Barefoot Marine vs. 10,000 Japanese: The Stinger Machine Gun’s Bloody Legend

In the black volcanic sand of Iwo Jima, 1945, a 5’6” Marine named Tony Stein did the unthinkable: He tore a machine gun off a warplane, welded it to a rifle stock, and charged alone into Japan’s deadliest defenses—barefoot.
This is the story of the "Stinger": a homemade, 1,200-round-per-minute monster weapon that ordnance experts called a "guaranteed death trap." But for Stein, a former toolmaker from Dayton, it was the key to survival. Over 8 hours of hellish combat, he made 8 suicide runs through enemy crossfire to resupply ammo, saved 9 wounded comrades, and destroyed 5 Japanese bunkers—all while his weapon glowed red-hot and threatened to explode in his hands.
How did a "rule-breaking" gun anticipate modern military tactics by 20 years? Why did Stein run barefoot on 122°F (50°C) ash? And how did his death on Iwo Jima’s 11th day inspire the M60 machine gun still used today?
Join us as we uncover the untold legend of Tony Stein—the Medal of Honor recipient who turned a discarded aircraft weapon into a symbol of courage. From Hawaii’s repair sheds to Mount Suribachi’s slopes, this is WWII history as raw, brutal, and heroic as it gets.
🔍 What You’ll Learn:
The genius (and madness) behind the Stinger’s design
How 1,200 rounds per minute shattered Japan’s bunker defenses
Why Stein’s tactics redefined "suppression fire" forever
The untold cost of Iwo Jima’s bloodiest single-day heroics
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