The Second Flag-Raising
Captain Gordon I Peterson,
U.S. Navy (Retired)
Mark Folse’s article on the Battle of Iwo Jima (“The Common Will Triumphant,” February, pp. 14–19) was an informative and well-written salute to commemorate the 75th anniversary of that epic invasion. I read it with special interest, having accompanied Marine veterans of the battle to a “Reunion of Honor” ceremony on Iwo Jima in 2001.
However, the author’s description of Associated Press photographer Joseph Rosenthal’s photograph of the second flag-raising on Mount Suribachi could leave readers with the wrong impression. Mr. Folse stated, “Though staged, the photograph was a triumphant image.”
Although, as he notes, Rosenthal’s photo depicted the second flag raised on Suribachi on 23 February 1945, it was not staged in the sense of a contrived attempt to achieve a desired impression (or photograph). In fact, as James Bradley documents in Flags of Our Fathers, it was largely coincidental (but fortuitous) that Rosenthal and two other Marine Corps combat photographers were present for the second flag-raising at all. They were not aware it was going to happen when they decided to climb Suribachi for a good view of the island and ongoing combat.
The author notes that the first flag was raised over Suribachi just as Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal and Lieutenant General Holland “Howling’ Mad” Smith arrived on the beach. Bradley described how, on seeing the flag, Forrestal told Smith he wanted the flag as a souvenir. Continuing, Bradley explained that Colonel Chandler Johnson—commander of the 2d Battalion, 28th Marines, on Iwo Jima—would have none of that when informed of Forrestal’s request, maintaining the flag belonged to the 2d Battalion. He ordered a second, larger flag to be obtained and raised over Suribachi so that the original one could be retrieved and retained by the Marine Corps.
Rosenthal was not aware of this when he sought to get more photographs of Marines in action. Bradley writes that the AP photographer, on learning that a second Marine patrol was winding its way to Suribachi’s summit, went to the command post of the 28th Regiment. There, he met two armed Marine combat photographers, and they jointly decided to make the ascent. During their climb, they were informed by another Marine photographer returning from the first flag-raising that he had photographed the event. Nonetheless, Rosenthal and the Marines decided to continue their climb.
Bradley describes how, after arriving at Suribachi’s summit, the three photographers observed preparations being made to raise the second, larger flag and positioned themselves on the crater. However, events moved quickly, and the three photographers nearly missed capturing the event. Bradley quotes Rosenthal in describing how he caught the second flag-raising out of the corner of his eye: “I swung my camera around and held it until I could guess that this was the peak of the action and shot.”
Rosenthal—and the Marine Corps—were fortunate. He got the shot—but it wasn’t staged.
Mr. Folse responds:
A great readership engages with articles actively and is not afraid to call foul when necessary. Therefore, I want to thank the readers of Naval History for bringing this issue to my attention. I will happily eat crow here.
For those readers who didn’t catch it, I used the word “staged” twice in the article. First, “Though staged, the photograph was a triumphant image that took on positive meanings for the Corps and the U.S. public,” and second, “Dwight Eisenhower and several of the Marines who raised the first flag on Iwo Jima saw only a staged moment that was of little value to winning the battle itself.” It’s the first instance that is the issue. In that context I meant the word to convey how the moment was performed in front of cameras, NOT that it was performed for the cameras. I regret that readers have taken the latter as my meaning when it certainly was not. But I can see why they would think that, which means I chose my words poorly in that instance. It’s my responsibility as the author to make better decisions regarding word choice.
One could argue (and people have) that the entire second flag-raising was “staged” in the negative sense of the term when compared to the first flag-raising, which clearly was much more of an impromptu incident. According to this interpretation, the moment Colonel Johnson ordered a second flag raised on Suribachi in part so “every son of a bitch on this whole cruddy island can see it,” the event became staged. Let me be clear, I am not trying to make that argument. I only point out that people have always made room for interpretation on these things. “Impromptu” may have been a better word, but as implied in my second use of the word, “staged” in the negative sense was how some Americans thought of the image, whether that was the correct impression or not.
I appreciate this discussion because it helps illuminate the larger point of the piece, which is whether the battle was necessary, whether it was worth the cost, or if the second flag-raising was “staged” is largely irrelevant at this point. Not to say these details do not matter, because they certainly do. What matters more in my article, however, is how Iwo and the flag-raisings have become symbols of American triumph and unity in the face of adversity. Therefore, it is still an important battle to remember and commemorate, especially these days. If that point comes across to readers, then I think the article is a success.
Disturbing Midway Scene
Joseph T. Ponti
The “Movie Review” of Midway in the February issue (pp. 59–60) coincided with my opinion on the historical accuracy of the battle, and the special effects were indeed quite entertaining. During one of the scenes a U.S. fighter bomber is shot down, forcing the crew to ditch. They are picked up by a Japanese destroyer, and after an exchange of a few harsh words, a Navy airman is summarily executed by being thrown overboard tied to an anchor.
At the end of the movie, during the listing of the credits, I noticed something quite disturbing. A statement flashed across the screen stating the movie was dedicated to the brave American and Japanese personnel who died at Midway. With the vision of the drowning sailor tied to an anchor still fresh in my mind, I could only shake my head at the whole movie experience and wonder what were they thinking to include this.
Correction: In the February 2020 issue, the photo on page 38 of “Learn from Fleet Boat Development” should have depicted a diesel locomotive instead of a steam one.