Video: Rare Footage of a Catholic Mass Aboard a Ship On Its Way to Iwo Jima

http://www.aleteia.org ^ | November 10, 2014 | ZOE ROMANOWSKY

[NKP_Vet]

This short color film was shot on Monday, February 12, 1945, on a tank landing ship on its way to the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II. It is likely, given the number of deaths in the battle, some of the men shown in this film never made it back. The film depicts Mass being celebrated on board the ship during high seas. The white liturgical vestments of the chaplain indicate a holy day: That year, February 12 was the eve of Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. This remarkable footage brings to mind the men and women who have given their lives over the years in service to their country.

[NKP_Vet]

"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." ~ Gen George S. Patton

[NorthMountain]

Astonishing how well preserved that film is. Any idea who had it, where it was kept?

[FlingWingFlyer]

The commie lib college kiddies aren’t going to like this. Taxpayer dollars were used to pay for the film and the camera. There is going to be a lot of hysteria on the Berkeley campii when the little kiddies hear about this.

[jumpingcholla34]

Remarkable.

[skeeter]

Thank God most of these men aren’t around to see what the current occupant of the White House is doing to the country they fought for.

[Chainmail]

A rough sea state: look at all the rolling reflected in the movements of the priest and the men.

Look at the serious expressions of all those young men. They knew what they were in for.

God bless and keep them.

[Claud]

Wow.

[Old Sarge]

I recall bitterly, a thread on FR where some Leftist hive on the Left Coast threw out the memorial to COL Pappy Boyington, USMC, because according to the hipsters he was a hateful warmonger.

[laplata]

Yes, God bless them.

No Communion in the hand in those days.

[Eric in the Ozarks]

They truly were America’s Greatest Generation.

[FlingWingFlyer]

The commie left hate this country and work hard towards its destruction. They want to destroy everything American.

[PGR88]

My Dad or Uncles could be in that crowd

its amusing how they are swaying in unison with the rolling of the ship, like some choreographed dance going on in the Mass. You never see that in church!

[sjm_888]

Saw the other night on PBS (I believe) a documentary on Bill Genaust, one of movie photogs assigned by the Army to film the battle on Iwo Jima. He recorded like 14 reels of color footage before himself was killed flushing out the enemy from a cave. His most famous clip is the raising of the second American flag on Iwo Jima. Good stuff.

[NorthMountain]

its amusing how they are swaying in unison with the rolling of the ship, like some choreographed dance going on in the Mass.

After a few weeks at sea, they probably thought they were standing still.

[rfreedom4u]

Bump

[Salvation]

Wow!

[Batman11]

PFL

[Kolokotronis]

I have a photograph on the wall at home showing my Dad receiving communion at sea while on convoy duty in the No. Atlantic in 1942. He was radio operator on a Q ship. He said it had been rough for days, but the Atlantic went flat calm when the Mass started.

[sjm_888]

Saw the other night on PBS (I believe) a documentary on Bill Genaust, one of movie photogs assigned by the Army to film the battle on Iwo Jima. He recorded like 14 reels of color footage before himself was killed flushing out the enemy from a cave. His most famous clip is the raising of the second American flag on Iwo Jima. Good stuff.

My bad, not on PBS but History Channel. Here is a link about the show, along with upcoming show times.

[BlatherNaut]

bump