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Six United States Marines raised nan American emblem atop Mount Suribachi amid horrific combat connected Iwo Jima, nan aggravated wartime segment captured successful cleanable perspective and framework by photographer Joseph Rosenthal, connected this time successful history, Feb. 23, 1945.
The earthy powerfulness of nan image instantly gripped a federation astatine warfare pinch Nazi Germany successful Europe and imperial Japan successful nan Pacific — young American fighting men unfurling nan Stars and Stripes connected a distant land acold from location successful World War II.
Its powerfulness endures today.
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"The emblem raising became a awesome synonymous pinch American triumph successful World War II and what nan federation tin execute erstwhile we each propulsion together and merge for a conscionable cause," Owen Connor, elder curator of nan National Museum of nan Marine Corps, told Fox News Digital
The photograph deed nan beforehand page of almost each newspaper successful nan United States wrong days.
View of members of nan United States Marine Corps 5th Division arsenic they raise an American emblem connected Mount Suribachi during nan Battle of Iwo Jima, Feb. 23, 1945. (Joe Rosenthal/Photo 12/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
It's been duplicated and admired endlessly done nan decades and endures arsenic nan astir powerful image of heroism successful American history.
The Marines successful nan photograph correspond a wide cross-section of nan American people.
"The photograph became successful galore ways 1 of nan first media events of nan 20th century." — Owen Connor, National Museum of nan Marine Corps
The latest investigation indicates that nan men are, from left: Pfc. Ira Hayes, 22, a book-loving Pima autochthonal from Sacaton, Arizona; Pfc. Harold Schultz, 20, of Detroit, who lied astir his property to subordinate nan Corps aft Pearl Harbor; Sgt. Michael Strank, 25, calved successful what's now Slovakia and raised successful Franklin Borough, Pennsylvania; Pfc. Franklin Sousley, 19, a mill worker from Hill Top, Kentucky; Harold Keller, 23, a telephone lineman from Brooklyn, Iowa; and Cpl. Harlon Block, 20, a prima precocious schoolhouse shot subordinate from Weslaco, Texas.
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Block, Sousley and Strank were each killed connected Iwo Jima, a volcanic land astir 700 miles south of Tokyo.
The Marines invaded Iwo Jima connected Feb. 19, its seizure deemed basal to tightening nan noose astir nan Japanese homeland.
Japan/USA: U.S. Marines battle a formation astatine Iwo Jima — Mount Suribachi successful nan background, February 1945. (Pictures from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
"It took 4 days for nan Marines to scope nan acme of Suribachi," nan Department of Defense reports.
"The taking of nan 554-foot elevation was significant, successful that it suppressed nan fires from Japanese who were dug successful and who had premier vantage of overmuch of nan island."
The fighting continued until March 26.
Iwo Jima is considered by galore historians nan top conflict successful Marine Corps history.
About 27,000 Marines and sailors were killed aliases wounded successful a period of combat.
Almost each 21,000 Japanese defenders, fighting from entrenched caves, tunnels and pillboxes, were killed; only 216 were taken prisoner.
Twenty-seven Marines and Navy Corpsmen earned nan Medal of Honor connected Iwo Jima, much than immoderate different conflict successful U.S. history, according to nan National World War II Museum.
Marine Private First Class Ira Hayes points himself retired successful nan historical image of nan emblem raising connected Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, 1945. (PhotoQuest/Getty Images)
"Uncommon valor was a communal virtue," Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, who commanded nan Navy warfare effort successful nan Pacific, said of Iwo Jima.
"Uncommon valor was a communal virtue." — Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
"The photograph became successful galore ways 1 of nan first media events of nan 20th century," said Connor.
"Due to nan velocity successful which nan image went from nan battlefield to Sunday newspapers successful the United States (48 hours), it took connected moreover greater meaning to a nation."
The national authorities instantly seized connected nan powerfulness of nan photograph to assistance nan warfare effort.
Photographer Joe Rosenthal successful 1947. He captured nan image of Marines raising nan American emblem connected Iwo Jima connected Feb. 23, 1945. (Bob Campbell/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)
"The photograph was nan centerpiece of a war-bond poster that helped raise $26 cardinal successful 1945," nan Pulitzer Prize Board writes successful its online relationship of nan image.
"On July 11, earlier nan warfare had ended, it appeared connected a United States postage stamp. Nine years later it became nan exemplary for the Marine Corps War Memorial successful Arlington, Virginia."
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The Pulitzer committee usually issues its awards for publicity from nan erstwhile year.
It made an objection for Rosenthal’s photograph — which was awarded nan Pulitzer Prize successful April, conscionable 2 months aft it was taken.
"The flag-raising connected Iwo Jima became a awesome of … nan highest ideals of nan nation, of valor incarnate." – Author James Bradley
The Battle of Iwo Jima has been immortalized successful galore books, movies and moreover celebrated music.
"The Ballad of Ira Hayes" tells nan sad communicative of nan Pima flag-raiser. It was recorded by galore artists, including Bob Dylan, and became a deed for Johnny Cash successful 1961.
The image's meaning to millions of Americans still coming is deeper and much powerful than nan deserved acclaim among journalists and artists.
Postage stamp honoring nan conquest of nan Iwo Jima island, 1945, depicting Marines raising nan emblem of nan United States (reproduction photograph by Joe Rosenthal). United States of America, 20th century. (DeAgostini/Getty Images)
The raising of Old Glory acold from location amid nan savagery of world warfare represents nan unspeakable quality struggle to extremity nan tyranny and slavery that ruled nan world successful nan 1940s — for which nan American group and their Allies fought to extremity successful World War II astatine a unspeakable quality cost.
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The personality of nan men successful nan photograph has been a root of sizeable contention successful caller years. The disorder was caused by galore factors.
Navy Corpsman John Bradley was 1 of nan men agelong identified arsenic a emblem raiser.
His boy James Bradley wrote nan powerful 2000 history of Iwo Jima, "Flags of Our Fathers," an aggravated look astatine nan scary of Iwo Jima and nan lives of nan men successful nan photo.
The U.S. Marine Corp Iwo Jima Memorial successful beforehand of nan U.S. Capitol, center, and Washington Monument, right, successful Arlington, Virginia, connected Sept. 27, 2021. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
It was learned successful caller years that Corpsman Bradley was not among nan six men successful nan photo.
He remains nary little a hero.
The book written by his grateful boy stands arsenic 1 of nan champion ever written connected nan brutality of warfare and nan costs paid by nan men who fought and died successful World War II.
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"Their corporate image," Bradley writes successful nan book of nan boys successful nan photos, "blurred and indistinct yet unforgettable, became nan astir recognized, nan astir reproduced, successful nan history of photography."
He added, "The flag-raising connected Iwo Jima became a awesome of nan island, nan mountain, nan battle; of World War II; nan highest ideals of nan nation, of valor incarnate."
Kerry J. Byrne is simply a manner newsman pinch Fox News Digital.
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