I had heard Mr. Rosenthal was a fellow USF alumni and still lived in the city. So on the 50th anniversary I obtained a large picture of the flag raising the SF Chronicle had ran and sent it to a J Rosenthal I found in the phonebook. A few weeks later I received it back in the mail with the man's autograph.
That piece of paper is among the few items I own I deem worthy enough to pass along to my kin once I depart this mortal coil.
RIP, Joe and thanks.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Rosenthal at the Press Club in San Francisco in 1975. I was introduced to him by the late and legendary Clem Whitaker of Whitaker & Baxter, a California PR firm which had much to do with electing Ronald Reagan as Governor.
Clem during lunch mentioned that Joe was the unfortunate victim of a lie or story that the photo was staged. Joe sat patiently while Clem explained the entire matter to me and then Joe said that what really mattered was that "the bravest men in the world, those United States Marines, got recognition for their heroism. I was just lucky to be there to take the photo which without planning was balanced and clean."