▁on ▁the ▁east ▁side ▁of ▁I wo ▁J ima . ▁ ▁T atum ▁was ▁awarded ▁the ▁Bron ze ▁Star ▁Medal ▁with ▁Com bat ▁" V " ▁for ▁saving ▁a ▁Marine ▁bud dy , ▁Steve ▁Ev anson , ▁during ▁fighting ▁at ▁Hill ▁ 3 6 2 ▁on ▁I wo ▁J ima ▁( E v anson ▁never theless ▁died ▁the ▁next ▁day ). ▁T atum ▁was ▁subsequently ▁wounded ▁in ▁action ▁and ▁ev acu ated ▁from ▁the ▁island . ▁ ▁Career ▁T atum ▁became ▁a ▁successful ▁race ▁car ▁driver ▁and ▁builder ▁after ▁the ▁war . ▁His ▁son , ▁Bla ke ▁T atum , ▁drove ▁a ▁Cr us ader ▁that ▁was ▁manufact ured ▁by ▁his ▁father ' s ▁company ▁to ▁become ▁the ▁ 1 9 9 4 ▁Formula ▁V ee ▁West ▁Coast ▁Regional ▁Champion . ▁ ▁T atum ▁was ▁active ▁in ▁Marine ▁affairs ▁and ▁was ▁twice ▁the ▁president ▁of ▁the ▁Stock ton ▁Marine ▁Corps ▁Club ▁in ▁California . ▁In ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁he ▁arranged ▁a ▁mem orial ▁service ▁in ▁Washington ▁D . C . ▁in ▁recognition ▁of ▁the ▁ 5 0 th ▁anni versary ▁of ▁the ▁Battle ▁of ▁I wo ▁J ima . ▁ ▁T atum ' s ▁book , ▁Red ▁Blood , ▁Black ▁Sand , ▁first ▁printed ▁in ▁ 1 9 9 5 , ▁is ▁one ▁of ▁the ▁five ▁books ▁used ▁as ▁a ▁basis ▁for ▁the ▁television ▁mini - series ▁The ▁Pacific ; ▁T atum ▁is ▁port rayed ▁by ▁actor ▁Ben ▁Es ler . ▁ ▁References ▁ ▁External ▁links ▁ ▁Category : 1