On April 30, 1945, one of the most iconic photos of the 20th century was taken: "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima." The photograph, captured by Joe Rosenthal, depicts six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in World War II.
The battle, which lasted from February 19 to March 26, 1945, was a major victory for the United States, as Iwo Jima was a strategic island that could serve as a staging area for attacks on the Japanese mainland. The battle was fierce, with heavy casualties on both sides, and the capture of Mount Suribachi was a significant milestone.
The flag-raising scene was actually the second one that day, with the first flag being replaced by a larger one. The photograph became an instant sensation and was widely reproduced in newspapers and magazines across the United States. It later served as the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
The identities of the six Marines in the photograph were not immediately known, and it took several years to confirm who they were. The Marines were Harlon Block, Harold Schultz, Franklin Sousley, Harold Keller, Ira Hayes, and Michael Strank. Sadly, Block, Sousley, and Strank were killed in action just days after the photograph was taken.
The photograph and the story behind it have become an enduring symbol of the bravery, sacrifice, and patriotism of the United States Marines and the American forces during World War II.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
