Sherman M4A3 Flamethrower Tanks on Iwo Jima

[donkeymoo]

flamethrower tanks must be one of the most rare things to have on tape ever

[bmbullman]

This is the kind of tactic you use when you're just plain tired of getting ambushed every 50 feet.

[timf]

There were 8 of these flamethrower tanks on Iwo Jima. Next to a Marine Rifleman they were the most effective weapon on the island.

[thereseember]

My Dad was a U.S. Corporal Marine on Iwo Jima. So many Americans had died in WWII that those in high school were being recruited w/ the promise of a diploma if they deployed before graduation. My Dad was 17. One time, volunteers were requested to climb a hill as scouts & to report back what they’d seen. My Dad & another Marine quickly volunteered, but when they returned back, everyone had been destroyed. He was one of only two in his platoon who survived. He still had severe PTSD in his mid/late 80’s. He lived to be 90. A full platoon of U.S. Marines attended his burial with a jet fly-over in his honor.

[Jet-xkss]

My beautiful young dad died on that island. Mom was five months pregnant with me and he was the love of her life.

[JeffY-yz]

the war in the Pacific was absolutely medieval, with modern weapons.

[zeonace]

Fun facts: a flamethrower tank always had another tank as escort sitting just far enough back to protect it from attack. The flamethrower was also better at clearing bunkers and and tunnels then HE shells. Due to the fact the flames became so intense it would burn off any oxygen and suffocate whatever it didn't burn.

[phobiazzzero]

my grandfather fought there and came out without a leg and a hand..also deaf...lived to be 94, i asked him many times to tell me stories..he never did, he took everything with him to the grave RIP

[djcfrompt]

"Sherman" is a very appropriate name for this particular variant.

[SouperBox]

My grandfather was 19. 4th Marine Division JASCO Unit. Out of 14 guys in his unit, only 2 survived and he was one of them. Got shot in the leg, and he remembered the “splashing” of bodies going overboard on the hospital ship. Thank you for service Thomas C. Long.

[editedforprivacy]

If i showed this to some medieval peasant what do you think the chances are he would think this is a dragon?

[xtexasredx]

AMAZING FOOTAGE. Incredible to see WW2 birds eye view

[jakeramos]

My grandma’s cousin was a guerrilla fighter in the Philippines during the Japanese occupation. He was tortured and buried alive by the Japanese. I’m lucky enough to still have a living grandparent who witnessed the war, and she described the the Japanese as brutal and cruel, who never missed an opportunity to oppress the people. She once told me they would spikes in the tinikling bamboo sticks and force Filipinos to dance.

[GoatFarmer]

My uncle was a Army soldier on a 30 cal machine gun crew that fought off a nighttime Japanese paratrooper attack in the battle of Leyte Gulf. A japanese grenade went off in his face but they were using less explosive in them so it didnt kill him. He lived well into his 80s and raised a wonderful family.

[themilkman]

my great uncle had 2 brothers that died in the war one at normandy and one taking a bayonet by a Japanese soldier on iwo later succumbing to his wounds in the hospital. i would visit my uncle norman all the time and he always had stories of them had the purple heart from the one that got stabbed and some sand from iwo jima along with a bunch of his memorabila like a book that listed all the soldiers and their units naming the coffey brothers sadly when he past some aunts come like vultures. i miss visiting you uncle thanksgivings arnt the same without you and aunt loretta.

[buckshot]

My uncle was a Marine and was just 16 when he landed on Iwo as a machine gunner. He was in a bomb crater with 13 other Marines when it was hit by a mortar. All were kia except my Uncle. He drank to ease his guilt and pain and died at the ripe old age of 85. I have one of his canteens with his name on the cover.

[freakyflow]

There is a house on Juno beach called "The Canada house" WW2 Vets are welcomed at any time to visit for the last 70 years There they can sign their names on the basement walls Grandfather Wrote "Sorry i threw a grenade down here the first time" The family that owns the home are the Grandchild of the owners back in WW2

[rickfritschler]

I was the desk clerk at Parris Island Conditioning, Motivation and Correctional Platoon. I showed similar movies every day to recruits while eating their actual C. rations for lunch. The flame isn't terrifying the human aftermath shown on film is terrifying!! 😮

[kingdifference]

My grandfather used to run maintenance on these tanks and they would have the most badass nicknames for the crews/ tanks two that stood out the most were “THE BREATHE OF BAAL” & “HELL IN A CAN” 😂😂

[ryanschuler]

They probably have wild footage that never saw the light of day