71 years ago today, Joe Rosenthal captured possibly the most iconic military image ever photographed.  After four days of intense fighting on a lonely, unremarkable island in the Western Pacific named Iwo Jima, five Marines and one Navy Hospital Corpsman raised the American Flag at the top of Mount Suribachi. And although the fighting for Iwo Jima would last well into the month of March (officially 26 Mar), this single moment early in the battle has become synonymous with the Marine Corps, WWII in the Pacific, and the perseverance and dedication of the Nation.

Much has been written, filmed and discussed about this historic event. Many people are unaware that the photo was actual taken during a 'restaging' of the original flag raising moments earlier. Or that three Marines in the photo (Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, and Michael Strank) died in the next few days of fighting to take the island. Hospital Corpsman John Bradley (USN) was awarded the Silver Star for heroic actions he performed during the assault on Mount Suribachi.  Bradley lived the longest of the six, passing away in 1994. One of the pictured Marines, Ira Hayes, was a Native American of the Pima Tribe and a veteran of Bougaineville; he never truly recovered from the war or felt comfortable with his 'fame' following Iwo Jima. Hayes became an alcoholic and died of exposure and alcohol poisoning one cold night in January 1955. The other Marine who survived from the photo was Rene Gagnon. Bradley, Hayes and Gagnon were sent back to the States following the battle to help sell War Bonds. Gagnon left the Marines after the war and worked until his death in his hometown of Manchester, NH in 1979.

If you're interested in a book or movie about Iwo Jima, I highly recommend 'Flags of Our Fathers' by James Bradley. Clint Eastwood directed an excellent movie version of the book as well as 'Letters from Iwo Jima', which looks at the battle from the eyes, and letters, of the Japanese commander left to defend the island. 'Letters from Iwo Jima' was written by Kumiko Kakehashi.  All four are outstanding.

If you ever make it to Washington, DC it's worth your time to visit Arlington National Cemetery to see the Marine Corps Monument (aka the Iwo Jima Memorial). If you can make it on a Tuesday evening in the summers, you can sit in the bleachers and watch the Marine Corps Band (The President's Own) and the Silent Drill Team from Marine Corps Barracks 8th & I perform their Sunset Parade. You will not be disappointed; I guarantee it or double your admission price back.