Flags of Our Fathers (30 page)

Ira Hayes is smiling in this shot—his face creased with a wide, happy grin. He is the only seated figure among the eighteen.

Mike is standing next to Lieutenant Schrier. His lips are puckered, as if he is yelling a joyous “Whoaa!”

Franklin and Doc are behind Mike, one peering over each of his broad shoulders. Franklin has a triumphant smile and is thrusting his carbine in the air.

Doc Bradley would later say, “We were happy!” and in this shot he looks it: He has a big smile as he waves his helmet with his right hand.

Joe Rosenthal was satisfied with this posed shot. He felt certain that with all these smiling young boys facing the camera, and the landing beaches visible below, he had a photograph that would make the papers back home.

But the AP photographer would have to wait several days before he knew. That night, his film was flown to Guam for developing. If there were any good shots, they would be transmitted by radio signal to New York.

Several months later, the 2nd Battalion filed its “Action Report” for its role in the Battle of Iwo Jima. In describing the events of February 23, the report covered the reconnaissance patrol of the early morning. It covered Easy Company’s fifteen-man patrol around the southern tip of the island (the 2nd Platoon). It covered Lieutenant Schrier’s expedition up Suribachi with the forty-man patrol from Easy, and the planting of the first American flag at ten-twenty
A.M.
It mentioned the blowing-up of caves, the recovery of the Japanese binoculars, the sporadic resistance by fleeing Japanese.

The Action Report made no mention of a second flagraising. It was, after all, only a replacement flag.

Photo Insert 2

Franklin Sousley with his mother, Goldie, on his last night home.

Left: Harlon Block at Camp Pendleton. Above: Ralph “Iggy” Ignatowski.

Corpsmen Vince Sagnelli, Jack Santos, and Jack Bradley. At Camp Tarawa, Hawaii, 1944.

Ira Hayes and L. B. Holly on Guadalcanal, 1943.

Ira Hayes in his USMC paratrooper gear.

Iwo Jima, 1945.

D-Day, February 19, 1945—to the beaches, with Mount Suribachi in the background.

D-Day, February 19, 1945. Top: Amphibious landing units en route to Iwo.
Bottom: U.S. Marines land on the beaches of Iwo.

Howlin’ Mad Smith congratulating Boots Thomas on the first flagraising.

Rifleman on Mount Suribachi, with the landing beach below.

The first flagraising atop Mount Suribachi, February 23, 1945. Hank Hansen (without helmet), Boots Thomas (seated), Harold Schrier (behind Thomas), Louis Charlo (hand visible grasping pole), Jim Michaels (with carbine), and Chuck Lindberg (behind Michaels).

The first flag is lowered as the second is raised.

This cropped version became photography’s most reproduced image.