| oe Rosenthal snapped the iconic photograph, Raising | | | | strides towards success because through intense |
| the Flag on Iwo Jima, he knew it was a special sight, | | | | fighting, the Marines were able to capture the highest |
| but probably never imagined the lengths the snapshot | | | | point of the island within the first week of combat. |
| would travel in history. It was his capturing of the | | | | Sadly, three of the original flag raisers did not live to |
| Battle of Iwo Jima, during the Second World War | | | | see the final triumph. Once the photograph hit the |
| that became one of the most well known depictions | | | | American public, Rosenthal was heralded as the |
| of the war. From this image, a host of stories, life | | | | responsible party for bringing home such a moving |
| histories, movies, and books have emerged, namely | | | | symbol of victory. The photo was passed across the |
| the most recent Clint Eastwood film by the name of | | | | world, even gracing the February 25th Sunday |
| "Flags of Our Fathers." It was a Friday, February | | | | newspapers. Numerous magazines displayed the |
| 23rd, 1945, approaching 1:00pm. The Marines had only | | | | photo on their covers, and in later years, the United |
| landed at Iwo Jima four days earlier and Rosenthal, a | | | | States Marine Corps War Memorial was fashioned |
| photographer with the Associated Press, was visiting | | | | from the influential image. A stamp was also created |
| the island on one of his daily checkups. The news of | | | | in its likeness. Remembering the Battle of Iwo Jima |
| a flag raising ceremony atop a volcano named Mount | | | | through the well-known photo prompted a series of |
| Suribachi came to his attention and upon his arrival, | | | | film adaptations of the events and lives of those |
| he immediately raced to the southern tip of the island | | | | involved. In the Clint Eastwood-directed "Flags of Out |
| with his trusty camera in hand. Rosenthal was too | | | | Fathers," the life stories of the six men who raised |
| late to capture the first raised flag, but as he | | | | the flag unfold. Rosenthal"s presence and involvement |
| reached the summit, he noticed a different group of | | | | is also mentioned. Before the Eastwood"s Hollywood |
| Marines readying to raise a second. Attached to a | | | | blockbuster was created, the United States Navy, |
| stretch of pipe, a large American flag was geared for | | | | Marine Corps, and Coast Guard produced a 1945 |
| flight into the air in one of the most triumphant | | | | documentary titled, "To the Shores of Iwo Jima." In |
| events throughout war history. Rosenthal was able | | | | 1949, John Wayne starred in the "Sands of Iwo |
| to position his short stature on a pile of rocks and | | | | Jima," where Tony Curtis took on the role of flag |
| click his camera at just the right moment to produce | | | | raiser, Ira Hayes in the 1961 film, "The Outsider." As |
| the famous photo you see of six war heroes raising | | | | for Rosenthal, he won a Pulitzer Prize for the |
| Old Glory: John Bradley, Harlon Block, Michael Strank | | | | infamous snapshot, where its impact continues to |
| Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, and Rene Gagnon. The | | | | mesmerize throughout the years. |
| flag raising on Mount Suribachi was important in the | | | | |