The Picture – Iwo Jima Photos
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Easy Company take the flags up Mt. Suribachi at Iwo Jima. Easy Company had been fighting 4 days. They had 40% casualties to date. |
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The first flagraising atop Mount Suribachi, February 23, 1945. Hank Hansen (without helmet), Boots Thomas (seated), John Bradley (behind Thomas) Phil Ward (hand visible grasping pole), Jim Michaels (with carbine) and Chuck Lindberg (behind Michaels). Photo by Lou Lowery. 10AM, Feb. 23, 1945 |
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The first flag comes down as the second flag goes up. Photo by Bob Campbell. |
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This is the original photograph by Joe Rosenthal. It was later cropped (see next picture) to become the photo we all know. |
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Here’s the second flag raising as seen in the the most reproduced photograph in the history of photography. Click here for film clips of the flag raising.
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Here’s Rosenthal snapping a posed shot minutes after the second flag raising. |
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Four of the Flag Raisers (Bradley, Hayes, Sousley & Strank) appear with their jubilant buddies. Strank, Sousley and many of these boys would soon be dead. |
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“In that moment, Rosenthal’s camera recorded the soul of a nation.” – Editors of US Camera Magazine. “It was like shooting a football game. You never knew what you got on film.” – Joe Rosenthal, Photographer |
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Your post sucks. Mines better! ..lol. Just kidding. Just getting into this
blogging thing myself, though I don’t think anyone actually reads my posts. Does it come easier with time?
There was a gung ho group photo taken right after the famous flag raising picture; it appears in the book Flags of Our Fathers. My father is on the far left with helmet upraised; he is listed as “Unknown” with Ira Hayes seated in front of him….His name was Ralph Loretta; he died in 2008 at 84. We contacted the author, Bradley, a few years ago and so did a writer for the local newspaper, but he did not seem to have interest in correcting and adding my father’s name in any subsequent editions; so for the record, he is not “unknown”…..again, his name was Ralph Loretta.
My grandfather was there at the flag raising and is in the group photo taken immediately after. He was part of the 4th division and survived, his name was Arnold White (deceased at age 67).
My friend purchased a Marine’s photo album at an auction that has over 50 of Rosenthal’s pictures as well as some pics from Guam and Hawaii. The album is old and the pictures appear to be original. Were complete sets of his pictures given out to soliders?
My Grandmother’s brother was in the military during Iwo Jima. he also had a camera during this time, recently i have inherited these original photographs and one of which is of the flag raising. I am unsure if the flag raising in his picture is the first or the second flag raising to occur. Anyone who may be interested in helping me research these photographs further please e-mail me. Thank you
I was with the 1st Marine Division, Air Force VMF 121 I am Native American Indian, our of San Diego, Calif. I now reside in Washington State and I am a healthy 93 years old.
I was given a copy of this picture while I was on the Island of Peleliu.
Is there any on still alive from this division? PLEASE CONTACT ME.
at ltcreate@olypen.com this is my daughters email.
Thank you…
John G Silvas… Once a Marine always a Marine.
My uncle Cpl James eE Hagstrom was Easy co 2nd platoon,3rd squad 28th marines 5th div.survived Suribatchi and was KIA on hill 362 Mar,1,1945.
I will honor him forever as all those that fought for us.
my memories of WWII is now on Amazon.com /kindle
with this photo on the cover. ‘ Memories of Pearl Harbor Day ‘
this photo is a lasting memory for all of us of the older generation.
For life on the home front this photo was a great morale booster.
gracias soldados americanos por llevar la libertad,alli donde hacia falta y derrotar con vuestro valor y vidas a el mal thank you
Thanks for this page, and for all these wonderful comments. I hope they lead to some pleasant reunions.
My father, a USMC Raider, was also present for this moment in history. Wounded, he cheered as the first flag went up, and was very angry when it came down, blaming Joe Rosenthal for many years for “wanting to get a better picture.” As I became a photojournalist myself, I was very glad to see him exonerated over time.
This photo by Bob Campbell proves that the second flag went up immediately after the first one came down, so I don’t know why my Dad was so upset over it for so many years. He told everyone there were “two flags” and for most of his life, nobody believed him. He’d be very happy to see this page.
He was SSgt Carl Andrew Rasmussen, better known as Andy. He died in 1982, and has a memorial marker at Arlington National Cemetery. (We didn’t know until later that Arlington isn’t a “Marines” cemetery. My bad. Sorry, Dad. It will give him something to complain about in heaven.
We also have a print of the picture taken by Joe Rosenthal. My father was a WWII frogman at the time. His name is George Riser, now age 88 1/2. He was given what he was told the very first printing of Joe Rosenthal’s picture, BEFORE, it was give to the Associated Press. My father was on an aircraft carrier stationed at Guam during the time of the photo on Iwo Jima. The man who printed the photo gave it to my father along with 2 other pictures taken of my father by Rosenthal. The other pictures are of my father in battle, and one with Bob Hope as his caddy in a USO golf game. He was plucked from the war to do this and then returned. All three photos are safely stored in a bank vault.
sarah do we know each other thru ohio university? n
Believe it or not, Dad, Staff Sgt. L. A. Champagne, is the Marine with the flamethrower, pictured at the conclusion of the movie Flags of Our Fathers. He died in 1989 and never, of course, got to see the flick. Curiously, the film was released by paramount on my 60th birthday, February 6, 2007. He served from 1939-1946 with the 3rd Division, 9th regiment, 3rd battalion. God bless him.
His one and only draft-dodging son.
Dear Mr. Rosthenal. My dad was their at the flag raising and I believe I have the original picture of the one you took. My father’s name is Elmer Elvizio Breschini. On the back of the picture is the # 776 printed in red ink. Can you help me out here and tell me what the # stands for? Mathew E. Breschini
Joe Rosenthal died in August of 2006, Matthew, but as a photographer myself, I can tell you the number could have many meanings. It may have been the 776th print from that same negative. It could have been photo #776 from all the photos taken that day. It could even have been #776 of one particular print run for sale. They sold a lot of these photos. It is among the top 25 photos ever taken, and is probably number 4 or 5 of those. He worked 35 years for The Associated Press. Find a historian with AP and ask.
My husband’s grandfather, John H. Shepherd ( Eddyville, Nebraska) was a PFC in the 5th Marine Division, 28th Regiment and was wounded in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He has passed away in the late 90′s, but several pieces of memorabilia ( letters to his wife regarding his injuries, his Purple Heart Certificate and Medal, a copy of the Spearhead book) have been passed down to us. I am mostly curious about a picture that we have of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. On the back there is a notation ( we assume John did) that says “This ia off the original negative. They were made and given only to the officers and men of the 28th regiment who participated in the battle of Iwo Jima”.
Then it lists 6 names (although writing is faded and difficult to read)
Sgt. “Mike” Strank -killed in action
Sgt Harry Hansen – killed in action
PVC “Red” Sousley – killed in action
PFC – “Chief” Ira Hayes
PFC -Rene Gagnon
Phm 2/c – John Bradley – wounded
We’d like to know if other soldiers did indeed get a copy of this picture and why he would have the name Harry Hansen instead of Harlon Block.
Any help or information would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!
My husband’s grandfather, John H. Shepherd ( Eddyville, Nebraska) was a PFC in the 5th Marine Division, 28th Regiment and was wounded in the Battle of Iwo Jima. He has passed away in the late 90′s, but several pieces of memorabilia ( letters to his wife regarding his injuries, his Purple Heart Certificate and Medal, a copy of the Spearhead book) have been passed down to us. I am mostly curious about a picture that we have of the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi. On the back there is a notation ( we don’t know who wrote it) that says “This ia off the original negative. They were made and given only to the officers and men of the 28th regiment who participated in the battle of Iwo Jima”.
Then it lists 6 names (although writing is faded and difficult to read)
Sgt. “Mike” Strank -killed in action
Sgt Harry Hansen – killed in action
PVC “Red” Sousley – killed in action
PFC – “Chief” Ira Hayes
PFC Rene Gagnon
The wounded marine being held by the medic is my uncle, Bob O’Neil from Cleveland, Ohio.
My Uncle Bill Mason was on Iwo He said his unit was told to take the air strip I believe it was the 3rd marine Division he is still alive and well with his wife at his side he resides in Utah but is form Lexington KY, he told in an interview he prayed before he left the ship and ask god to watch over all the guys he said they lost a lot of good men that day then he told in the same sentence he kissed the deck of the ship when they left that place and thanked god for his mercy , if anyone was with my uncle Bill Mason on that Island and needs his contact info please feel free to email me . God Bless
I’M AN OLD FRIEND OF KEITH WELLS OF ABILENE,TX. HE LED THE CHARGE UP MT. SURIBACHI IN IWO JIMA.
I TRIED TO CALL HIM TO WISH HIM A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
HIS PHONE NUMBERS WERE DISCONNECTED. IF SOME ONE COULD TELL ME HOW TO GET IN TOUCH WITH HIM, I WOULD APPRECIATE IT. I HOPE HE IS STILL ALIVE?
Jim O’Leary,
Keith Wells is my father. He has moved to Wheat Ridge, CO after his wife Kathryn Wells died in 2011. He just celebrated his 91st birthday in February. We had a big birthday party and the Marines honored him. The local newspaper, Wheat Ridge Transcript, did a story on him 2/14/13. You can reach him directly at 303 432-6934. His address is 9515 W 49th Ave #5, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033. He does have memory loss. My cell phone is 303 907-4704.
Thanks,
Connie Wells Schultz
I recently found the newspaper “The Stars And Stripes” that my dad had. It is from March 6 1945. The front page of the paper has the picture of the flag being rasied over Iwo Jima. I am wondering if any historians think this should be in a museum?
I too own an original uncut photo taken and autographed by Mr Jow Rosenthal. My brother before he passed away created a masterpiece reproduction mural on the wall of our towns Legion Of Valor Mueum. I really would like to sell this photo but I have no ideal of a true value. I took it once to a antique shop and he said $15 dollars was what he’d pay. I was insulted and walked out
i love this story of the flag raising
Thank you for all these comments. I thank God for your sacrifice.My Great uncle Adam Hociej was KIA. He was in the 26th. Marines. Any info would be appreciated. God Bless America..
I landed in the eighth wave on D-Day and was there the entire 35 days. I was in the 5th Engineer Battalion. It was the 28th Marines that took Mt Suribachi ands raised the flag. It was not a posed picture. The 26th and 27th Marines of the Fifth Division turned right and went to the other end of the Island along with the Fourth Division. I spent my 20th birthday on that Island consisting of c-ration hash and cheese.
I later spent six months in Nagasaki Japan from September 1945 until March 1946. At this point I was in the Second division. It was not a bunch of soldiers on Iwo, it was The Marines.
Frank, My uncle Cpl James E. Hagstrom was in the 3rd Squad of the Marines that tookj Mt Suribachi. He died taking hill 362 on Mar 1,1945.He was known as “peanuts”.Did you know him?
According to my mother, my father was one of the few survivors who originally put the flag up. I don’t know. I know he was shot in the head at Iwo Jima and got a medical discharge. He was in the 3rd Marine Division.
Just remember that one of these Japs could have been the one that shot some one that you may have kown.
GWR
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