[A Balrog of Morgoth]

Guest Column: History Overlooked Iwo Jima’s First Flag

I'm no scholar of Iwo Jima in particular, but I've known for a long time that the famous flagraising was staged (for the photographer according to what I recall, could be wrong about that) after the first flag had already been planted.

I'm surprised that anyone, especially anyone so closely affiliated with the USMC would continue to cling to an illusion.

Strange.

[Michael.SF.]

the famous flagraising was staged (for the photographer according to what I recall, could be wrong about that) after the first flag had already been planted.

You are half right. The second flag raising was 'staged' but the purpose of the second flag was not to try and obtain the now famous photo.

The first flag was small and not very visible. A group of men were sent up with a larger flag and told to replace it. They did so. In doing so a photographer with them took the picture, but he almost did not get the photo as it all happened so fast. The photo , btw, did not become famous for quite a long time it was taken (weeks or maybe months).

[Eagles6]

This story has been known for a number of years and is historically interesting. I don't know that the Marines, today, suppress the truth regarding the first flag raising.