A unique Canadian-American Legion story
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Jason Pankratz - Tillsonburg Legion
You know I love Canadian history and content! We will soon celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday, but this article is about an amazing American story!
Johnny Cash (the singer... you know, the Man in Black) joined the American Air Force in 1951. He served in West Germany as a radio operator. He listened and spied to Russian communications through Morse code. He said that he was the first western ally to hear about the death of Stalin in 1953. It was during his service that he strengthened his guitar skills, wrote poetry and songs that he hoped would become musical hits.
Six years earlier on Feb. 23, 1945, the iconic photograph of Marines raising the American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima was taken. That photo has become an iconic American image. One of the men raising the flag in the photo was Ira Hayes. He was a Native American who had joined the Marines, served through Pacific Campaign and came home after the war. Like many veterans, when he came home, real life was harder to live up to than the image of the ‘brave soldier.’ It is noted that he resented the fame of the photo and the celebrity that was borne of it, the war and his ‘hero’ image.
In 1949 John Wayne starred in the film ‘Sands of Iwo Jima.’ It perpetuated the American post-war propaganda machine. It is a true Hollywood production that tells the story of a hardened officer who finds embattlement easier than civilian life. And in typical fashion, it portrays war gallantly with heroes avenging the deaths of comrades diving into trenches, those who lived and died, and did so with passion and duty.
Clint Eastwood directed the film ‘Flags of our Fathers’ in 2000. The film conveys a better visual story of the battle and focuses on the lives of the men during and after the raising of the flag, the photograph and its publicity. In particular, the audience receives a better sense and portrayal of Ira Hayes, played by Adam Beach (a Native Canadian actor). This film is violent, gritty, and does not dismiss the demons of veterans and their battles with ‘soldiering’, propagandist fame and post-traumatic stress, which often resulted in substance abuse and depression.
Interestingly, the 1949 picture features the real Ira Hayes. He, along side of three of his real life comrades, raised the flag on the island in the film. How uncomfortable that must have been. Not only was he part of the real events, remembering the traumatic experience of the battle but also made to reproduce the scene as popular culture for the time, as well as war remembrance and as an American photographic icon four years after the fact and the war’s end.
Ira Hayes died in 1955 due to alcoholism. He died, not as a hero of the Second World War or as an integral representative of the Native American community or as a successful veteran and civilian. Ira’s story was told in song by folksinger Peter La Farge on his 1965 album ‘On the Warpath.’ The lyrics are: “But he was just a Pima Indian, No water, no crops, no chance, At home nobody cared what Ira'd done, And when did the Indians dance... Then Ira started drinkin' hard; Jail was often his home, They'd let him raise the flag and lower it, like you'd throw a dog a bone!”
His civilian suffering and ‘heroic’ legacy would be documented in the song made famous a year later by Johnny Cash.
Cash, as we know, went on to deal with his own substance abuse and mental health issues. He told the story of the everyman, the rebel and the preacher. He sang songs about prison, was featured in film and television, and in particular, was Homer’s coyote spiritual chili induced guide on The Simpson’s (for our younger readers). Even more connecting, the documentary ‘My Father and the Man in Black’ by Jonathan Holiff from London, Ont., is a memoir to his father’s managing of Cash’s career between the 1960s to 1970s.
CASH TRIBUTE SHOW - FEB. 25
On a lighter note, for all the Johnny Cash fans, our Legion Branch 153 will host a Johnny Cash Tribute show on Saturday, Feb. 25. It will start at 8 p.m. and tickets are $20. It will be fantastic show! So make sure to come!
Friday, March 17 is the St. Patrick’s Day dance, which is free admission from 7-11 p.m.! And Friday March 24 is our Ladies Auxiliary chicken dinner and dance featuring another community country favourite Wally Maggs - $20 for both dinner only and show.
Your Legion Brach 153 prides itself in bringing you history and community events. Make sure that you schedule your calendar for these events. Without these events and your attendance our Legion would not be part of the community and the entertainment it brings! Everyone is welcome down at the Legion!