Showed small acts of bravery and brotherhood known only to those with whom they fought and served. This is the story of their unknown valor. Im martha macallum, growing up, my mother told us the story of her cousin harry grey. In the summer of 1944 at age 18 he left after High School Graduation to join the marines and serve in the pacific. I was always intrigued and i knew harrys death there left a deep grief in my mothers family. A few years ago struck me to tell the story. The guys who get hit on the beach or in the villages just trying to carry out the mission, they are the extras in the movie, but for some families, somewhere they are their harry grey. The line on the family tree that just ends. A young man who never got to have a life, get married, grow old. To learn about harry and what happened to him on march 13th, 1945i started with a trip to new york to visit his sister, my aunt nancy. She told me about their lives growing up with their mom, migrant aunt anne and her dad harry grey senior. Look how cute. Blonde. We were a very close family. Martha was he protective of you . I didnt have an opportunity to see very much of that. Martha just weeks before christmas in 1938 tragedy struck the family, harry senior died suddenly of Heart Failure making harry grey, jr. The man of the house. My life totally changed after that and my brothers totally changed too. We didnt have any money because my father had only paid into Social Security for 2 years and we had to pay in for 3 years before you could collect so my mother went to work. Martha it was with harrys letters home as well as those of his pal george colbu, in that i began. I realized that the story of iwo jima begins at pearl harbor. 1941 a date which will live in infamous, the United States of america was suddenly and deliberately attacked by naval and air forces of the empire of japan. We are confident in our armed forces with the unbounding determination of our people. We will gain the inevitable triumph so help us god. Let there be no mistake we should destroy somber music this is an urgent message from the International Fellowship of christians and jews. There is an emergency food crisis for elderly Holocaust Survivors in the former soviet union. This is a fight against time. What were dealing with is coming out, meeting someone whos 85, 90 years old, cant get around, has no food, has no water and just wants to give up and die. And thats where we come in. We are called to comfort these people, to be a blessing to their lives. [presenter] for just 25 well rush an emergency survival package to help one desperate elderly person for a month. Call right now. In ukraine theres no support network. They dont have food cards or neighbors that come in to help. Theyre turning to us because they have nowhere else to turn. [presenter] your gift is a lifeline to help these elderly jewish Holocaust Survivors. Help them to live out their final years with dignity and love. Call right now. What i pray is that you wont turn your eyes but you will look at their suffering and your heart will be changed. [presenter] with your gift of just 25 we can rush an emergency survival package to help one desperate elderly person for a month. Call right now. Yeah. This moving thing never gets any easier. Well, xfinity makes moving super easy. I can transfer my internet and tv service in about a minute. Wow, that is easy. Almost as easy as having those guys help you move. We are those guys. Thats you . The truck adds 10 pounds. In the arms. Okay. Transfer your Service Online in a few easy steps. Now thats simple, easy, awesome. Transfer your service in minutes, making moving with xfinity a breeze. Visit xfinity. Com moving today. Martha on september 1st, 1939 hitlers invasion of poland triggered world war ii. It was a fight america wanted nothing to do with. After devastating losses of world war i but after japans vicious surprise attack at pearl harbor, the United States was at war. Young men across the country lined up to enlist and join the fight. Boys like harry grey in arlington and George Colbert who played football with harry and whose mothers was friendly with harrys mom. Dominic in new york, herman grader of dayton, ohio, Woody Williams of quietdale West Virginia and rondo of chicago. They joined thousands of other who is were championing at the bit to fight the japanese. You know, it was generation back then. Your country was at war. You wanted to do something to help. Martha nancy remembers it well. So many of the boys at that time, they were all so patriotic and they thought it was their duty to save the country. I said im joining the marines because i like the uniform. [inaudible] after my 18 birthday i told mom, im going into the marine corps. I didnt know the difference between a marine and army guy. Marine had an attractive uniform and that could get the girls that appeals. Martha they were to paris island and they would train and become marines. I remember my mother did not want him to become a marine. She would prefer to have him in the navy because then he would have a bed to sleep in instead of a fox hole. Martha harry graduated high school, kissed his girlfriend goodbye and vowed to marry her when he got home. He was off to paris island for training. He wrote to uncle frank, my grandfather who was like a father to him after his dad died. We try to keep going. Yesterday we drilled in the sun at 120degrees wearing full combat gear. 3 fellows collapsed. One fellow tried to commit suicide by cutting throat, just by chance they found him before he died. Martha charles remembers well how tough it was. If i would have a gun i would have did the same thing. It was tough but they made a marine out of you. Martha while researching on unknown valori discovered my friend uncle was killed and his name was dominic gracy of lockport, new york, high school and football star turned down an effort to play for the new york giants to fight for his country. That was his dream, he wanted to play football and the war started and he joined the military and he said i really want to play football and i will play when i get home. He came home one day and started talking about the marines and, of course,ic my mom and dad were both surprised about that because he was still going to college, but they give him their blessings and he did, he joined the marines. Gracy quickly recognized as a leader during officer training in virginia, he became a Second Lieutenant in the marine. The training complete, newly minted marines were assigned to 34th replacement draft and stop in california and then on to the pacific. Lieutenant grossi was eager to get to the battle. Im so glad im starting, i think i will enjoy the coming adventure. Im your mother in law. And i like to question your every move. Like this left turn. Its the next one. You always drive this slow . How did you make someone i love . That must be why youre always so late. I do not speed. And thats saving me cash with drivewise. My son, he did say that you were the safe option. And thats the nicest thing you ever said to me. So get allstate. Stop bossing. Where good drivers save 40 for avoiding mayhem, like me. This is my sons favorite color, you should try it. [mayhem] you always drive like an old lady . [tina] youre an old lady. Martha february 1945 world war ii had been raging for nearly 6 years as allied forces fought the nazis in europe, america was virtually alone in the battle against the japanese in the pacific. U. S. Forces battled across the steppingstone island securing one by one killing enemy fighters and regaining the pivotal airfields on each from solomons to gilberts and marshal islands to marianas and closer to mainland japan. I have now stood iwo jima, fortified island in the world, very deep unground with 20,000 of toughest fighting men waited for us to make the first move. Most of us couldnt figure out why they were taking the place and why we needed so many marines to do it. Martha u. S. Bomber battleships had been pummeling the island attempting to cripple japanese defenses. The objective to secure the island and two airstrips as necessary stopover for Battle Damage b29 on the way to and from bombing runs to mainland japan but there was only so much bombardment could achieve. The 22,000 japanese fighters werent on the island, they were in the island. The Imperial Army had spent months digging into the hard surface and building an underground city complete with hospitals, command centers and sleeping quarters. It was the plan of general, bayashi was man in the world, he had lived and worked in the United States for years and he knew the ingenuity and tenacity of the americans and he also knew that victory given japans battered navy and air power was impossible, but he would make sure that the u. S. Paid a heavy price for iwo. His laws of battle for his men commanded each to kill at least 10 americans before they died in combat or their final act of sacrifice, suicide. On the brink of battle he watched from command post waiting for his attack. Beyond the sights, general Holland Smith and his naval armada were approaching. D day, beginning of the toughest day in marine corps history. When this flag drops our Landing Craft will head for the beach. Martha marines descended on iwo jima. They lead the way to the island that guards japan front door. They are going on the toughest assignment of marine corps history. First wave of troops have gotten to the shore. The guys are coming down and dropping and we head in there and full throttle and we started getting closer. This is historic film record of the first boats pushing on shore in iwo jima. 500 Landing Crafts and 3,000 yards of beach. The troops are United States marines and theyre on their way to pages of leather neck heroism. Martha leading them to believe the Bombing Campaign had been a success, but then a 36day hell that would become iwo jima began. General corobashi held the fire waiting for beaches to become congested with marines and he began unleashing on the fourth and fifth divisions on enemy territories. Once out of them the men straggled in the struggle of ashy volcanic sand and sucked in their boots and backs heavy with gear. There was no protection, dropped bombs, artillery or whatever. 24 hours after the battle began, more than 500 americans were dead and nearly 2,000 wounded. Thousands more bounced around on the choppy sea waiting to be sent in to battle. We sat out there for several days waiting to see if they were going to use us and finally got us over before noon on the 20th. We had to cross the first airfield, we lost a tremendous number of marines. Martha charlie remembers. It was a pile of hats jap s p japs. [laughter] martha on iwo jima the volcano mount and u. S. Forces fought their way to the top. Gives the order to cease fire. Our guns are quiet. We wait for a sign. Martha the moment immorallized in iconic photo symbolized that while coming to an end was far from over. On iwo jima in one of the most vicious battle of the 5week struggle. They were fighting to beat back japanese resistance in ridge in secondary field. February 24th, 1945 they were assigned to get airstrip number 2. The first two attempts werent successful and many men fell but they got to the top of the hill and the japanese were waiting for them. Par mar he survived the battle and awarded the navy cross for his valor one of only ten he sippians on iwo jima, citation read Second Lieutenant grossi let his unit with courage slashing right and left with bayonet and dropping them behind rocks, sweeping aside the enemy, holding desperately and fighting furiously in hand to hand engagements as he smashed through a sector swarmed with japanese to gain a 50foot ridge on the opposite side of the airstrip. Trying to take that airfield, they have all to do hand to hand combat fighting. It was really so brave. Thats the day he really got the navy cross for. Martha after that battle he sent a letter but mention neither his wounds nor his heroism. Dearest mother, ive been doing Little Movement lately and thats the reason i havent written. I know youre word but everything is all right. Im iwo jima and its a hot spot. Its just about secure and we will move to gumma in a day or two. I just finished bacon and egg sandwich, first hot stuff in about 5 days. Give me love to daddy and the children, your son dom. Martha not far from the ridge was the flamethrower operator from West Virginia. He was considered too short for the marines when he first tried to enlist, Woody Williams. We had been there for 2 days, lost so many people. Officer asked me as the only flame thrower operator left, could i do something about some of these so he told me to pick 4 marines to help me and i just said you and you and you. It was just marines. Two of those marines that day sacrificed their lives protecting mine. Never knew who they were. That impacted but lost lives for exactly the same platform. Martha last surviving iwo jamima gold medal recipient. Sadly tried to take the airfield, its when he was shot down, and we do know he was shot in the head and it was a quick death and we are thankful for that but he could have come home but says a lot to the character of him and his patriotism and love of country, dedication, very dedicated man. Truly he was a big hero. It was all the rest of his men too. They were all heros tums versus mozzarella stick bell rings when heartburn hits fight back fast. With tums chewy bites. Beat heartburn fast tums chewy bites you may not be thinking about blood donation, but blood is needed to save the lives of people who are sick with a range of illnesses. Its easy and safe to give. If you are in good health, please donate. We need heroes now. Visit red cross blood dot org to schedule an appointment. You ever wish you werent a motaur . Sure. Sometimes i wish i had legs like you. Yeah, like a regular person. No. Still half bike half man, just the opposite. Oh, so the legs on the bottom and motorcycle on the top . Yeah. Yeah, i could see that. For those who were born to ride, theres progressive. Yeah, i could see that. She asked her stitch fix stylist for jeans that fit just right. And these feel like they were made just for her. Let us find your perfect fit at stitchfix. Com well, you see here. Theres a photo of you and theres a photo of your mommy and then theres a picture of me. But before our story it goes way, way, way back with your great, great, great grandparents. See this handsome man, his name is william. William fell in love with rose and they had a kid. His name was charles and charles met martha. Isnt she pretty . Yeah. Particular mari knew in order to write unknown valor i would have to see iwo jima for myself. The japanese regained control of the island in 1968 but once a year during the anniversary of the battle, they allow a small number of americans to visit for a few short hours. They are there to attend the reunion of honor, gathering of american and japanese veterans and dignitaries. Both sides remember those they lost. More than 720 years after his death i would see where harry grey and so many others fought and died. We boarded an Early Morning flight from guam, about an hour later iwo jima came slowly into view. Passengers craned their necks to get a look at mount and black sand beaches, upon landing as veterans descended the stairs and set foot on the island once again, they were greeted by the marine corps all saluted and shook hands, then we set off for the 2mile track to sirabachi. Martha from the top we look down at the landing beaches. We saw the spot where the flag was raised. Its now just a sought off pipe surrounded by cement and the u. S. Memorial where veterans and families pay their respects as they remember the nearly 7,000 marines who gave their lives to secure this island. Martha further down on the island we saw whats left of the airstrip that is provided a pivotal stopover for b29 bombers on the way to japanese mainland. I walked with ron, vietnam veteran, historian and my coauthor for this book, ron had been to iwo jima multiple times as guide for tours and he knows the battle well. He pointed out the beach where harry, george, charlie and the rest of the 34th replacement draft landed back in 1945. The approach is up an incline, up second incline so by the time you get there, you dont have much left. Martha then ron took me to another spot, the place where the mortars hit and this is where japanese held out for weeks long after the flag raised, marines were still being killed as fighters fighting with a vengeance before meeting their own death. I walked the field where harry died and thought about the young men and i knew from letters what had happened here, all those years ago, he had written to them after harry was killed. This is about the fifth letter. I cant seem to put into writing just what i want to say. Harry and i were great buddies. I was out in iwo jima where it happened, im sure he was killed instantly and there was no pain. He was wearing his rosary on his neck when it happened as the nations doctor, i often get asked what should i do if i think i might have corona virus . People who are sick should stay home. You dont go to an emergency room. You dont go to a clinic. You get on the phone and you ask for advice and instructions from your physician. We dont want you to go into the e. R. Or the Doctors Office without talking to them first, because you might spread corona virus to someone else. Please visit coronavirus. Gov for more information. The theater home to you,t to with xfinity movie premiere. Theres a world full of other trolls. How different can they be . Our brandnew service that lets you watch all the latest movie releases from the comfort of home. Trolls world tour available now. I will protect you no matter what, pinky promise. Just say xfinity movie premiere into your voice remote to bring the theater to you. Martha when i returned from iwo jimai got a call and he asked for picture of harry grey to show his friend charlie, we knew he was in 34th replacement draft and had been wounded on march 13th. Replacement draft and they would use us where they needed us and my job was picking up the dead and taking off tags and martha but it wasnt until charlie saw the picture of harry that it all came back. He knew harry well. They shar