MovieChat Forums > Wake Island (1942) Discussion > I Was There

I Was There

posted 9 years ago by jojomack2006
10 replies | jump to latest

I can't remember the 1st time I saw this film "Wake Island". It was way, way back there. I loved William Bendix/Robert Preston. I was a fan of both from my early days. The movie was perfect! Marines battle superior forces (the Japanese) and fight to the last man. Almost the Alamo in the Pacific (although a few really did survive in the true story, and were taken prisoner of war.) This was the 1st war movie released after the attack on Pearl Harbor. I was a G.I. Joe. Don't know why but I played Army all the time. Not Cowboys good guys/bad guys, or Cops and Robbers, but War. My favorite place was the Army/Navy Surplus store. I bought web belt, canteen, mess Kit. My brother brought me a helmet lined from the real U.S, Army and I was off on my adventures. I was 7,8,9 years old. Fast forward 10 years (1966) I got my draft notice and I was in the Army for real. No "bang, bang you're dead. Get up, mom's got supper." This was real rockets, mortars, small arms fire! Damn! What had I gotten myself into??? Vietnam. We landed for refueling the last night of March, 1968. Lyndon Johnson wasn't gonna run or seek another tour as president. I don't even remover the president when I played war?? It was just one battle after another out in the woods, this was real. I stepped out of the plane down to the Tarmac. Waves crashing "there" and. "Over there" Wake Island was a tiny place. Humid, tropical, a taste of things to come in Vietnam. (It was HOT in Vietnam. Damn hot! Hot as the hinges of Hell!) there was a standing globe & serpent Marine memorial on Wake Iland. It was lit 24 hours a day. Very beautiful. The world, we'll never really understand it. What is life all about?? Why was I on Wake Island all those years ago?? If anyone figures it out, would you let met know?!? John

[–] FilmSpectator 9 years ago

Interesting perspective. Why were you ever on Wake Island? Maybe so you can tell others about the historical events that happened there, which I bet few people even know about. Wake Island has been overshadowed by so many other battles that happened later on, and is now fading into history.

[–] jojomack2006 9 years ago

Really appreciated your thoughts on my visit to Wake Island. What do you think of this one: for some unknown reason I was drawn to Hue, South Vietnam. I've never understood why? It's the only real mystery in my life, but I had to go. First, it required an escort. Only place I visited in Vietnam that required an escort (I traveled my whole time in Vietnam, Khe Shan, Phu Bai, Chu Lai, Quang Tri, Don Ha). I wore a :45 on my hip, and traveled I Corps, the northern most area of South Vietnam. A sergeant and Lt. Took me thru Hue. Beautiful place. Blown to Hell! 10,000 people died in hand-to-hand combat at Hue during the Tet Offensive of 1968. Why did I HAVE to go there?? (God called me, I swear.) But I never understood why?? John

[–] robertmc48 9 years ago

I also was in Hue, South Vietnam. I was stationed at Chu Lai and got permission to visit a friend stationed at Hue. I had to say he was my cousin to get the orders. We went to town and got caught by the Army MPs in a whore house. I was sent back to Chu Lai. Nothing ever came of it. I was in the Marines and I don't think the Army guys knew what to do with me. I never did get laid....!

[–] jojomack2006 9 years ago

I was all over I Corps (northern part of South Vietnam) went to LZ Baldy 41 miles outside Chu Lai had to take helicopter gunship to get there. Gunner wore a football helmet with 50 cal. Machine gun, he was CRAZY!! Thought he was gonna get us killed! Yelling at Vietnamese, kicking sandbags on them. My unit called me land line phone (huh?) had to go back to Da Nang, they'd been under attack 4 days!! I was in boonies enjoying life of Riley! Wow! Life is strange. All my days, all my miles in South Vietnam, I never saw one whore house OR tattoo parlor. Told everyone; all we got was war. John

[–] tedrutkowski 9 years ago

in 1968 I was corpsman in bravo co. 3rd recon. I went on in country r&r to china beach in oct. while I was there I ran in to a high school friend.one night he took me to a bordello called the blue moon hotel.it was in he dog patch section of da nang. about 15 minutes after we arrived the damned n.v.a. hit the town.we ended up jumping out the second story window and running back to the r&r center at full gallop.jesse owens couldn't have caught us. I never did get laid that night.

[–] jojomack2006 9 years ago

My unit headquarters in Da Nang was on pensinula south of Catholic orphanage, went there sometimes on Sunday afternoons to see Vietnamese toddler orphans (no whores! Ha Ha). Didn't know about any whorehouse/hotels??? Never saw one. My time in Nam (after Tet 1968) was spent 'on edge' mortars,rockets,small arms fire. Lots of excitement! Just rented Deer Hunter(1978) last week.(never seen it!) Want to rent Full Metal Jacket tonite. Gotta go. John

[–] TennesseeTarheel 8 years ago

To all of you guys, "Thank-you!"

[–] jojomack2006 8 years ago

One more thing and I'll shut up. Drafted Oct 13, 1966; raised my right hand at Ft. Bliss Tx. From that day no one ever said a word about my military service (thank you, wow, anything!). 1992 big fat white guy walks up to me, sticks out his hand, says "Welcome Home!!". I said, You're about 30 years too late! Ha Ha (Thank You for your kind words. I appreciate them) ....,,

[–] 8 years ago

[deleted]

[–] jojomack2006 8 years ago

He didn't (Mia Farrow's dad). Movie was made in So. Cal. Wake Island had no trees I remember. Tiny atoll, lots of waves and water. Tiny sliver of land. I was uncomfortable like a cork on the ocean. I'm sure I would have gotten seasick if I stayed. Don't know how they had room for a landing strip especially a big jet?? It was HOT?? That tropical heat! I was from New Mexico (US Army draftee) I knew 115 degree heat but not like Wake Island or Vietnam. Damn! It was HOT day and night! Humidity?!? Never figured it out?? Drenched in sweat my whole time in Southeast Asia. Really respect those guys who fought and died (and didn't die) on Wake Island. John