Shoot him!
- What's the matter? - We're out of bullets!
We are losing Suribachi.
All is lost. Request permission to lead a suicide mission.
No. You must try to hold them off.
Do what you can to survive and join forces in the north caves.
But, sir...
I have failed to hold Suribachi.
Permit me to die with honor with my men.
No, Colonel.
This is an order!
Adachi.
Adachi!
Sir, Captain Tanida requests machine guns.
It's over.
Suicide...
That's the only thing left.
But--
Here, take this to your commander.
I heard General Kuribayashi order Colonel Adachi to escape.
Quiet!
Escape is the coward's way.
Sit down!
Men...
we are...
honorable soldiers of the Emperor.
Don't ever forget that.
The only way left for us...
is to die with honor.
This is our fate...
to find our place at Yasukuni Shrine.
I'll see you there.
Soldiers, farewell!
Stop!
You should die like an honorable soldier.
Look, Shimizu...
we can still join the troops in the northern caves.
Our orders are to stay here until death.
I heard General Kuribayashi himself.
That's what he said...
over the radio.
It's true.
We can die here...
or we can continue fighting.
Which would better serve the Emperor?
Which one?
Where does this go?
It will take us closer to Motoyama.
Do you have orders to move back?
Where are the rest of your men?
All dead.
It's the same with us.
There should be an outlet somewhere near here.
Be quiet!
So you thought you could blow us up, or burn us alive, did you?
- Have we heard from Suribachi? - No, sir.
Send a messenger!
Lieutenant Oiso has ordered us to rendezvous at the east cave.
We will make a run for Motoyama.
There is no cover for two kilometers.
It will be every man for himself.
See you on the other side.
If not on this earth, then in the next world.
Don't run with the herd. That's where the enemy will fire.
Stay back.
That's cowardice!
There is no use for a dead soldier.
Wait until the flare is gone.
Crawl forward.
What happened to the messenger?
He never came back.
I will go to Adachi myself.
Motoyama's transmitter still works, General.
Why not try there, sir?
Sir, these men retreated from Mt. Suribachi.
What are your names?
Saigo, from the 312th.
Shimizu, reporting for duty.
You escaped from Suribachi?
How dare you!
It was your duty to stay in your position until death.
You should have died...
with your fellow troop members.
You are both a disgrace.
Get on your knees.
- But, sir-- - I said, get on your knees!
I don't want you to kill my soldiers needlessly.
Put down your sword.
Put it down!
What's going on here?
These men ran from Suribachi.
Lt. Ito, I gave the order that all survivors retreat to the north caves.
I am very sorry, General.
It's just...
Suribachi...
has fallen.
Now that Suribachi has been taken...
the enemy will maneuver all forces onto the hillside.
We must move our command center north, sir.
Ito...
fight for your fallen brethren...
until the end.
Get up!
Major General Hayashi is leading an attack.
We are to join him.
Kuribayashi's orders are to remain in the caves.
Lieutenant Ito says Kuribayashi is a weak American sympathizer.
We will take back Mt. Suribachi.
Where is Major General Hayashi?
We don't know, sir.
Who is in charge here?
I'm not sure.
Stay here until I determine the plan of action.
We're dead.
Pull back!
We'll get reinforcements.
Why didn't your regiment join the attack?
Don't sit here like rats!
Come out of your caves and fight!
Where is your commander?
We haven't received the order to attack.
Didn't you receive the order from General Hayashi?
Kuribayashi countermanded Hayashi's order.
There is to be no attack.
We will take back Suribachi...
with or without Kuribayashi.
There are already troops on the attack. Get your men in order.
Lieutenant, may I remind you of your rank!
Your disrespect for senior officers...
puts your men at needless risk.
I suggest you go back to your cave...
or hand over your men.
Enough.
We'll do it ourselves.
That's against regulations.
That's the officer who tried to kill us. He doesn't care.
I won't go back.
I've had enough of cave fighting.
You men are now under Lieutenant Colonel Nishi's command.
I will throw myself under an enemy tank.
I will take out one of their machines.
Hurry.
What is the status?
A thousand men were lost...
in a night attack along Chidori airfield.
Why? I have given them strict orders not to kill themselves.
It seems that the order to retreat was not conveyed to all sectors.
Hayashi.
Damn you!
And the American advancement?
A battalion is headed north and we are fighting back along the west ridge.
Good. Once they cross the west ridge, they will be surrounded on three sides.
This just arrived.
Read it.
From headquarters...
"We regret that we are unable to send reinforcements to Iwo at this time.
We earnestly hope you will fight honorably...
and die for your country."
Bring him in.
Shall I finish him off?
No. Treat him.
But, sir--
Okubo, you would expect the same, wouldn't you?
Endo, treat him.
We are low on morphine as it is.
Sir, the Americans would not treat a wounded Japanese soldier.
Son, have you ever met one?
Treat him.
Where are you, American tanks?
Come and get me!
How is the prisoner doing?
He is awake, sir.
I will question the prisoner for information.
Damn.
I've had enough of this.
I'm going to surrender.
Go ahead and arrest me.
I don't care anymore. That's what you were put here for, isn't it?
To report treasonous thoughts.
I was put here because...
I was discharged from the Kempeitai.
Discharged?
I had only been in service for five days.
Shimizu...
you must always be firm.
Any mercy and people will take advantage of you.
That's unpatriotic.
Go sort it out, Shimizu.
You do not have the Imperial flag properly displayed.
I'm sorry.
My husband has gone to war and I couldn't put it up myself.
It is unpatriotic not to have the flag displayed.
If you help me, I'll put it up now.
Get that dog to shut up.
What was that, sir?
That dog is a nuisance. It is disruptive of Army communications.
I am very sorry, sir.
Shimizu. Dispose of the dog.
We can't have a dog interfering with important military commands.
Take the dog in the back.
It's only a dog.
It won't happen again.
Take it out back.
Keep the children inside.
Hurry up.
Take the dog into the house and keep him quiet...
and never let him out.
It's taken care of, sir.
Are you trying to make a fool out of me?
If you can't even shoot a dog, you'll never be able to handle the Reds.
You are unpatriotic!
I was discharged for insubordination...
and sent here.
Don't look so glum, Shimizu.
At least now only the enemy hates you.
I don't blame the dog.
Taro...
tonight I attended my farewell party.
The wives also attended, so there was a lot of fuss.
Greeting all the ladies...
kept me from enjoying the food.
Is there any information of the enemy's plan?
No, it's just a letter.
It's from his mother.
"Sam...
I have mailed you a couple of books to read.
I hope that you like them.
Yesterday...
the dogs dug a hole under the fence.
They ran all over the neighborhood.
By the time we found them...
the Harrisons' roosters were terrorized.
Don't worry about us.
Just take care of yourself and come back safely.
Remember what I said to you...
always do what is right...
because it is right.
I pray for a speedy end to the war...
and your safe return.
Love, Mom."
I'm sorry, sir. There is no more medicine.
It's all right. I'm useless now. Go help the others!
Okubo, come here.
How are we on ammunition?
Not good, sir.
Our mortars have been taken out...
and we're out of machine gun ammo.
We have only our rifles.
Okubo...
you are now in charge of the men.
We can no longer hold this area.
You must guide the rest of the men north.
Take whatever food and ammo we have left.
What about you, sir?
I'm tired of sharing this cave with all of you.
I'm a one-man show from here on out.
What are you talking about, sir?
Your first order of business...
is to find some water.
Men...
do your best.
Do what is right...
because it is right.
Understood?
I will make sure that they send you medicine and food.
It has been a great honor...
to serve...
under you.
Hand me my rifle.
I'm sorry, Okubo.
Why am I not getting any reports? Have we heard from Admiral Ichimaru?
- No, sir. - What about Nishi or Hayashi?
- Send out messengers! - We have. Many times.
None of them have come back.
You can't plan strategy like this!
I have been thinking about what Lt. Colonel Nishi said.
He's right.
I don't know anything about the enemy.
I believed that the Americans were cowards...
but they weren't.
I was taught...
that they were savages...
but that American soldier...
his mother's words...
were the same as my mother's.
I want to fulfill my duty for the general...
and our country...
but I don't want to die for nothing.
What do you think?
You...
haven't lived enough to realize...
what you are sacrificing.
Will you surrender with me?
Careful.
They'll notice if we leave together. You go first.
I'll make up an excuse.
After a while, I'll tell them I'm going to check on you.
We'll be gone before they even notice.
Pretend that you have dysentery.
Give me your dysentery look.
I guess that'll have to do.
Where are you going?
I've got dysentery.
You're going to surrender, aren't you?
If you are, take me with you.
- I've had enough of this war. - Be quiet!
Where are you going?
He said he wasn't feeling well. It could be dysentery.
You two! Stop!
Sir, maybe they got spooked.
Miura, you're on guard.
Make sure we have no more deserters.
What unit were you with?
Higashiyama 314th.
Did you hear...
I heard that they would give you a meal.
A meal...
That sounds good.
I'm from Yokohama, too.
After this is over, you can come visit me.
Lieutenant!
Let this be a lesson to anyone else...
who wants to surrender.
We need to get through the crossfire to reach the north...
and join our forces at the front.
Listen.
We'll head for that cave and make our way from there.
Don't waste a bullet!
Not a single one.
Don't shoot recklessly.
These are Nishi's troops and the survivors from Suribachi.
Are there no officers?
You all did a good job making it here.
Fujita, water for them.
I'm sorry, sir. There is no more water.
I'm sorry.
At least you can rest.
You look familiar.
You almost lost your head.
That was the second time you saved me.
The first time...
was the day you landed on the island.
Of course. I remember.
Well, everything happens in threes.
Hanako...
This letter will probably never get to you...
but...
it comforts me to write.
For five days, we've been without water and food.
To survive...
we do unspeakable things.
There is no escape now.
But...
my only concern is for you and the baby.
Dig up some worms.
The battle is approaching its end...
and there is no more ammunition, no more water.
All the survivors will engage in a general attack.
I pray for the victory and safety of the Empire.
I bid you farewell.
For the country, I could not fulfill all of my duties.
Now that we have no ammunition, it is with regret that we must perish.
You made it all the way from Suribachi?
That must have been quite a journey.
You are quite a soldier.
No, sir.
I'm just a simple baker.
You were a baker?
Any family?
A wife...
and a baby girl born last summer in Ohmiya.
I haven't met her yet.
It's strange.
I promised myself to fight until death for my family...
but the thought of my family makes it difficult to keep that promise.
A radio transmission from the homeland.
For General Kuribayashi...
and his troops, who are fighting bravely for our country...
a song will be sung by the children of Nagano, which is Kuribayashi's hometown.
On the waves of the Pacific
down south from the Imperial City
a small lonely island floats
The fate of our Imperial country
lies in the hands of this island
Iwo Jima
As long as we stand
we shall feel safe, as the Imperial land
shall forever be at peace
We shall fight with pride and honor at any price
Our proud island
Iwo Jima
Do me a favor.
Stay here and burn all these documents, and my military chest.
Everything happens in threes.
We will make a general attack.
Although Japan has lost...
one day...
our people will praise your dedication.
A day will come when they will weep and pray for your souls.
Be proud to die for your country.
I will always be in front of you.
No more.
Thank you, Fujita.
This is an order.
You again.
I have one more favor to ask of you.
Bury me...
so that no one will find me.
Taro...
I will be home soon.
I'm glad to be going back to Japan...
but I'm a bit sad to leave my friends behind.
I drove home...
but...
it's lonely driving all by myself.
Is this still Japanese soil?
This is still Japan.
Be careful.