Last Marine in Iwo Jima photo dies at 82

AP on Yahoo ^ | 2/4/08 | AP

[Dick Vomer]

[RJS1950]

Most people have no idea that the iconic photo taken after the real event was set up. Although it was the better photo in terms of composition and appeal it has always been a shame that the Marine photographer who took the original picture and was later KIA as well as the original flag raisers who battled their way up the hill and fought a battle to keep the hill received little or no recognition. The redeeming thing about both photos and both groups is that both involved actual fighting front-line grunts who gave their all and sometimes their lives to make the operation a success. Real Marines.

[Unknowing]

Bump.

[JoeSixPack1]

Semper Fi Sgt. Jacobs, R.I.P.

[Patriot Hooligan]

“I consider it no sacrifice to die for my country. In my mind, we came here to thank God that men like these have lived rather than to regret that they have died.”

General George S. Patton

[Mr. Lucky]

I’m sure you intended no offense, but Joe Rosenthal’s Pulitzer prize wining photograph of the flag waving on Mt. Suribachi was definitely not staged. You will notice that the flag originally raised was much smaller than the one in the more famous photo. After the original flag had been raised, a Sergeant came running up the hill with the more famous flag and relayed his orders; something to the effect of: Colonel Johnson wants this flag run up so every son of a bitch on this whole cruddy island can see it.

If the Marines seem in a hurry, it's not because they were play acting; they were under enemy fire.

James Bradley's book Flags of our Fathers includes an excellent description of the whole event. unfortunately, the movie of the same name was virtually all fiction.

[cpanter]

You are absolutely correct - it was not a setup and it’s a disservice to Rosenthal and the marines as well, to say so.

And, I will add, Flags of Our Fathers is a fantastic book. I just read Flyboys by Bradley last month. Very good but not as good as FOOF.

[JimC214]

Actually he wasn’t the first Marine to be awarded both awards. Herman H. Hanneken was awarded the Medal of Honor in Haiti, the Navy cross for another incident in Hatti, and then another Navy cross later on In Nicaragua. He was also awarded the Silver Star for actions on Guadalcanal and the Bronze star at Cape Gloucester. But you are right about Basilione, he didn't have to go back to combat, but he did. He got the name Manila John when he was in the Army. He then later joined the Marines. He also was originally from New Jersey.

[RJS1950]

I heard an interview of Rosenthal in the early 70s when I was a Marine photographer/journalist and the second flag was sent up later after the first raisers had moved back into combat. The colonel who owned the flag didn’t want it going to some general or admiral who hadn’t been on the beach under fire. A second squad was rounded up and sent up the hill to raise the bigger flag. Rosenthal said in the interview that they did more than one run at raising the second flag and that he almost missed the second set of shots because he wasn’t paying attention. Rosenthal provided an iconic vision of the event and he has received fame and recognition that will last a lifetime. The squad that gained the fame fought no less valiantly than the original flag raisers. The point is that it is too bad that the original flag raisers or at least those few who survived didn’t receive the level of recognition they and their families deserved.

[A.A. Cunningham]

Most people have no idea that the iconic photo taken after the real event was set up.

Most people know that your claim is an urban legend.

Although it was the better photo in terms of composition and appeal it has always been a shame that the Marine photographer who took the original picture and was later KIA

Incorrect. If Lou Lowery, the photographer who took the first photo, had been KIA he wouldn't have gone on to become the photographic editor of Leatherneck Magazine, which he retired from in 1983. Lowery died on 15 April 1987 at the age of 70.

The photographer who took the motion picture of the second flag raising, Bill Genaust, was KIA on Iwo and his body has never been recovered.

In addition, most of your second post in this thread is full of BS too. Better check where you get your gouge from because it's AFU.