At 100 years old, World War II veteran Don Graves has done something extraordinary — he’s turned his personal experience on the front lines of one of the most iconic battles in American history into a moving country song titled “The Sand of Iwo Jima.”
The song, now released and gaining attention nationwide, features country music icons John Rich and Lee Greenwood, who lent their voices to Graves’ words — words drawn directly from the horrors and heroism of war.
A Song Born From Sacrifice
Don Graves is one of the few remaining survivors of the Battle of Iwo Jima. As a flamethrower operator in the U.S. Marines, he landed on the beach on February 19, 1945 — a day etched in his memory forever. Now, eight decades later, he’s telling his story through song.
“We lost 7,000 men there, so six could raise that flag.”
That line, sung with conviction, is one of the most poignant moments in “The Sand of Iwo Jima.” It reflects both the pain and the pride of what Graves and his fellow Marines endured.
A Century in the Making
While Don Graves has been singing patriotic songs at events for years, it wasn’t until he turned 100 that he wrote one of his own. Teaming up with songwriters Frank Myers and Jason Sever, Graves put his memories to music.
In May, he signed a record deal with BMI — and the team brought him to Starstruck Studios in Nashville, Tennessee to record the song. There, John Rich and Lee Greenwood surprised him in the booth, singing the lyrics he helped create.
“Jason Sever and I wrote this song with him, and for his 100th birthday he was brought to Nashville to record it,” Myers shared on YouTube. “A special thank you to John Rich and Lee Greenwood for surprising him that day and singing the song. May God bless Don Graves and all our warriors who have fought for freedom.”
“The Sand of Iwo Jima”: A Tribute in Lyrics
The song begins by describing Iwo Jima — “a patch of dirt out in the ocean that Roosevelt had to have” — and takes listeners through the unimaginable losses and triumphs that defined the battle.
The chorus is a powerful reflection of camaraderie, sacrifice, and service:
“We fought for our freedom, we fought for the flag,
We fought for each other, and we had each other’s backs.
I still pray for my brothers that made that sacrifice
On the sand of Iwo Jima in 1945.”
Later, Greenwood reflects on Graves’ upbringing during the Great Depression — a time that, while tough, helped forge what would become known as the Greatest Generation.
By the end of the song, Rich and Greenwood join their voices to deliver one final, emotional line from Graves:
“I still see those soldiers’ faces, I still hear their battle cries.”
The Man Behind the Music: Don Graves
Born in Detroit, Don Graves left high school in 1942 at age 17 to follow in his father’s footsteps and join the U.S. Marines. Before reaching Iwo Jima, he was stationed in New Zealand and then trained stateside before being deployed to Japan.
“I landed in the third wave on February 19 at 8 in the morning,” Graves recalled in an interview with photographer D. Clark Evans. “We couldn’t move, we couldn’t get up. Guys were getting killed. It took us three days to go 540 feet to Suribachi — inch by inch, foot by foot, shell hole by shell hole.”
In vivid detail, Graves describes brutal combat, including a grenade fight and clearing enemy pillboxes. He remembers watching a Japanese soldier blow himself up rather than be captured.
“I thought, this guy is going out in style… Then boom. He was gone; there was nothing left of him.”
https://youtu.be/JfmAeVXgOL0
Life After War: A Story of Redemption
After returning home, Graves married his wife Rebecca and settled in Detroit. Like many veterans, he struggled to adjust to civilian life and fell into heavy drinking. But everything changed in 1954 when he watched a Billy Graham sermon.
“I just fell in love with that blessed book,” he said. “God put me in the ministry for 32 years. Had a great time and I worked hard.”
Don and Rebecca raised four children together before her passing in 2016. Today, Graves continues to honor the memory of his fallen brothers — not only through service, but now, through song.
A Living Legacy
“The Sand of Iwo Jima” isn’t just a song. It’s a living testament to the bravery, sacrifice, and enduring spirit of a generation that changed the world. And thanks to the voice of Don Graves — and the help of a few country stars — that story will now live on for generations to come.
