[bnelson44]

LS, there is a truth about war and the US Army. Many men sign up for the military for many different reasons. But in battle, most, ultimately, fight for each other. That is what they are trained to do.

[BonnieJ]

My husband was in Vietnam, a decorated hero there at a young age, and he says you do learn to depend on each other and fight for each other, the big-picture eventually can get lost in the day-to-day fight for survival.

[backtothestreets]

Good observation. Another truth, most Americans will no voluntarily fight in defense of their country, hence many men fighting in WWII were draftees, not enlistees. Of the enlistees, many signed on together with friends and relatives to serve together. There was good reason why they fought as though they really knew the fellow next to them. Often they did.

As for the flag raising itself, it was not recreated for photographic or propaganda purposes. A flag had been raised before Joe Rosenthal arrived on the summit of Mount Suribachi, but the flag was being replaced by another flag on a stronger pole at the time he arrived, and it was that moment he captured on film.

Also, the USA was not in grave threat of going bankrupt prior to the bond support activities of the three surviving members of the flag raising. The bond effort was as much a part of the overall war effort as was serving in the military, working in our factories, rationing our resources, or holding a community drive to collect paper, rubber, tin, and other commodities.

What is not nonsense is keeping the citizens locked into the fight on the home-front, and this the bond drive accomplished. It's a major element lacking in our war efforts today. It was instrumental in binding together the men serving on the front lines with his fellow citizens at home.

A sidenote on the draft: The high school graduation rates of our male population was at its peak when the draft was in place. Whatever perspective one holds of the draft, while it was in place the male population had reason to achieve higher performance in school. The alternative was often front line duty in units heavily prone to casualties.

[JasonC]

"they fought for each other" comes from William Manchester's book "heart of darkness" about his own time in the Pacific, and especially on Okinawa. It is true. It is also glommed onto by pacifists and left wingers who despise patriotism, as the only way they can forgive veterans for being veterans. Like a philosopher needs the approval of the fleas biting him...

[brazzaville]

Good morning.
"That is what they are trained to do."

It's the only thing that makes sense in combat. The flag may be waving in the back of your mind, but it is your comrade who risks it all to help you stay alive.

LS, have you read the stories of Gagnon and Ira Hayes? Pretty interesting and sad enough to clear my tear ducts. Decent movies have been made about both and neither painted a picture much different from what you have just painted in your review.

I'll see Flags next week.

Michael Frazier