On February 23, 1945, six men raised an American flag on a volcanic island in the Pacific. The photograph taken that morning became the most reproduced image in history.
The Battle for Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima — a volcanic island eight square miles in size, 650 miles south of Tokyo — was chosen as a target because its airstrips could support B-29 bombing raids on Japan and serve as an emergency landing site for crippled aircraft. The island was defended by approximately 21,000 Japanese troops under Lieutenant General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, who had built an elaborate network of tunnels, bunkers, and fortified positions designed to make every yard of advance costly.
The Marines landed on February 19, 1945. By the time the battle ended 36 days later, 6,821 Marines and Navy personnel were dead, and virtually the entire Japanese garrison was killed or captured.
Mount Suribachi
The most prominent terrain feature was Mount Suribachi, a 554-foot dormant volcano at the island's southern tip. Marines from the 28th Regiment fought their way to its summit over four brutal days. On February 23, 1945, a small patrol reached the top and raised a small American flag. Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal, watching from a landing craft offshore, declared: "The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years."
The Second Flag Raising and the Photograph
The first flag was considered too small to be seen clearly from the beach. A larger flag was sent up, and six men raised it while AP photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the moment. The photograph appeared in Sunday editions on February 25 and within days was everywhere. Within months it had been reproduced more times than any photograph in history.
The Men in the Frame
Of the six men who raised the second flag, three — Strank, Block, and Sousley — were killed before the battle ended. Hayes, Gagnon, and Harold Schultz survived. Ira Hayes became the most publicly recognized, struggling with the burden of fame while his comrades lay buried on the island.
The Legacy
The photograph became the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. It appeared on a U.S. postage stamp, on war bonds, and on the cover of virtually every major American magazine. It endures because it captures something elemental: the cost of ground won, the weight of the flag, the effort of men who had almost nothing left to give.
Our Military collection includes the Iwo Jima canvas print — one of our most requested pieces.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many men raised the flag on Iwo Jima?
Six men raised the second flag on Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945. The famous photograph captures the second raising — the first was a smaller flag on a different pole.
Who took the Iwo Jima flag-raising photograph?
AP photographer Joe Rosenthal took the photograph on February 23, 1945. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography that same year.
Did all six men in the Iwo Jima photo survive the battle?
No. Three of the six — Michael Strank, Harlon Block, and Franklin Sousley — were killed in action before the battle ended.