Flags of Our Fathers
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4 journalers for this copy...
The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought in the winter of 1945 on a rocky island south of Japan, brought a ferocious slice of hell to earth: in a month's time, more than 22,000 Japanese soldiers would die defending a patch of ground a third the size of Manhattan, while nearly 26,000 Americans fell taking it from them. The battle was a turning point in the war in the Pacific, and it produced one of World War II's enduring images: a photograph of six soldiers raising an American flag on the flank of Mount Suribachi, the island's commanding high point.
One of those young Americans was John Bradley, a Navy corpsman who a few days before had braved enemy mortar and machine-gun fire to administer first aid to a wounded Marine and then drag him to safety. For this act of heroism Bradley would receive the Navy Cross, an award second only to the Medal of Honor.
Bradley, who died in 1994, never mentioned his feat to his family. Only after his death did Bradley's son James begin to piece together the facts of his father's heroism, which was but one of countless acts of sacrifice made by the young men who fought at Iwo Jima. Flags of Our Fathers recounts the sometimes tragic life stories of the six men who raised the flag that February day--one an Arizona Indian who would die following an alcohol-soaked brawl, another a Kentucky hillbilly, still another a Pennsylvania steel-mill worker--and who became reluctant heroes in the bargain. A strongly felt and well-written entry in a spate of recent books on World War II, Flags gives a you-are-there depiction of that conflict's horrible arenas--and a moving homage to the men whom fate brought there.
One of those young Americans was John Bradley, a Navy corpsman who a few days before had braved enemy mortar and machine-gun fire to administer first aid to a wounded Marine and then drag him to safety. For this act of heroism Bradley would receive the Navy Cross, an award second only to the Medal of Honor.
Bradley, who died in 1994, never mentioned his feat to his family. Only after his death did Bradley's son James begin to piece together the facts of his father's heroism, which was but one of countless acts of sacrifice made by the young men who fought at Iwo Jima. Flags of Our Fathers recounts the sometimes tragic life stories of the six men who raised the flag that February day--one an Arizona Indian who would die following an alcohol-soaked brawl, another a Kentucky hillbilly, still another a Pennsylvania steel-mill worker--and who became reluctant heroes in the bargain. A strongly felt and well-written entry in a spate of recent books on World War II, Flags gives a you-are-there depiction of that conflict's horrible arenas--and a moving homage to the men whom fate brought there.
RABCK to oliviapoolside
Journal Entry 3 by ninkasi at RABCK in ~ RABCK ~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA on Thursday, July 10, 2008
Released 15 yrs ago (7/10/2008 UTC) at RABCK in ~ RABCK ~, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- USA
WILD RELEASE NOTES:
RELEASE NOTES:
Found under the passenger seat of the car (OMG!!!). Should have been mailed a couple weeks ago (sorry!) Mailed today to oliviapoolside as RABCK.
Found under the passenger seat of the car (OMG!!!). Should have been mailed a couple weeks ago (sorry!) Mailed today to oliviapoolside as RABCK.
Thankyou for sending this. I'm looking forward to reading it.
An amazing book, I am so glad that I read it.
I had an awareness of this picture, the Flag Raising picture, but didn't know any of the details. I was born in 1957 and although my Dad was a Navy veteran of WWII he never talked about what he did on the ships or where he went. He was a sailor, but other than that I don't know much and he is no longer here to ask. My Father in Law is a veteran of WWII also but he fought in the European part of the war.
My main feeling in reading this book was a huge patriotic love of our Marines. Their bravery just astounds me and I am so proud of each and every one of them. I think that that is what the picture means to Americans, our sense of ourselves as a good and brave country fighting for good in the world. The image of ourselves has been tarnished in more recent years, but when you look at that picture and read about our Marines on Iwo Jima that feeling comes back. There is a difference between our servicemen and the politicians. We have great reason to be proud of servicemen, even if the media plays up the acts of a bad few. At the time of this book the media played up the heroism of these 6 young men who raised a our flag on Mt. Suribachi, but it wasn't just those 6, they represented The Marines and the Navy Corpsmen who attended to and rescued, if they could, the wounded.
As I read this book, in the second day of fighting on Iwo Jima, when I was ready to be a Marine and kill the enemy Japanese, the earthquake and tsunami occurred in Japan. My initial reaction was not sympathy, it took me a little while to separate 1945 from 2011. Especially in memory of Ralph (Iggy) Ignatowski, I was so angry and not ready to let it go. But I worked on it, my feelings, to be in the present and mourn the terrible loss of life in Japan. Actually when I read about how we firebombed Toyko I was also upset thinking about all those civilians killed, especially the children.
I shed many tears as I read this book, mostly after the fighting was done. I think this book is an amazing tribute to John Bradley, the father of James Bradley, and one of the flagraisers. It is also a great tribute to all of those Marines who fought on Iwo Jima, those who died there, and those who lived. I was especially taken with Ira Hayes, for his human frailties, and for his compassion. When he hitchhiked all the way to Texas to tell Harlon Block's father that he knew Harlon and he was a great guy, I just wanted to hug him in gratitude.
James Bradley wrote an acknowledgment page to his book in 2000. I'd like to share a passage of that with you.
"Easy Company member Jesse Boatwright made a remark to me once that reflects the sentiments of almost all the Marines and corpsmen who contributed to this book: "You might think we did something special there in Iwo, but we were just ordinary guys doing our duty."
To Mr. Boatwright and his comrades, yes, I understand your feeling that were just doing your duty. And I hope you can appreciate the profound admiration I have for you and your actions out in the Pacific. You ordinary guys. You heroes of Iwo Jima."
God Bless the U.S. Marine Corps!!!
I had an awareness of this picture, the Flag Raising picture, but didn't know any of the details. I was born in 1957 and although my Dad was a Navy veteran of WWII he never talked about what he did on the ships or where he went. He was a sailor, but other than that I don't know much and he is no longer here to ask. My Father in Law is a veteran of WWII also but he fought in the European part of the war.
My main feeling in reading this book was a huge patriotic love of our Marines. Their bravery just astounds me and I am so proud of each and every one of them. I think that that is what the picture means to Americans, our sense of ourselves as a good and brave country fighting for good in the world. The image of ourselves has been tarnished in more recent years, but when you look at that picture and read about our Marines on Iwo Jima that feeling comes back. There is a difference between our servicemen and the politicians. We have great reason to be proud of servicemen, even if the media plays up the acts of a bad few. At the time of this book the media played up the heroism of these 6 young men who raised a our flag on Mt. Suribachi, but it wasn't just those 6, they represented The Marines and the Navy Corpsmen who attended to and rescued, if they could, the wounded.
As I read this book, in the second day of fighting on Iwo Jima, when I was ready to be a Marine and kill the enemy Japanese, the earthquake and tsunami occurred in Japan. My initial reaction was not sympathy, it took me a little while to separate 1945 from 2011. Especially in memory of Ralph (Iggy) Ignatowski, I was so angry and not ready to let it go. But I worked on it, my feelings, to be in the present and mourn the terrible loss of life in Japan. Actually when I read about how we firebombed Toyko I was also upset thinking about all those civilians killed, especially the children.
I shed many tears as I read this book, mostly after the fighting was done. I think this book is an amazing tribute to John Bradley, the father of James Bradley, and one of the flagraisers. It is also a great tribute to all of those Marines who fought on Iwo Jima, those who died there, and those who lived. I was especially taken with Ira Hayes, for his human frailties, and for his compassion. When he hitchhiked all the way to Texas to tell Harlon Block's father that he knew Harlon and he was a great guy, I just wanted to hug him in gratitude.
James Bradley wrote an acknowledgment page to his book in 2000. I'd like to share a passage of that with you.
"Easy Company member Jesse Boatwright made a remark to me once that reflects the sentiments of almost all the Marines and corpsmen who contributed to this book: "You might think we did something special there in Iwo, but we were just ordinary guys doing our duty."
To Mr. Boatwright and his comrades, yes, I understand your feeling that were just doing your duty. And I hope you can appreciate the profound admiration I have for you and your actions out in the Pacific. You ordinary guys. You heroes of Iwo Jima."
God Bless the U.S. Marine Corps!!!
Added to the Biography VBB
Caught today for the Virtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox.
This book was not chosen from Round #2 of theVirtual Biography/Auto-Biography/Humor Bookbox, so it's available.
This book is going out in my Calendar Bookbox.
Selected this one from the Calendar Bookbox, thanks for including it! I am looking forward to reading it and then passing it on.
Journal Entry 11 by 
bookstogive
at Little Free Library #6127 - 411 Beach Dr. in Springville, Tennessee USA on Monday, May 13, 2013
bookstogive at Little Free Library #6127 - 411 Beach Dr. in Springville, Tennessee USA on Monday, May 13, 2013
Released 10 yrs ago (5/13/2013 UTC) at Little Free Library #6127 - 411 Beach Dr. in Springville, Tennessee USA
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Releasing to the Little Free Library, Happy Travels!
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To the finder of this book:
Welcome to BookCrossing, a unique community of book lovers, who are sharing their libraries with the world. This book is now yours to read, enjoy, keep or pass on to another reader.
The BookCrossing ID, which you entered in the "Enter a BCID" box on the website, is unique to this copy of this book. We would be delighted if you would make a journal entry to say you have found the book. It is fun for other readers of this book to see where the book has traveled-sometimes around the world!
BookCrossing is free to join, completely confidential, and you may remain anonymous (you are known only by your screen name and no one is ever given your e-mail address) and a great deal of fun. If you choose to join please consider using me BOOKSTOGIVE as your referring member.
