Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima facts for kids
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is a very famous photograph. It shows six U.S. Marines raising the American flag. This happened on top of Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima. This battle was a major part of the Pacific War, near the end of World War II.
Joe Rosenthal from the Associated Press took the picture on February 23, 1945. It was printed in newspapers just two days later. Many people saw it right away. This photo was so powerful that it won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in the same year it was taken. Later, it inspired the Marine Corps War Memorial built in 1954. This memorial honors all Marines who have died serving their country since 1775. The memorial is in Arlington Ridge Park, near Arlington National Cemetery. The photograph is now seen as one of the most important images from World War II in the United States.
The flag was raised in the early afternoon. A smaller flag had already been put up on the mountaintop that morning. Three of the six Marines in the photo sadly died during the battle. They were Sergeant Michael Strank, Corporal Harlon Block, and Private First Class Franklin Sousley. At first, some of the men were wrongly identified. For example, Harlon Block was thought to be Henry Oliver Hansen for a while. Franklin Sousley was also misidentified as John Bradley.
The other three Marines in the photo survived. They were Corporals Ira Hayes, Harold Schultz, and Harold Keller. Harold Schultz was initially thought to be Franklin Sousley. Harold Keller was also identified as Rene Gagnon for many years. All these brave men were part of the 5th Marine Division during the fight on Iwo Jima. The Associated Press has made the photograph free for everyone to use. This means it is in the public domain.
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The Battle for Iwo Jima
The Battle of Iwo Jima was a very tough fight during World War II. It took place on a small Japanese island called Iwo Jima. The battle lasted from February 19 to March 26, 1945. American forces needed to capture the island. It was important because it had airfields that could be used for attacks on Japan.
Mount Suribachi is a volcano on the southern tip of Iwo Jima. It was a key target for the Marines. Japanese soldiers had strong defenses inside the mountain. They fought very hard to keep control of it.
Raising the First Flag
On February 23, 1945, the Marines finally reached the top of Mount Suribachi. This was a big moment in the battle. A small American flag was raised there first. This happened around 10:20 AM. Lieutenant Colonel Chandler Johnson ordered the flag to be put up.
The first flag was raised by a group of Marines from Easy Company. This moment was also captured in a photograph. However, that photo is not as widely known as the second one. The first flag was considered too small to be seen from far away.
The Iconic Second Flag Raising
Later that same day, a second, larger flag was brought up the mountain. This was done so more troops could see it. The sight of the flag would boost their morale. This second flag raising is what Joe Rosenthal photographed.
The photograph shows six Marines working together to push the flagpole up. It looks like a powerful moment of teamwork and victory. The photo quickly became a symbol of American courage and determination. It showed the world the hard fight the Marines were going through.
The Marines in the Photo
It took many years to correctly identify all six men in the famous photo. This was because of the chaos of battle and initial mistakes.
- Sergeant Michael Strank: He was a leader in the group. He was killed in action just a few days after the flag raising.
- Corporal Harlon Block: He was also killed in action on Iwo Jima. He was wrongly identified as another Marine for a long time.
- Private First Class Franklin Sousley: He was the third Marine in the photo to die during the battle. His identity was also mistaken at first.
- Corporal Ira Hayes: He was a Pima Native American. He helped identify the correct Marines in the photo years later.
- Corporal Harold Schultz: His identity was confirmed much later, in 2016. He had been misidentified as Franklin Sousley.
- Corporal Harold Keller: His identity was confirmed in 2019. He had been misidentified as Rene Gagnon.
These men became heroes. Their image helped inspire the American public during the war.
Legacy and Memorials
The photograph's impact was huge. It was used to promote war bonds, which helped fund the war effort. The image became a symbol of American strength.
The most lasting tribute is the Marine Corps War Memorial. This large bronze statue is based on the photograph. It stands near Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. It reminds everyone of the sacrifices made by Marines. There are also other memorials and stamps that feature this famous image. It truly shows the spirit of those who served.
Images for kids
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Mount Suribachi (pictured in 2001) is the dominant geographical feature of the island of Iwo Jima.
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Raising the First Flag on Iwo Jima by SSgt. Louis R. Lowery, USMC, is the most widely circulated photograph of the first flag flown on Mt. Suribachi. Left to right: 1st Lt. Harold Schrier (kneeling behind radioman's legs), Pfc. Raymond Jacobs (radioman reassigned from F Company), Sgt. Henry "Hank" Hansen wearing cap, holding flagstaff with left hand), Platoon Sgt. Ernest "Boots" Thomas (seated), Pvt. Phil Ward (holding lower flagstaff with his right hand), PhM2c. John Bradley, USN (holding flagstaff with both hands, his right hand above Ward's right hand and his left hand below.), Pfc. James Michels (holding M1 Carbine), and Cpl. Charles W. Lindberg (standing above Michels).
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The flags from the first and second flag-raisings are preserved in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. The second flag, pictured here, was damaged by the high winds at the peak of Suribachi.
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The six second flag-raisers: #1, Cpl. Harlon Block (KIA) #2, Pfc. Harold Keller #3, Pfc. Franklin Sousley (KIA) #4, Sgt. Michael Strank (KIA) #5, Pfc. Harold Schultz #6, Pfc. Ira Hayes
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C. C. Beall's poster for the Seventh War Loan Drive
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Joe Rosenthal in 1990
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The obverse of the 2005 Marine Corps 230th Anniversary silver dollar
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U.S. postage stamp, 1945 issue, commemorating the battle of Iwo Jima
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The scale replica of the Marine Corps War Memorial at MCRD Parris Island
See also
In Spanish: Alzando la bandera en Iwo Jima para niños
