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.