The image of the American flag being raised on Iwo Jima is one of the most recognized moments in history. James Bradley, the son of one of the flag-raisers, has written a riveting account of the battle that lead up to that moment and of the six distinct men who hoisted the flag. Photographs, maps of the Japanese defenses on Iwo Jima and impecable research create a book with an incredible depth of interest. Equally interesting is the story that continued after the battle, how the flag-raisers' lives were altered, and in some instances shattered, by the attention given them. Anyone who reads this book, especially those with an interest in American or military history, or in the pschological aftermath of war, will find it exceptional.
Description
The New York Times bestselling chronicle of one of the most famous moments in American military history--the raising of the U. S. flag at Iwo Jima during World War II--now adapted for young adults. Read the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and strength of America and its armed forces.
This is a penetrating, epic look at a generation at war, told with keen insight and enormous honesty —also a major motion picture directed by Clint Eastwood. In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima–and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire, they battled to the island’s highest peak. And there, they raised a flag, signaling a historic step towards the eventual defeat of the Axis powers of World War II.
A powerful account of six very different men--three of which were killed in battle-- who came together in the heroic fight for the Pacific’s most crucial island. It is the story of the difference between truth and myth, the legacy of a hero, and the brutal cost of war.
About the Author
James Bradley is the son of John "Doc" Bradley, one of the six flagraisers. A speaker and a writer, he lives in Rye, New York.
Ron Powers is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. He is the author of White Town Drowsing and Dangerous Water: A Biography of the Boy Who Became Mark Twain. He lives in Vermont.
Praise For…
"The best battle book I ever read. These stories, from the time the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima enlisted, their training, and the landing and subsequent struggle, fill me with awe."—Stephen Ambrose
