WW2 Marine Relives The Brutal Fighting Of Iwo Jima | Remember WWII With Rishi Sharma
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 12 มิ.ย. 2021
- This is an interview with WWII veteran Carl Berghofer who fought and was wounded on Iwo Jima. He talks about many close encounters with the enemy. Take the time to watch this powerful testimony and consider writing him a thank you for your service letter which you can address with the following :
Heroes of the Second World War
C/o Carl Berghofer
1940 fountain view dr # 3142
Houston texas 77057
#worldwartwo
#war
#heroes
#combat
#WWII
#WW2
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Forget the movie stars, sports stars and rock stars. This is a true hero.
Nothing compared to Lizzo or Cardi B
@@BobBy-zu6lo say that when you are holding a soldier & feel his life slip away into a cold hell. 74+🍁hunter Yorkshire expat
@@dereklonewolf9011He was joking, friend. Relax
@@whattheflyingduck6878you might be surprised
If you are putting any of those types of people above honest working class folk you have a major problem. That goes for soldiers as well, as told to me by my WWII vet grandfather.
My Dad fought in these battles he was on a LST.
He told me that people were dying so fast.That he
was the only man left who knew how to give a burial at sea.
He lived through horrors and saw many of his friends die.
I remember as a little boy hearing him screaming in nightmares.
And my Mom comforting him saying it's OK it's OK I'm here.
Love you Mom and Dad RIP.
Wow,thats strong stuff.greatest generation.
Prayers for your late Father and all those who fought for us against the totalitarian regimes in WW2
A cousin of mine Ned B Daly. was the pilot of those landing crafts at Iwo and many other hostile landings ,3rd US Marine Division
Thanks for sharing
My respect to your dad and your mom for comforting him!
Men like him, are the definition of a real man. When I joined the Marines, I wanted to be just like these Marines. But the war that I experienced in Iraq was nothing compared to what these Marines went through. Greatest generation
Men like him in my family who all fought in in the Army in WW2 are the reason I joined the USAF! Lol! I was a Firefighter and Aerospace Crash Rescue EMT and came close two times to getting burned to death or blown up. Hence I came to believe the old adage "Be careful what you wish for"! 😂
You’re still badass. IMO It’s not a competition all war is tough, just in different ways. The Iraq war was no small feat. The tactics, technology, environment, and circumstances were different so (thankfully) far less Americans were killed. But I still believe it was nearly every bit as Hellish. How you wore 100+ lbs. of shit in 110° heat with long sleeves constantly running and shooting all day every day is beyond me. I must disagree with your profile pic though War Eagle lmao
@@ESPLTD322 What was the purpose of Iraq war? Do you even know the reason behind it?
@@standforhumanitariancauses4756
Dig deep enough for the motivation of any war and you’ll more than likely find greed and corruption. These warriors who served our nation had nothing to do with what you’re speaking of. Do you honestly think a nation’s military should have the option of deciding for themselves whether or not they should obey commands from their superiors based upon their personal ideologies?If you’re going to point fingers, then at least have the presence of mind to point where the real fault or blame lies. We don’t point fingers at people who build cars for a living when cars are used for nefarious reasons, nor should we point fingers at warriors for doing their jobs!! Be grateful that you are served by the great warriors that our nation produces. Without them the possibilities exist that you could be living under a regime where you wouldn’t even be able to ask such questions!!
@@ESPLTD322they are still tough but nobody is as tough as the Pacific Marines. I can't watch them raise the flag on Iwo Jima without crying. Truly the age of men
I just turned 18 and im safe at home, when he turned 18 he was fighting for his life and the lives back home. Im honored to have a country like this.
Take heed of his life advice!
@@hdcvospringer i do my best to not stray off in this new generation. I dont want anything to do with this generation, because eventually i know ill be blinded and not see the cold truth of the world. Im independent and and love my country
Remember that he fought for a just cause, unlike phony wars since then
I'm offended if this guy has ever had to buy his own beer at a bar. What balls. I salute you sir.
Sadly in most of the bars in the city populated by younger people he would be ridiculed for hus unwavering patriotism and unshakeable courage ..god truly blessed us that he gave us men and women with the fortitude of these heroes ..thank you sir sincerly
Amen, brother…
Hear freaking hear!
@@antoniocorvino7687 stop with the generational warfare.............unwavering patriotism means what?
right?! even at that age still has dreams of evil.
Imagine living your entire life from age 18 with memories like these. In his 90’s and still having nightmares. Those of us who were not there will never understand what men like this went through.
I agree, these modern day so called first responders all suffering PTSD it seems. I guess modern generations have become to soft to what these old veterans have had to endure.
That's projection, people with enough imagination and understanding of the depths of human barbarity can come to some understanding of how it was, that coupled with understanding of history. Too bad most people lack this ability nor do they want to understand, much easier to live in decadent naivety.
@@WorldBelongsToUs must be hard knowing your ancestors were enslaved by their own people and sold to whites and muslims
Whatever it was it probably cannot be imagined by someone who hasn’t been there.
@@WorldBelongsToUs ok racist bigot.
My uncle Earl Lewis was a Marine flame thrower operator on Iwo, he was wounded in what my father referred to as the million dollar wound, shot in the rear with no permanent damage.My dad was a Marine on Tarawa and Okinawa, his little brother was a 4th Marine Raider, I grew up hearing stories like these, thank you for your work, I miss my father and uncles, this man sounds just like them. Truly priceless history.
Marine Raiders are the baddest fuckers in the military. More so than the seals, any of them.
How on earth did they all come back? So incredibly lucky
You've got to think about how horrific it was to be able to remember these details at this age. This man is the reason we have the freedom that we currently have.
You’re right and we have Donald J Trump trying to disband or remove our constitution, that tells you everything, it’s disgraceful for the 45th to say that, and do this man or men that sacrifice the ultimate sacrifice, for freedom. This is the man that Mr. Donald J Trump considers a loser in a sucker, my grandfather was also in WW two he is not most definitely was not a loser in a sucker. God bless America.
I was born in 52 and as a kid was always around men from WWll “Uncles and friends” and remember how they always treated me so kind. My Mom said later it was because they were vets glad to be alive and living.
1952 --- me too.
1953 Truly stated.
I was born 1967 I had no grandfathers or granduncles (even if my grandoms had several sibblings) also all the friends of my two grandmothers had no men. An an absolute lack of Grandpas in my neighbourhood you could say. But this is the result of loosing two wars in a row, lots of older ladies without sons and husbands.
I was born in 52 also. My uncles were all veterans of the war. Great guys that treated me as one of their own. I did get scared around them when they got together and got loaded. They would get there war stuff out including there guns and have me act as the enemy . I would have to run back and forth across the yard or living room and they would take aim. Didn’t think if the guns were loaded too. I was lucky to know each one of them and I thank them for what they did for our country, god rest their souls.
I was born in 1952 also, my dad was in the First Marines Division on Guadalcanal, almost all of my uncles served during the war also, I agree, our greatest generation.
As an American, I have immense pride and gratitude for this man and others like him.
Hell yeah brother!
🇺🇸
As an Englishman i have immense gratitude and pride in this American hero
Amen!
As an Australian, I have immense pride and gratitude for this man and others like him.
I served two tours in Vietnam and was wounded and medivaced out both times, however This man is my hero. I am 84 years old and entered the Army at age 17 in 1955 and retired out as a Captain In the IN. in 1975. This man went through some terrible times and tells his story like it just happened, without adding any BS to it. SALUTE sir.
You’re a hero too. Thank you for your service.
Thank you for your service sir!
Wow! You're a major hero also to me. My oldest brother fought in Vietnam in 1960 or 1961. He was a Sargent and an advisor of some sort training indigenous people. He never talked about it. He passed away in 1997. Pneumonia. Anyway is there anyway I can research his time in service or my father's WW2 service. Thanks.
@@jimmer1047 You can get their DD214 service records. I am told you go to a military base and talk to them. Do research or call the base an ask them how to obtain your brother an dad's DD214's
@@konakona895 many thanks. I live next to Ft. Huachuca army base. I will check it out. I looked online with no luck. This sounds like a great idea.
The bit where he said he still felt bad about every Japanese death he caused there then he pauses and you can see him reliving one of the moments before the interviewer speaks, had me in tears that bit...
It's a disgrace really
5
@@davidnorman2134what is?
The man did what he had to do.
So sad to think that our sick society worships celebrity athletes and mostly ignores these amazing men.
I have a lot of pity for those poor sickos. No not at all. Lol
@MichaelKingsfordGray spot on.
@MichaelKingsfordGray What? Do you know what 'Marxism' is? I doubt it.
@@chris6559 looks like your the one that don't know what marxism is.
Every generation, be it 25 years ago or 50, 75, centuries even, people have looked up to athletes. It is no different today.
Going through all that at 18 yrs old, what a fighter that guy is, I was busy chasing girls & beer when I was 18 & I could do that thanks to men like him, we really don't appreciate the freedom we have today, big respect Sir!
Very well said !
And our own government now want to give it all up for China.
If he had not done that at 18, 23 years later when I was 18 I would not have ben able to chase girls and drink for a year at Ole Miss
@@paulym5814 yes, thanks to China Joe and his socialist crew - who so many stupidly voted for - and the rest of the votes were allowed to be stolen
@@YahooMurray Buzzwords....Define socialism.
At around 29.30 mins in he responds to the question: “ do you have any life advice for the younger generations?“ People must watch his response. You should take what he says and apply it to every school in the country. I wish I could salute this man for the service he gave to this country, him and all the other kids who did their duty.
He knows about the Constitution and personal responsibility because that is what they were taught in their schools. Imagine, if we were able to travel back in time when these guys were in their prime, and bring a few hundred of them to our time period? Watch how fast they would straighten things out (especially in our schools).
@@donnagant6575 nothing is wrong with the police
Those aren't kids. Those are men
I THOUGHT THE SAME EXACT THING.
29:30
"We didn't take prisoners and we didn't want to be prisoners."
This man respects all branches. One of the best descriptions of Iwo I've ever heard. Godspeed
My dad said the same thing! Wow!
Hard to imagine being in such a situation.
@@jimmer1047 i think it was justification in each soldier. Admitting to their own self conscious that they needed to be prepared to do horrible things. They did just that.
Once you can get past that point, history tells us our military did work while sustaining HEAVY(this is still down played) casualties.
Then we hear from this man and becomes abundantly clear why. I could'nt imagine going to sleep knowing the front and waking up encircled by the enemy. They are the reason in the marine bible why Marines should always have hand grenades.
Thanks to your Father for his service!
Agreed. US casualties are GREATLY understated.
@@CarlTheSpud Grenades still wouldn't be enough
@@Dragonrider-cj8js do not underestimate a squad of Marines and hand grenades. You think they just shot those pillbox gunners then slipped a grenade in?
You think the Marines breach and clear with flashbangs? Go read the Marines' Bible. A grenade wont solve everything.
Upmost respect for this gentleman
Utmost Ut most
@@watchgoose uptmostestes
@@ivanthemisunderstood6940 upubichair
@@Leg8 you should use Google translate to post if you want English speakers to understand.
In WW2 consequences for Sailors on a sunken ship were very serious. All members of US military had dangerous jobs.
He had a visit to hell and came back with his soul intact. God bless him and his fellow Marines.
Soul intact. Hardly.
Of course his soul was intact. His works were righteous.
My dad was there. Great dad, but part of him was back there. Woke up every night at two from dreams; had to have a cigarette or two to get back to sleep. He left as one person and returned as quite another. I don't think any returned 'intact.'
So glad Carl has been immortalised by this video so all future generations can hear his story, wisdom and see his heroism. Many thanks for your service from an eternally grateful Brit, you're living legend Carl! 🇺🇲🇬🇧
Hear hear! 😔
Many thanks also ,from a very grateful Kiwi 🇳🇿 It breaks my heart to see veterans , still having to fight for help they desperately need .
To the interviewer: Thank you for doing this. Thank you for being so respectful and grateful. I think you really make these brave men feel that you are listening to them, the man, and their experience and it’s impact on their life. Not just for the incredible story or for posterity….but because you truly appreciate their personal sacrifice. I’m so glad you are undertaking this meaningful endeavor. I know and will remember his story thanks to you! ❤
The Marines on Iwo Jima saw hell up close and personal. They fought and persevered under incredibly extreme circumstances.
@MichaelKingsfordGray And you are a smart ass 😉
Semper Fi Marine. A real hero
yes thats marines for you
I mean, that's kinda the whole theme behind this video.
@Matt Olivier how is he evil? It wasn’t his choice to go and fight the Japanese. The Japanese and Germans were threats to the entire world. This man is a hero and a patriot. He fought so you can still type your little messages on TH-cam. And if he didn’t you wouldn’t have your freedoms like you do today.
I was in Afghanistan and Iraq got shot once and was involved with an improvised explosion device. It was a walk in the park to compare to what these men went through in WW2! Much respect to these men and that we never forget their sacrifice! 🇺🇸
Thank you for your service....you deserve to be called Sir as well.
Thank you Steve!
Thank you for your service sir!✨✨✨
And most of these men fought for straight years, and after taking Europe were heading to Japan. I wonder how many of these men hated Truman for dropping the bomb. He was reelected.
Thank you as well. You deserve respect for your service as well as this WW II veteran.
My father enlisted in the USMC at age 28 in 1942 and served in the Third Division Ninth Marines in the Pacific. Some of the same stories were told to me as a child but now many years after he is gone the internet is giving me much more insight into what these brave MEN went through for us! Semper Fi and Thank you to the greatest generation! They came back and made this country the best on earth! Thank you Carl and all of your Marine Corps brothers. Once a Marine always a Marine
My Grandad was a tail gunner, but one of his worst memories was the sight of his best friend coming home from a Japanese pow camp. The were ruthless.
This generation was the toughest ever. They answered the call, took care of business, and came home.
The greatest generation.
You can hear in his voice though. He gets really nervous and sad talkin about it. He has to fight back cryin. It traumatized him bad.
Gotta be a better way to resolve differences.
my grandpa came back after all of this and worked up until almost the day he died, beyond tough is right
How do you think we would do today if these 18 year olds went to fight?
I can't imagine telling my mother "Don't worry momma, I won't let them take me alive" as a way to comfort her. This guy is cut from a different cloth 🇺🇲
He’s a bad man,, under the cover of LORD GOD
Yessir, they don't make em like that anymore
Hey there, thanks for watching this video! If you enjoyed this, I guarantee you will be blown away by this interview of a WW2 veteran I recently did. Sergeant Buckner served with his twin brother in combat until his brother was shot by the Japanese on Guam and Sergeant Buckner witnessed him pass from his wounds. The video also covers many Japanese atrocities that Sergeant Buckner witnessed. Here is the link: th-cam.com/video/ewZnPzmGGHk/w-d-xo.html.
Thank YOU your consideration and if you have not already, please subscribe to the channel for more WWII veteran interviews as this proves to the TH-cam algorithm that people are interested in this content thus helping these stories reach a wider audience!
That was kinda creepy...
🇺🇸
I can't imagine living with all these memories for 70-80 years. I hope he finds peace. He laughs about it but we all owe him a lifetime of gratitude for his service to his country.
My Grandfather was at the Iwo Jima landing, USS PC 1081. After I came back from BASIC in 1996 he talked to me about it. He never talked to his own kids about what he saw. He told me the the Japanese would always refuse to surrender, they'd be surrounded in a bunker and wouldn't come out and the US forces would set on the bunker with flamethrowers and they still would not surrender. He told me about hearing the men scream as they burned alive. He hadn't wanted to share that horror with his own children, to put that image in their minds, but he wanted me to at least be forewarned as to how ugly war can be.
"We've got to defend the Constitution as written." Wise words from a wise man. Thank you for this video.
❤🤍💙
Right on!
🤙🏼
@@giantsbane9706 woulda been nice
agree
“If the western front of the European theater was a boxing match, then the Pacific theater was a gutter knife fight”.
Well Stated....
Not sure the Western Front was quite so cosy as that.
War is Hell! Everywhere!
Boxing match? Gutter knife fight? Cmon Man. They were both horrible. I had uncles that fought both the Germans and the Japanese. Neither one was any kind of joke.
Yes....it was a jolly holiday on the western front.
When asked for any advice to the younger generation this man gives the best advice I've ever heard. It is more important to know our Constitution our Bill of Rights and the history of our very beginnings and the sacrifices it took to get us here than any other lesson a young person could learn. The number one lesson and top objective for every school should be a knowledge of our Constitution, the ideals of our Declaration and what it means to be a citizen and an American.
I served in the Navy for 4 years. I respect anyone who serves and does their job with distinction, but the men who fought in WW1 and WW2 are levels above and have my utmost gratitude. I salute you.
I had a grandfather ( my grandma's youngest brother..my father's side) who was only 18-years Old when he volunteered for the US Navy in 1918..
Then, fought the Japanese in the Philippines during WWll... taken prisoner in Bataan and survived the infamous Bataan death ☠️ March.
A very amiable grandpa who l have NEVER seen get angry nor say any curse words.
He seldom talked and was ALWAYS busy doing things.
When I asked my grandma why grandpa seldom answer when talked to...
She said, "you must give him leeway as his hearings are not so good...he was with the Artillery during the War.."
I still Miss my grandpa...l' m 73-now..
My father served on the destroyer USS Heermann during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. I remember my father telling me when they made a run at the Yamato, “That ship was big but it’s guns were bigger!” He later was in the Korean War, and the Vietnam war. My brother and I served in the Vietnam war. Poor mom was a nervous wreck!
What’s crazy is these men didn’t come home and brag, they literally saved the world, most of us know a ww2 vet yet probably don’t know they were in ww2 because they didn’t show off or even talk about what they did for us.
These men are heroes 💯💯💯
Ain’t that the true.
The issue was most of them refused to talk about it. Both my dad’s parents were WWII vets, yet he only heard a small handful of stories from them, mainly my grandpa seeing guys drown in the ocean after they were struck by a U-Boat, and my grandma accidentally sewing through her finger while producing cannon charge satchels.
Also her home in Clydebank Scotland was blitzed and somehow her’s was the only one left standing on the block
The real president says he's a sucker and loser. Mr trump would have gone in unarmed and beaten them, even with his spurs.
this was before the push to make all troops some type of divine beings in America
I bought my Dad a WW2 vet ball cap ....he never put it on his head ......he said he was a late war draftee the ones that came before him were the real vets
What I would do to shake this man's hand!! Respect from Australia..🇦🇺
Iam looking from Australia as well
@@samundrakc6143 that makes three of us now
4 at least. What a hell hole that place must have been. Young men facing death every minute. A very brave soul along with all the other marines on that island.
Wise words for future generations from this brave man, Respect and thanks for your service Sir, from Australia.
🇺🇸 🇦🇺 🇳🇿 🇬🇧 🇨🇦
You can tel how he tells his story and relives it like he’s there…I can’t even imagine living with that. The most respect
I did 3.5 years in Iraq. Every WW2 vet that I spoke with at the legion had stories that made my worst days seem like RnR.
I felt like I needed to finish this entire video, not only because his story is nothing short of incredible, but because the least I could do to say thank you is give him 33mins of my time.
Amen. 🇺🇸💪👍
I agree.
I'd like to give my thanks too
Same
When a vet tells a story you listen, soon we wont have men like this it will just be drone pilots telling u about something that merely felt like a game to them.
I wish I could hear thousands more minutes from this badass marine. Just about life in general.
Let that sink in, if the enemy concentrate fire on you that means you're marked for death. Anyone carrying a flamethrower into combat should automatically qualify for the distinguished service medal.
Japanese gave their carriers the MOH equivalent.
It was the same for snipers
Thats why medics and corpsmen did not wear the red cross arm bands. It just made them a designated target.
My grandfather run a flame thrower in the marines, in the Philippines, he only said it had to be worse than hell
The only reason that it is a thing is BECAUSE someone earned it.
An old vet friend of mine used to tell me this story when he started losing his memory and he would always say something along the lines of “I was on R&R and on the way back we came across a group of unarmed Vietnamese soldiers” and he would always end the story there but the last time I talked to him before he passed away he finished the story by adding “and we weren’t allowed to take prisoners…” the whole time he was trying to say that he had to execute unarmed men. Even though he was forgetting everything else he never forgot about what he had to do, it was honestly so heartbreaking to hear and I had no idea. I had never put it together until then
If the tables were turned and the americans were unarmed they would have been shot.
@@bobg1980 Everyone is still human. You'd still get fucked up from what happened.
@@bobg1980 modern war is unnatural. The fact that your enemy would kill you if they had the chance doesnt stop the act of killing them from mentally scarring you.
You do what you Have to do. To stay alive.
@@idkwhoknew908 No, you just don t commit a war crime no matter what you Superior says. Were do we end If No one ist responsible for his actions.
My Dad was wounded on Iwo Jima. He was 17 and in the Navy Seabees. Straight out of training and 3 days on Iwo Jima and his Navidá Career was over. He got a Japanese bayonet in the lower abdomen and was sent to a Hospital ship for 2 months. He had PTSD all of his life. He screamed at night. He never talked about why. I never knew He had been wounded until I was in my 30s. He showed me his scar. It looked barbaric. I felt so sorry for him.
I took care of him for 10 years after we lost my Mom. I lost him in 2016. He was 90. He never knew what a hero He was to me. He never made a fuss or asked for special treatment. Didn't want anybody to know He was messed up. He and my Mom never slept together because he was violent in his sleep. That's a life long punishment. I miss him so much.
RIP to your father. I'm sure you meant more to him than he ever fully vocalized
@@finestco thank you
From a 22yo Thank you Carl, if you were my neighbor you’d never have to cut your grass or repair a pipe.
I started cutting my neighbors grass last year. He's a vet and too stubborn to stop doing it on his own. I knew his schedule and just started doing mine, and his, the day before his scheduled cut. He slowly came to terms with it, and now complains when I'm running a day or two behind HAHA. My wife, and other neighbors, don't completely understand why I do it... They don't need to.
I do the same for my neighbor who was a chopper gunner in Vietnam. Started out he was paying me when I was like 15, but by after a few years he’d just give me a cold drink and we would smoke a doobie. Which to me is really trippy, hanging out having a good time with somebody who has more than 40 years on me. He’s taught me a lot of valuable lessons, he’s told me alot of crazy stories too. Yes he let me use all of his tools and showed me how to replace a head gasket on my first car,change tires, even drive manual. I benefit yeah, But I do it so he knows that there are people in this country who are grateful for every agonizing moment he’s ever spent defending people he will never meet….. his youngest child is still 20 years older than me, I was in an accident on a road trip in Vegas and his daughter drove 15 hours to pick me up at a motel, i didn’t ask, she felt obligated. Speechless…
@@KT-vg7lr sometimes you don't need to explain yourself.
@@KT-vg7lr that's beautiful man god bless you, yours and your neighbors.
These men are living history that did more for future generations then anyone can really realize. The standard they set with their sheer will and refusal to back down despite all they were experiencing is most inspiring.
Remember this men are cut from the same cloth as those that fought for our independence . The American fighting spirit is a force to be reckoned with.
FnA, they weren't called the greatest generation for nothing. They weren't Superman but pretty close lol.
@6One5 Got Down today's generation will learn soon they have had an easy life which makes them ungrateful and weak. weak men make hard times and hard times make strong men, this modern generation will learn and their views will change.
We need to pick up where they left off. But the king is coming and he will crush the opposition
Funny how an American can say "we took no prisoners" and have it on youtube in a thumbnail. but There are pdfs made on niche topics like Finnish ss volunteers that focus on things like this and phrases like that to defend war crimes...
Well the first causality of war is truth
I have an old Japanese officer sword that my grandpa took off a aircrewman/pilots body from a crashed bomber. Supposedly the man was missing an arm and badly wounded from the crash but still fought back with his sidearm when my grandpas unit tried to render aid and they ended up having to kill him.
My local Masonic lodge here in Erskine, Scotland, has a Japanese Officer's sword and it sits in front of the Master's lectern. The Lodge was founded by returning soldiers from WW2, and some of them were POWs in the Far East and the sword was taken from the Commandant of the POW Camp. The sword's sat there proudly for nearly 75 years. By the way, some of the returning soldiers were so poorly from their mistreatment the Lodge meetings are conducted sitting down throughout the whole evening. The only one I know of that does this.
@@trebleking1641 My grandfather that brought the sword back was actually a Mason. The only lodge I know of around here is in Youngstown, OH and is falling apart due to poor weather and neglect. I don’t think they have many members :/
Certainly cool to hear of artifacts from Japan reaching Scotland post war though!
So do I. My grandpa left it for me.
My grandfather was a anti aircraft gunner in the pacific theatre on the USS Shea DM-30 and the only thing he brought home was the aluminum/among other forms of shrapnel in his shoulder and back from the Japanese Mitsubishi “Zero” fighter plane that crashed thru the bridge and exploded when it exited thru the other side. I’m not sure if he was a 40mm, 20mm or 50 cal. gunner though. He didn’t talk to anyone about this in detail until right before he died at age 86 back in 1996 when I was 16. Such a great and honorable man; little in stature, but the heart of a lion. He was a fleet boxing champ as well haha. In his mid 30s when drafted. He had 8 children at the time and should’ve been exempt due to other factors as well. The rival country store owner had a brother in the draft board… nuff said. Lol
The Japanese leaders instilled terror in their soldiers' hearts. They told them Americans would do the worst things imaginable to them, and eat them. They didn't have tiktok in those days to educate them that americans are the good guys. So they believed it. They were rubes, just as our fighting men were largely rubes.
It's no wonder they fought to their deaths. The fighting man had honor - the leadership, NONE.
Carl, Semper Fi Brother!! I was an infantry Marine 0351 and served in combat in Afghanistan with 1st battalion 9th Marines. You are a true hero and thank you for making this video, as hard as it may have been to talk about. Very inspiring, I only wish I could shake your hand Marine.
Semper Fi I was in 1st Marine Division first SIR. Camp Pendleton
Bryan- Your story is just as important as this one. The importance of immortalizing the friends you lost, the bravery you showed along with educating non combat civilians on what military face for freedom. Thank you for being a warrior. Welcome home!
1/9 Marines the Walking Dead right?
1/9 WPNS Co 1994, carried 81s platoon guideon as unit was disbanded at Horno.
Notice when he is recounting different things he says we did this we did that not just I did this I did that!!respect 🇺🇸
Only politicians and liars say, "I did something when it really was we did something"
Being part of a team is instilled from the first day of entering boot camp and it will remain forever once a marine always a marine!
Because he knows he could never have done it all by himself so we comes out naturally for us.
These are type of people I would rather talk with than any celebrity out there. Just the amount of courage these men had and all the sacrifices made, I can't respect them enough.
Well said 👏
Me too lol respect mfs wass handing out Ls trough out all of ww2
Amen Brother
When I would ever go with my dad to the numerous museums and air events as a kid. I always seeked out the vets that were around and sat down and talked to them rather than look at museum pieces. My thought was the pieces will always be there but the vets and their stories will not. Now, as a much older man and almost all of the GG vets have passed away, when I go to these places it's just not the same. Ty, for sharing and putting this interview on video. Wish I would have thought of that back in the day.
There's no school like the old school. Thank you for your service, kind sir.
The old school is over or to be kinder on its last leg, unfortunately: the cancel culture, the critical race theory, feminism, gender equality, identity and theory, political correctness, social justice, narcissism bred by social media, immoral TV shows and lax parents produce consumers and sheeples.
My mom and dad worked on the bomb in Oakridge Tennessee. My 2 uncles were in WW 2. I was in the Air Force. What this Great American endured for this country was amazing to hear him relive it for us. God bless.
I live in Chattanooga man! I recently was traveling to Spencer in Van Buren county. I had been reading a book about Rudder’s Rangers who stormed the cliffs at Point Du Hoc on D-Day. They actually did their training in Spencer on the cliffs there to train for that assault and I looked up where the historic mile marker was and literally had just passed it. You bet I turned my ass around and went to look at it and saw the text depicted and it was like I was meant to see that at that moment since I was currently at the time reading that book. Karma has a weird way of working in that regard. 🤘🏼👍🏼
"I was in shock, but got over it in a hurry". This MAN is amazing and he definitely deserves being called sir. To all that have served thank you.
My wife’s grandfather was a machine gunner on Iwo. He fought till the 2nd to last day and got wounded for the second time. This time it took him out of the war. I never met the man but I am honored to be married to his granddaughter.
They don’t make them like they used to anymore. Her Grandfather was a badass
@@jackhammer0925 i didnt mean to offend or mock but. I just watch us soldier lesbian and transgender advertisement. Does the us army really allow to recruit them...?
@@rafitohornero3850 why not,
If they can fight and are willing to lay down theirs for their country why not
@@rafitohornero3850 personally, I don’t care if someone is gay or lesbian. One of my corpsman (doc) while I was in was a gay guy that eventually transitioned and is still serving. I have an issue when someone joins the military and expects it to change for them instead of the person changing for the military. Which is what I feel is going to happen with advertising like that.
My father was a machine gunner in the pacific and got wounded at Booganville.
You can see the pain in his eyes. What a great man!
This interview hit different. This man is a gift to mankind and men like him were.
It hit me different too. At first it hit me in my left side then came around and smacked me in the face followed up by a body slam onto a concrete ground. No interview has ever hit me like that before. Usually it's one blow and then I counter. But this interview bludgeoned me, like it did you.
Gentlemen, this is what a normal person used to be
I cannot express how much respect I have for Carl and his buddies! I'm an Englishman and was born in 1957 so not long after Carl was risking his life for me and many others. I wish I could have met him to shake his hand. Thank you Carl 🙏
What the average citizens of England had to endure during the blitz was a nightmare and it was women children and old folks...the English is a proud courageous people this Texan tips his hat to y'all
All the talk on tv about us bravely batteling covid... The things these veterans have seen and went through is unimaginable.
The common cold
I’ve never heard anyone say that
A grandfather saving the world: A soldier in world war 2
Me saving the world: A slob at home
@@AceXINFAMY
Lol, there's a billboard on the freeway I drive on everyday, and it has a picture of a nurse wearing a virus mask and underneath the picture it says "real heroes."
This brings alot of tears of sadness that we didnt do more as a society for these heroes who fought for us and there saying we are heroes for staying home and for fighting covid makes me sick .....I have lost respect for America for not taking care of these warriors but they take care of people that dont wanna work ....this man is the real deal !!!!!!!!so much respect
Several years I had an acquantance with a man, whom I later found out was a veteran of Iwo Jima. He went in on the first wave and was there for the entire battle. Carl might have met him. He was a combat medic. His name Sidney Gorfein. He became a veterniarian, and took care of the many animals we had. He was a small quiet man, whose office was right across from the VA hospital in our town. He spent most of his time there, as a volunteer. He was also an outspoken opponent of the Vietnam War. I have to say that he was probably the bravest man I ever met.
The interviewer showed him great respect, which is well deserved. Thank you sir for your service ❤️🇺🇸
Its a shame this man's wisdom, common sense, and way of thinking almost no longer exist in today's society....I salute you sir semper fi
Facts. Now we have Nazis in America.
@@peterp3538 makes me sick how this veteran and so many others fought hard and gave up so much for this country only to have that moron biden allow all these illegals to enter this country unchecked and be given full rights...biden is a disgrace
@@biggzcorey
Not true. FDR kept the US forces segregated. There definitely was racism.
But some black units were held in very high regard.
'The Red Ball Express was a supply unit that was made mostly of blacks.
During the Battle of the Bulge; Patton's tanks were able to rush to the rescue because the Red Ball express was able to keep up with Patton and keep him supplied. He would have out run his supply chain if it wasn't for these brave soldiers.
After Truman integrated our forces you saw a big change. When you share a
a foxhole under fire you don't care about the race of your fellow soldiers.
It will come back. Unfortunately it will take something like he went through to remind us.
@@peterp3538 dude, the idea of a kid born in the 1990s, now in their 20s, in America saluting a Nazi flag and promoting Nazi ideology literally pisses me off so bad it makes my brain hurt. While men like this man in their 20s was going thru hell on earth so that Nazi's would never come to America, these young spoiled soft youngsters today salute that piece of dirt flag with pride. Makes me grossly sick.
So glad these type of interviews are being conducted. This National Treasure Marine is still sharp as a tack. God Bless You Sir.
So many stories like this are gonna be lost forever if we don't take the time to just listen and remember. Sitting here on Memorial day honoring the memory of my grandfather William Kerr, a US Marine who served in the Philippines during WW2.
I don't care how the narrator justifies killing the enemy, you can tell after all these years it still tears at this guy's heart that he killed another human. He knew that Japanese soldier was just like he was-fightng for what he thought was right. And he killed him. What an honorable man.
Very true, war brings out the worst of the human race regardless of the cause. Remember we the HUMAN race are totally responsible for all the deaths and misery of war. In war there are no winners or losers, only numbers of those killed on both sides.
It Wasn’t until years later that These True Stories Got Spread Out to The General U.S. Public , And Also The Fact That Possibly Thousands Of Japanese Soldiers Never Knew or Could Believe That The War Was Over , They Fought as Bravely as We Did as Well as Our Allies and This Doesn’t Even Address The Thousands Of Japanese Americans That Were Placed In Jail Camps Just For The Paranoia They May Revolt or Be Enemies of Our Country Already !!! Not Even to Mention The Ones Who Were Treated as The Lowest Scum on Earth Just Because of Their Race in Jobs or Everyday Life in The U.S. !!!
The Japanese were on their land, Americans were not.
@@eugenecoghill4252 I agree. No one really "wins" a war.
"There are no great men, just ordinary men forced by circumstances to do great things."
Adm. William "Bull" Halsey Semper Fi, Carl!
@Matt Olivier troll
when people say that no generation would ever measure up, I apply Halsey's axiom.
Don't sell yourself short, you would step up to the task as well.
Semper Fi
He’s so modest about his service. Truly an American hero.
And they were all like that . They just came home , went to work , and raised their families . Because that is what a man does .
does being an American make any difference?
They all were.
@@BarkerVancity no but he fought for the us soooo
Contrast a man like this, with the pieces of human shit that riot and loot our cities and businesses, because "America owes them', as they scream anti-American chants. These people make me sick.
As a marine also born in the Bronx
I feel how binder is on a personal level.
Every sacrifice and acts of bravery during this war are examples of the men I hope to form my character around
May these mens story and Legacy live on forever
Semper fi
My brother was stationed on Iwo Jima in 1978 - 1979 and hike the island seeing equipment, shell casings and blood stained rocks. While on the island he had the opportunity to be part of a few caves being opened for the first time since they were sealed during the war! The sealed caves still had remains of Japanese soldiers in their guard duty positions. The caves were very hot and became hotter as you went deeper into the cave...this was because of Mount Suribachi.
He’s so emotional when he has to talk about killing the Japanese. It wasn’t a casual thing. Killing changes you
@@selaxlife7621 M.A.G.A
@@selaxlife7621 wtf is wrong with you?
The Japanese were not going to give up. I met an Iwo Veteran when I was on Honolulu. He was such a good person
@B Lo oh stop I'm getting all pissy eyed hearing you whimper.
@@vannlo355 stands for Make America Great Again.... Kinda like it was in WWII.... What's wrong with you?
Listening to Carl Berghofer's first hand account of his experience on Iwo Jima during WWll is extraordinary. I'm thankful that Carl was one of the lucky ones to make it home and live to tell his story. Thank you, Mr. Berghofer.
And thanks to "Heroes of the Second World War Foundation".
The eyes never lie. Thank you for your service. Sorry that we are being led astray for the freedoms you fought for.
"I promised my mama I would never be taken alive by the Japanese." What an overwhelmingly touching statement. That is more than any human could ask of another: to know that they may have to kill themselves while undertaking actions for someone else. Stunning!
The greatest generation, I miss my grandparents every day.
Yep me too. This guy hit so many marks, eloquently, of what made that generation great. I saw the same in my Grandpa and don’t see anything close to that today. I Miss my GP dearly everyday, a man who was one of the first US troops landed in AU. He could never talk about what he went through like this gentleman, but he also never asked anything for it. Life without that generation has been hard, and increasingly so. I submit that that they be called the humble generation. Did what they had to, endured it, and moved on as best they could.
Same mate
And the strongest generation there is
*segregated military units
Me too
This man is a badass. No bragging, he just tells us what happened. Salute to you sir!
“I just did what I was told.”
A wise badass indeed.
men that really go through something like this typically won't "brag" the ones who brag are normally the ones that think they've gone through something bad, but really haven't
not sure if bragging is the first thing in mind for these guys lmao
I don't think I've ever heard a soldier, Marine, Officer or anyone brag about the events of WWII whether it was against the Nazi's or the Japanese but this man deserves huge respect and I admire him from across the pond, Semper Fi sir
18 years old?? The courage to just go on is amazing..
I'm glad to see out Greatest Generation's war fighters words and recollections being recorded, we've lost ever so many, it's wonderful to see this recorded for posterity.
As a Canadian I also owe American heroes like Carl for the peace and freedom I've enjoyed during my life . Thankyou sir .
It will soon be all gone thanks to your leader.
Canadians served and fought alongside us too.
@@achillebelanger9866 "The Damned: The Canadians at the Battle of Hong Kong and the POW Experience" Is one of many eye opening reads on the subject. Canadian soldiers had no air support, limited supplies, training & numbers yet they fought bravely & with honor against a larger, better equipped & battled hardened enemy. Some higher ups in the British military even tried to claim they cut & run, when they often fought to the last bullet before having to surrender.
My great-granduncle was captured after fighting in The Battle of Hong Kong (he lied about his age to join the Winnipeg Grenadiers) & spent the next 3 years in POW camps working as a slave laborer. It wasn't until 1998 that the Canadian government finally decided to compensate the soldiers still alive for their slave labour (a whopping $24k to those still alive at the time or their widow) I wish I could have met him but like many Pacific theater POW veterans he had a shortened life expectancy & he died before I was born in '86.
Japan only recently apologized in 2011 for their treatment and violation of the Geneva conventions concerning POW's, but never compensated the soldiers who they used as slave labour in mines or shipyards, often to the death of the POW.
“Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue”
- Chester W. Nimitz, Fleet Admiral and Commander of the US Pacific Fleet.
Semper Fi! 🇺🇸
Nimitz was a saint.
Semper Fi!! 🇮🇶 marine veteran , these are the marines we looked up too and made the corps what it use to be a true fighting force, politics are destroying what the corps stood for!!
💯
I would find it extremely difficult to shake his hand, without hugging him as well. God bless him for his service to our great country. 🙏
Man, this guy has unbelievable recall of the events. Tough as nails! Thank you for your service.
It sounded like to me he wished he could forget. So said my dad he had the nightmares as well
Recall is trauma based that's why he remembers it all . God Bless this soldier and all who fought!
How could you forget event like that?
@@harukrentz435 Events that are trauma involved is never forgotten!!!!!!!
Like the others said. Those experiences are burned and branded into his memory. It's impossible to forget combat experience.
Massive respect for this man the things he seen no one could imagine god bless 🇺🇸🇬🇧 🇦🇺🇳🇿🇨🇦
Thank you for your service. My grandfather was in WW2 and he passed when I was young so I never got to ask him about his life experiences. This was special to watch. Your a HERO
Its too bad that it wasn't until the last couple years that there's been a legitimate effort to document these men experiences. We've already lost so many, so many stories buried, never to be heard... atleast you guys a getting some of them documented
In Finland they sent tape recorders to thousands of veterans. This was in the 80’s and 90’s so many were still alive. Veterans were asked to tell their story. The recordings were later saved in government archives.
It's the fact that they're dying off, & unfortunately that's what it takes to light a fire under our ass.
Agreed. My father was a Navy pilot during WWII. I interviewed him but did not tape it. Wish I had asked him more questions and recorded everything.
Each year, the number left dwindles. There should be an organized effort to record as much as possible as so much has been lost already.
I heard back in like 2012 2011 time that at least 100 ww2 combat vets were dying a die here in the states. Blew my 18 year old mind.
Read more cause there are tons of books documenting thousands of personal experiences
I had the honour to meet one of these guys 2 yrs ago on my dinner hour at a mall were he was with other vets from various wars i got up and went over to introduce myself .he had his iwo Jima hat on . And invited him to sat at my table he did and he told me his story.we rose from the table and i shook his hand it was something i will never forget ever.
Man these guys went though so much it's a miracle they survived. They are a national treasure and desrve our undying respect. We should heed their words. Lest we forget. From Australia 🇦🇺
Thank you for your sacrifice. I was born a free man because of men like you. From across the pond in the UK to our proud american brothers and allies. Shoulder to shoulder we will stand with you forever more
30:29 "we shouldn't disregard our history" - so true
It must be told with as much accuracy as possible.
My father fought in the pacific too. He rarely talked about it, when he did he said the same as this man.
What is you’re dads opinion on why the us entered. Ww2
And if you say concentration camps you’re a bold faced liar b
@@oldironsides4107 You have no point LoL
@@oldironsides4107
I heard a rumor Pearl Harbor had something to do with it.
I'm literally choking back tears right now. God bless this man.
I worked in a hospital and met a WW2 vet.. he told me “there’s things in my head I’ll never forget”
“We aren’t Navy, we’re Coast Guard!”
LMAO!
This man is a national treasure. Thank you, Marine!
in 15 years, these good ol' boys will be gone. I've only ever had the pleasure of talking to one WW2 vet in my life. Something you don't forget.
Got to interview a Pearl Harbor survivor back in 2018. He passed away last year, but I remember listening to his story in awe at what he’s been through and then got the chills Bc not too many are left of that generation
Be gone sooner than that. The youngest ww2 vets are about 95.
My Great Uncle was WW2 Vet, he was at the D-Day landing. He could not talk about what happened there. I've had the privilege to talk to a few of these Gentlemen, Huge Respect to all of them!!!! My 2 tours to Iraq are nothing in comparison.
Thank you Sir. I can only imagine from your stories what you had to endure. Thank you for educating me. Your service to the Constitution as written is a sacrifice beyond repayment. Salute!
Wow - What an amazing man!
Humble, dignified and . . . . . . unbelievably, professional & heroic!
"brave man is just as scared as a coward is" said this man who overcame his fear and did what he needed to do - can't ask for more than that.
"I would do it again, but I would do it better."
Thank-you sir, and those are words I can strive for each and every day I have left.
the fact that there are still legends and more so hand to hand Combate soldiers like this shows what kind of person they are these men went through hell and back and are still alive is great these are truly legends I thank you for all you have done for this country and the many other soldiers who will fight for us
That is a real man I can't thank him enough for his and all the brothers and sisters that served and gave everything for us to sum it up Sir you are a true BADASS ! Thank you
I spent almost 2 years in Vietnam flying helicopter gunships for the U. S. Army. I understand and I salute you.
Thank you sir
My dad was a door Gunner with the 12th aviation. Thanks for all you guys did.
THANK YOU BROTHER MUCH RESPECT
You’re welcome
Kenneth Gibson you’re welcome
“Defend the Constitution as written and not as we interpret it” AMEN brother🇺🇸🇺🇸❤️.
They failed.
@@gordongoodman8342 lol your right. What will it take for us to learn?
@Lewis Powell “We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal.” We never followed this statement even before it was written. Don’t act like we were following the constitution before recently. You like all other nationalists have failed this country, because you are lazy, blind, unrepentant, and do not take responsibility or show compassion to people who are different. You are the failure. You defy everything our constitution stands for. Until you see your faults, we will not advance. Try reading the Bible if you aren’t illiterate.
@@soggmeisterlasagnagarfield It's an ideal that most Americans look up to... It will probably never be followed perfectly. You don't like the Constitution? You don't like white people - what's your point?
Hell yeah, brother!
This is why memorial day needs to be an entire month...how ashamed we should be as a country to not give these men the respect they've earned!
Great interview. What an impressive old man, talking in detail. I can imagine what a specimen he was in fighting youth. Your interractions with him are so wholesome. Very American.
Thank you for interviewing this living American hero.