Flags of Our Fathers

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Flags of Our Fathers

A Movie by Clint Eastwood; a book by James Bradley with Ron Powers

The movie opens with actor George Grizzard, playing the elderly John Bradley, uttering the words: "Every (idiot) thinks he knows what war is about. Especially the ones who've never been to war."

Two flags were raised atop Mount Suribachi at Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. The first went up at 10:30 a.m. according to the Journal of the 28th Marines. The second, and much larger flag, was raised at the moment the first flag came down, which was estimated between 12:00 noon and 2:00 p.m. Joe Rosenthal, Associated Press photographer, missed the first raising, but arrived in time to take a picture of the second raising. Rosenthal's photograph became one of the most published photographs in the world and the icon of Marine Corps valor. The men who raised the second flag were:

	AAAAAA		AAAAAA
Block	AA	Bradley		Gagnon
A		A		A

Hays	A	Sousley		Strank

Corporal Harlon Henry Block, Pharmacist's Mate Second Class John Henry "Doc" Bradley, Private First Class Rene Arthur Gagnon, Private First Class Ira Hamilton "Chief" Hays, Private First Class Franklin Runyon Sousley and Sergeant Michael Strank.

Secretary of the Navy James Vincent Forrestal arrived off the coast of Iwo Jima with Vice Admiral Richmond Kelly Turner and Lieutenant General Holland McTyeire Smith aboard the USS Eldorado early on D-day morning. Smith and Forrestal went ashore and set foot on landing beach Green One at the moment the second flag was flung to the northwest wind. Forrestal turned to Smith and said, "Holland, the raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years."

Two Flag's Raised on Mount Suribachi Battle of Iwo Jima and Medals of Honor Awarded Flags of Our Fathers (movie info)

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