Sirubachi. Our time on the island was short, but long enough for us to unfurl our 48 star flag at the top with all our guys and get a few good stories. What a proud moment it was.
The next island we visited was #Saipan. We visited landmarks like #SuicideCliff and #BanzaiCliff. Some of our vets were there and witnessed the horrors that took place. For them, there is a sense of closure to visit these places that haunted them for so many years and pay their respects and say their final goodbyes. We visited children all over the island and the veterans shared their experiences with them. There's nothing quite like getting a history lesson from the guys that experienced it.
Finally, we took several little planes and made the short jump over to #Tinian. We visited the sites where they assembled the atomic bombs, the pits where they were kept, and #RunwayAble, where the #EnolaGay took off, on her way to #Hiroshima.
This was an amazing experience for these men, who ranged from 92 to 98 years old! It was an honor for our team to be able to make this happen for them, and then to be able to share this experience with all of you.
#DonnieEdwards is a former #NFL football player who has spent the last 22 years giving back to our military. He has done 9 #USO tours, visited many military bases and accompanied hundreds of WWII veterans and Vietnam veterans back to #battlefields
In April of 2006 Donnie Edwards brought WWII veterans back to their battlefields for the first time. Since that time he has accompanied hundreds of WWII veterans from the top of Mount Suribachi in Japan to the top of Eagles Nest in Germany. Donnie works tirelessly to fulfill the wishes and needs of our veterans and to give them the honor and respect they so readily deserve.
Please, help us continue to do these amazing programs by sharing our videos and if you are able, please consider donating to our foundation. As you can imagine, these programs cost a lot of money to make happen. Our time is short with these remaining heroes of WWII.
"Taking care of the ones who took care of us".
bestdefensefoundation.org/donate
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Thank you all so much for showing love to our Veterans! We want to continue to bring veterans back and capture their stories as long as they are still with us. Please consider helping by donating at bestdefensefoundation.org/donate The more donations we get, the more veterans we can serve.
Hey I want to know if it is possible to get in touch whith one of the veterans.
Rondo comes to the grocery store I work at everyday for a cup of coffee and a sit with his fellow veterans and chat. I've come to admire him and respect him and call him friend. It is really cool to see him in this video. I've had the honor of knowing him for the last four and a half years
@@nikolas772 With a specific one in the video or are you asking in general?
Would love to go back to Iraq. Combat Medic 02-06. There is something that happened there I would love to say goodbye to. Let me and other Iraqi vets know.
Best Defense Foundation 99 and a veteran? That’s amazing.
These guys look so good in their 90s I wish i will look that healthy at that age
Whiskey.
I literally asked one of our 99 year old vets what the secret was to his old age and his reply was "I drink a glass of whiskey everyday"
Best Defense Foundation what type of whiskey, I need answers
@@12counterdog I believe it was Jamison
And all of them are either mid 90s or late 90s
The veterans are real lively for 90+ year olds
Also German veterans. But they are not remembered or honored. And some of these were also just 16-20 year old boys and men. I am German and I blame my country for treating our veterans like sh*t. They even did that with WW1 veterans after '45. Is'nt that ironic, that my grandfahter would be remembered/honored if he was born a few Miles/Kilometres away in Poland, France or even in Austria and Italy, which were also Axis? I sometimes hate my country for that.
I wish all veterans around the world a long life and a warm place in heaven, walhalla or nowhere. At least I wish them late peace.
nein nein I’m not German but sometimes it seems like German politicians wanna hide what happened in ww2
Just parts of it. They want to hide army stuff, veterans, partiotism etc. But German politicans, our media and school system are addicted to feel guilty. We are told what Germany did bad since we were young. So they love to show all the bad things happend (especially to hold down Germany's right parties and national pride). But that also means we are told not to be proud of any ancestor. Not WW2, not WW, not Prussia, not middle age... nothing. Its like a kind of brainwashing. Today we are told that nation states are a yesterday's thing and instead that it would be better to have a world without borders and no more identities. Germans wish to erase themselfes.
@@neinnein9306 wow that is just sad i know nazis were probably some of the worst types of people but the german veterans dont deserve that from a book that i recently read the majority of the german soldiers that surrendered were from the army (which were normally men drafted) while the SS soldiers prefered dying than being captured
It is sad these men are slowly getting older and older and drift away and the people are disrespectful to our flag and German soilders should not be shamed
Met Rondo at Denver Int'l while he was on his way to Iwo Jima. What an absolute honor to meet him. I wanted to take a pic of him but me but I was too emotional with tears running down my face. After I gave him a big hug he just looked at me and said.."keep up the good fight". What really ticked me off was that there were people not 10 feet away from Rondo with their faces buried in their phones. Not even acknowledging him or what he did for our country. What an honor to meet him.
Yes indeed!
I feel very emotional to I understand where you went through and those few minutes! 👍
That's so cool. Did they do a big send off for him there? United did one for most of our guys.
Look at Their Eyes .. Still Man with Iron Fist.. They have gone through Hell and Still wins
The Marine vets personalities are so much wilder than the other branches i love it
I thought the music was a bit hardcore but then I remember these are some hardcore men🇺🇸
Never ever will we produce men as tough as they were.
JD I completely agree.
What song is it
@@JD-od6jh the marine corps still does
Yeah, it kinda mocks their sacrifice imo. Whoever picked this music should have been slapped. My birthday celebrates the end of Iwo Jima, and these men are especially dear to my heart.
"America's Warriors have always stepped up to the plate for our freedoms and liberties and many have paid the ultimate sacrifice and some have survived to endure worse. HONOR THEM, RESPECT THEM, LOVE THEM & NEVER FORGET THEM! I salute you all!" Sparrow Six-Five!
It is actually mind blowing.......especially for the vets!!!! Respect.....they had balls!
My high school years on Guam put perspective on a war that is quickly being forgotten. Bless the greatest generation.
exactly they're the heroes we need to support and empower wdyt about helping them?
My Father served there in WW II. I wish he was alive today to join the other men!! 😔
I'm sorry for your loss
Donna Rupert damn he got shot 🤒
You're in your 70s?
Poor guy, he got shot by the Nazi Amen☹️.
So your at least 75 years old🤔
For guys in they're 90's they still lookin badass
Hell yeah they are!
Bunch of Heros/badasses that fought for our freedom, hats off to them 👏🏻
I feel so proud even though i'm not an american, i'm from the philippines and the philippines is once captured by the japanese empire, maybe that's why i feel proud to american soldiers who fought.
The Filipinos were are still are wonderful allies, and sacrificed so much during WWII. I lived on Guam and worked for a Filipino Death March survivor. He was released from prison camp on the promise he would not fight against the Japanese. Of course he went into the hills and became a guerilla fighter. Amazing man.
To the 60 people who chose to dislike this video,
I shall believe that you people have no knowledge of American spiritism, respect, and honor if you, a person, have decided to dislike a video of these brave men. These men, where ever they are now or where they shall finally rest, have shown the true heroism, courage, bravery, and values of liberty and selflessness for good of foreign nations and for hour homeland. After 70 or more years; each man has respectfully forgiven the Japanese people, and the same from them, after the bloodshed and horrific battles of the Pacific theatre. These men who have displayed something beyond words from my heart; have shown me the righteousness in what I want to be in an American and a person. The hardships and friendships plus times of hopelessness and fear from any of them have shown me that I have not faced the worst. From my heart, mind, and soul to these men I say: Thank you for your heroic, brave, courageous, selflessness, service. God bless you seven men.
P.S: If you can be able to deliver this message to any of those 7 men I'd gladly apperatice it.
Thank you, I often show the vets the comments on here. They love it!
It’s actually common sense that if you dislike the video, you disrespect the Nation and these soldiers
In his 90's, still doing pull ups. Strongest men still alive.
Donnie, and the members of Nest Defense, I met y’all during the Guam and Iwo Jima trip. You are doing something truly amazing!
We were on the same plane to Iwo Jima as well. It was an honor meeting and talking to the Veterans. Gil had an amazing impact on my life!
God Bless you all
The beat thing i EVER watched on UA-cam..Thank You..such a great foundation
God bless America god blessed our veterans for they are our heros
"And When He Gets To Heaven.
To Saint Peter He Will Tell;
One More Marine Reporting Sil
I've Served Mv Time in Hell"
oorah! Semper Fi
These men still have the heart and bravery as any soldier, sailor and marine that were on that day.
Yo Cortez marines & sailors *
Whiteboy CurryII thanks for correcting me!
Greatest Generation....I am going to Normandy Beaches in March 2024....
Oh wow!! Enjoy! That's a great time to go because there isn't as many people around. You'll have the whole place to yourself!
I have a good friend and fellow Marine, though we are not active duty any longer. While he was in and stationed in Japan he and his bn made a trip to Iwo Jima. He brought back some of the sand to the U.S. with him. One night while I was at work he presented me with a small bag of Iwo Jima's sand and some of the volcanics rocks as well. When I touched those bag I felt a charge of electricity, and chills came over my body. It was at the point I felt my comrades, from a different time, telling me to always remember and honor them. They are the true heroes, as are these men who survived. You Will Not Be Forgotten
I got mad resect for those people
The Greatest Generation! These are the real heroes!
That old man never forgot how to salute like a marine after all those years... it’s intense how real it is, seeing these old vets.
As real as it comes. Thank you for watching and commenting! If you haven't subscribed yet, please do! We have a new battlefield return video dropping soon and you don't want to miss it!
I will subscribe. I think it’s awesome what you are doing. Three out of 4 of my great grandfathers were in the war, one grandpa, and my grandma, German father, jewish mother, left Germany at 16 in 1941. And NONE cared to mention their experiences during the war, one of my great grandfathers refused to ever put his uniform on after he came back. And I regret not asking more questions.. anyone involved in that period of history, and what they did, should never be forgotten. And I appreciate what you all are doing to make that happen for people of my generation. I’m 26, American male.
@@engineeringforfun1635 Thank you so much for taking the time to write this. It is very important for us to capture these for that very reason.
R.I.P to those who have fallen they inspire me to join the military nothing is gonna stop me
My Uncle died at Iwo Jima. May they all rest in eternal peace.🙏🇺🇸
I feel truly fortunate to have heard first hand both my father in laws stories (USN WWII) but also those of my brothers father in law (USMC WWII). I will never forget those stories or those men, we miss you Brownie & Norm. Thanks to all now serving, those who have, and those who will in the future. FLY NAVY!!!
It's hard to think that heroes like them are the reason I can live peacefully in my country.. Like heroes from a history book coming alive.
I’ve met people who aren’t even 70 and look worse than Ronald does. That is amazing. God bless him
great to see a professional athlete using his fame and fortune for something good and noble for a change. most of them just act like thugs. Mr. Edwards is a true role model and understands how important it is to honor our heroes and their sacrifices
My grandfather was stationed in Iwo Jima. I have nothing but love and respect for all of our troops.
So glad to see the heroes who liberated my people in Guam
Thank you for your service
men and women serving now and also veterans and those who have died
Thank you for watching and commenting! If you haven't subscribed yet, please do! We have a new battlefield return video dropping soon and you don't want to miss it!
Brought a tear to my eye at the end
The Greatest Generation!! Thank you young gentlemen for your service and sacrifice. For our fallen you will never be forgotten. SEMPER FI.
If only we could honor them now and fight for the survival of this country.
I'm Australian, but I love seeing these men's faces and their smiles, returning at last to take possibly one last look at old battlefields and old relics of war. Though their years may be at an end, their hearts beat strong with a never say die attitude. They have surely earned their peace.
WHEN MEN WERE MEN GOD BLESS THEM 🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇🙏😇
🦅🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🦅
I think after undergoing the hardships that a battle like that threw at these men, the One above rewarded them with many years to live.
Respect for her job Misters Thank you from Germany
You thank your enemy for killing millions of innocent Germans.
back here to rewatch, for the anniversary of the battle of Iwo Jima. God bless these men.
God bless the men that fought and died for the well being of others. I'm forever in debt to these souls.
Much love and respect from the Philippines to all these American heroes!❤️💕
I had the privilege of meeting Gil over in France for the 75th Anniversary of D-Day. He’s quite the fellow and was quite a wonderful experience, talking about how he wasn’t able to meet the height requirements for the Navy let alone the military, so they held him up off the floor whenever they took his service photo so he looked taller than what he was.
Brings a tear to my eye. Beautiful.
Cheers gentleman, was great serving with you.
Respect from Australia. 🇺🇸
Thank you for the men who answer the call of duty but I also want to personally say thank you to the African Americans that also serve in the Pacific. We will never forgot you and also we will never forget the men in this video and all others for their sacrifice in WW2.
Kitrell Phillips great comment, the Montford Point Marines where there on those islands! Glad to know some of those Trail Blazers that made up the first black Marine unit. Semper Fi Marines
From one combat veteran in a different war to all of you, slow salute, brothers. Slow salute.
Thank you for your service! What war did you participate in?
@@BestDefenseFoundation Desert Storm in theatre, direct support of operations in Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Iraq
We all salutes for brothers from that day now we bless you and salute for your brave ness and dont forget your in of our heart💪❤❤❤❤❤ and you have respect😇😇😇😇😇 forever
What you do for our Vets warms my heart. It is always an honor for me, to get to meet one. I have a passion for working with our elderly in our community. It gives me a chance to speak with so many veterans. I would love to be a part of something like this. Truly amazing, touching, emotional and so humbling. Much love and respect to all of our vets!!
Thank you for watching and commenting! And thank you for what you do for our vets!
Late to say this but I’m from Guam and recognize the landmarks in the background of their profiles. A couple weeks ago we just celebrated our 75th liberation anniversary. My grandmother was almost beheaded at one point during the Japanese occupation and my uncle told me of how he teared up when he saw the ships coming in to liberate us. It means so much us and to this day are still thankful. Thank you for service and for the many who have paid the ultimate price for our freedom, we’ll forever be grateful. From a young man on an island where americas day begins!
Thank you so much for your words, Nicolas. Respect
Thank you sirs for your heroic bravery and valiant service to our country 🇺🇲
I like how these men came back and seen the things they saw hura 🇺🇸🇯🇵 We all should let them live in peace ✌🏽
Thank you for liberating Guam if you didn’t I would be alive
Thank you so much for watching and commenting! Please share our videos and help us put these real heroes back in the forefront!
Its like saw a retired pro players with a lot of experience back into the game and greet new players, amazing
Beautiful. Thanks for what you're doing here. Much love.
I'm not crying ur crying. This is why I am joining the navy to honor my grandparents my two grandparents navy in Vietnam and my great grandparents marines in ww2 this video gives me great joy and motivation to push to keep my family and my country safe. THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING
Thank you so much for choosing to serve! What a great honor to your grandparents and your family's legacy. Thank you so much for this comment. It's inspiring!
they're the reasons why I'm joining the Army. I want to make each one of them proud. God bless them all.
Semper Fidelis to all our Veterans and their sacrifice for all Americans.
These are great heros who literally walked through hell for our nation with tears of pride i salute these warriors.
God these are true Americans right here and even in there 90s they are still bad ass 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
As bad ass as they come! Thank you for watching and commenting! If you haven't subscribed yet, please do! We have a new battlefield return video dropping soon and you don't want to miss it!
American Heroes, thank you all for your service!🇺🇸
Only Respect, Honor and a big big Thank you for their service deserves to these men Who fought for world freedom! With much appriciation from Greece!
What a job you have done Indeed.
Excellent video. If anyone ever gets the chance to get to the Northern Mariana Islands or Guam. The areas with World War 2 history are incredible and a true piece of history. Even inside the airports you will find so much that has shown where we were and where we are going. Whether you are American, Australian, British, Canadian, Chinese, Russian, or a part of any other country for alliance during this war. God Bless you all and thank you for your service and may peace be with us.
Everytime i watch this i get emotional and happy to service with their navy.
As a veteran, for all soldiers, old soldiers never die they just Carry On
Thank you men for freeing the island of Guam because that’s where I’m from and where I was raised
To Those Who Lived the Good Life, Fought the Good Fight an Gave the Ultimate Sacrifice, I Will Never Forget. Pro Patria
Great video editing an production also
That was just stunnishing!. Thousand percent respect and admiration to veterans!.
American Bad Ass, once a BAD ASS. ALWAYS A BAD ASS, NO MATER WHAT THE AGE IS. THANK YOU FOR PROTECTING FREEDOM FROM BARDSTOWN KENTUCKY
The real man of steel! Thanks for coming to Maastricht.
God bless all vet's
Thank you
Thank you MR Edwards
Thank you.
I love this country
Two videos ive watched in a row both made me cry,
God bless you brave men
God bless America
God bless all the boys we lost
Salute
how doesnt this have 500k views?
i have huge respect for both sides. japanese fearless soldiers. and also american fearless soldiers. today is different. we cry about a bee sting.
I love the heroes that fought for freedom.Meeting a veteran in real life would be a dream come true.
Thanks The Best Defense Foundation!You are the best!
❤😎❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️❤️
So very important and impressive!!
Respect for the young men on both sides to be fighting a war that was more deadlier than they thought at the time. Even though they hated each other at the time, I hope that Japan and the US are now making sure that a war between these two is never going to happen again. 🇺🇸 🇯🇵🎖❤️
It’s sad how very few veterans are left id wish to go back in time
So much we have forgotten. Love these guys. They are the reason everyone can say anything.
Imagine getting represented for your service as a red haired woman with a prosthetic arm #bfv
Actually my great grandfather got his arm blown off in the battle of Berlin and he got a prosthetic arm. He Came home after that though
mago BFV sucks man. Bf4 for life!
@@mogz1485
I hope he didn't has a vagina like the warfighters in battlefield V...
@@BettyWyteMMA bf4 was a great chance for dice to include women.
@@BettyWyteMMA Bf3 best Battlefield!
God has been so good to me.
Semper Fidelis my Marine brothers and sisters! Hoorah! Thank you all for your service. Army, Navy Airforce or Marines. We all have one goal. We are a family.
Idk what it is but after 17 years in the Corps this is the most motivation I’ve seen in a while! Semper Fi my brothers.
God bless you for doing this for our Greatest Generation!
How sharp their salutes still are, and how tall they all stand. Rightfully so.
Mis respetos a estos valientes que lucharon por la libertad!!! Honor y Gloria eterna para ellos!!
0:41 this made me smile and i don't know why
That's why I put it in there.
@@BestDefenseFoundation im glad ya did heheh
These are the guys that motivate me to do good things in life. Thank you for your service and sacrifice, and thank you for my freedom and the privileges I have today!
As a lifelong San Diegan and Chargers fan, it brings me incredible warmth to know that one of my childhood sports heroes has devoted himself to honoring such incredible and real life heroes. Thank you Donnie Edwards for everything you're doing for these men.
This made me tear up bad! War is absolutely horrible and stupid. Created by old men and fought by young men who had their entire lives in front of them. I have nothing but absolute RESPECT for these Veterans and for the ones that lost their lives.
Sometimes talking about the things that have happened to you in life such as what happened on a battlefield and possibly returning to that place is a form of healing to those who were there. If you have never been on a battlefield with artillery going off all around and the gun fire and the sheer panic of those wounded to see what they saw or hear everything, you can't imagine or relate to them, only those that went thru the same can relate. GOD BLESS OUR SERVICE MEMBERS AND HOPE AND PRAY THAT YOU RETURN HOME THE SAME WAY YOU LEFT, BUT FOR THOSE WHO DON'T MSY GOD KEEP YOU IN HIS EMBRACE WE SALUTE YOU
I wish u also featured my fellow Filipino who fight and save Americans here in Philippines..and other country who had veterans..they are part of our freedom..
We hope to do that someday! We are a small non-profit based in USA with limited time and resources. Hopefully someday we can do that! Thank you for watching and commenting. If you enjoy what we do, make sure to subscribe so you can see all the great content we have planned!
Hey, thats Donnie Edwards in the beginning!! He played Linebacker for the Chiefs and Chargers plus hes from my Hometown San Diego...Sweet he gets to hangout with the Vets!!!
He started The Best Defense Foundation. He makes all this happen!
Remembering my friends.
They were just children!!!!!!!!
God bless these awesome heroes!!!!!