Easy Company take the flags up Mt. Suribachi at Iwo Jima. Easy Company had been fighting 4 days. They had 40% casualties to date.

The first flagraising atop Mount Suribachi, February 23, 1945. Hank Hansen (without helmet), Boots Thomas (seated), John Bradley (behind Thomas) Phil Ward (hand visible grasping pole), Jim Michaels (with carbine) and Chuck Lindberg (behind Michaels). Photo by Lou Lowery. 10AM, Feb. 23, 1945

The first flag comes down as the second flag goes up. Photo by Bob Campbell.

This is the original photograph by Joe Rosenthal. It was later cropped (see next picture) to become the photo we all know.

Here’s the second flag raising as seen in the the most reproduced photograph in the history of photography. Click here for film clips of the flag raising.

Here’s Rosenthal snapping a posed shot minutes after the second flag raising.

Four of the Flag Raisers (Bradley, Hayes, Sousley & Strank) appear with their jubilant buddies. Strank, Sousley and many of these boys would soon be dead.