Rating: 
Summary: A Pulitzer Prize
Review: Stephen Ambrose said it himself on the back of this book, "The best battle book I ever read. These stories, from the time the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima enlisted, their training, and the landing and subsequent struggle, fill me with awe." This is a dramatic story of Iwo Jima; I absorbed every word of every page with intensity. It brought me to tears and, at times, made me laugh. I felt I was crawling with the Marines yard by yard as they moved across the small island under intense fire from the Japanese. The pictures James Bradley produce will stay in my mind for a long time, at least until I read the book again. I keep seeing his father, Doc, administering first aide to a wounded Marine. Knowing the wounded soldier could quickly bleed to death, Doc covered the soldier with his own body as he administered first aid while bullets exploded around him. Doc won the Navy Cross for this heroic action. The book doesn't just cover the fighting on the island, but follows the survivors of the six flagraisers back to the states. Their heroic welcome home involved them as part of a push to sell war bonds. James Bradley finally brings to end myths of the raising of the flag, e.g. that it was staged and that it was at the end of the fight for Iwo Jima. From the very beginning of the book I was thankful for his father and the others that fought for our freedom on that small island in the Pacific. I wish I could thank all the veterans for their sacrifises made on Iwo Jima. Since I can't, I can thank James Bradley for bringing the story of his father and the other five flagraisers into my life. You'll be thankful, too. Bradley should receive a Pulitzer Prize for this incredible book.
Rating:
Summary: First Rate - Works on Many Levels
Review: Yes! I've got to go along with the majority of reviewers on this one. "Flag" is remarkable. This isn't just a nuts-and-bolts account of the battle for Iwo Jima or even of the flag raisers. Though the book is both of those things, it is more complex. The author had several themes that he developed in detail and (I have to believe the co-author, Ron Powers, and the editor had a lot to do with this) with enormous dexterity. I've read a raft of War II books, and felt I knew the Pacific fighting like the back of my hand. But Bradley managed to shed new light on this conflict: the strategies and tactics (what went right; what went wrong, and why); what the combat men experienced, and how they adjusted to life after the war. If they made it back. The story of John Bradley's desire to get home, to marry, build a business and raise a family is a compelling advertisment for the American Dream. At first, it occured to me that if the son couldn't get his Dad to open up about what had happened to him on Iwo, once the son found out, he wouldn't shut up about it. But that criticism was overruled (shamed away, actually) by the power of the writing; especially the author's ability to tackle one hard subject after another, and write about them clearly and boldly, and with great insight. Comparing this stirring achievement to "Saving Private Ryan" is not over doing it. It may be an understatement.
Rating:
Summary: A fitting tribute to the "Greatest Generation"
Review: We owe a lot to the men and women of the "Greatest Generation", many of whom made the ultimate sacrifice for the freedom we currently enjoy. Unfortunately, these brave folks are dying by the thousands every day, and soon their individual stories will be lost forever. Growing up, I was fascinated with World War II, in which my father had driven a tank destroyer, been wounded five times, and saw active duty from the invasion of North Africa to VE day. For some reason, I never sat down with him and discussed the war, and now that he's gone, I regret it deeply. We should take every opportunity to learn directly the stories of these folks, and what they experienced. This book is a welcome addition to the first-person narratives of the war that, thankfully, are coming out at this time. The sheer unassuming heroism of the Marines on Iwo Jima staggers the mind, and the fact that the survivors don't consider themselves heroes, is typical of that generation. The war left lasting memories on most of them, but they bore their burdens without complaint. My mother tells me that, for years after they were married, my father would get up in the middle of the night with terrible headaches, the result of a head wound. As a child, I never knew this about him, but the quiet and serenity with which he bore this pain only makes me love him more, and appreciate him more, if such a thing is possible. We must not forget what they did for us, and reading this book will help. Please buy it.
Rating:
Summary: In a class by itself!
Review: Read this book. There is no way that any movie will ever come close to the human drama that makes this book so memorable. It does for the Marines and the war in the pacific what Saving Private Ryan did for Normandy and the war in Europe. This is not a war book. It's the story of the people-in this case the flagraisers-who are brought in and changed forever by war. All the heroics are there but not in a gung ho fashion as in a war novel but as average Americans doing their duty. This book doesn't just give you insights into war but into the lives of people and the people around them forever changed by war. The fact that a famous event binds them together adds even more drama if not pathos. This should be on every high school required reading list.
Rating:
Summary: James Bradley's Flags of Our Fathers
Review: James Bradley goes nearly as far as his father (one of the six Marine flag-raisers) and tells us the story of all six lives almost simultaneously from the beginning. There aren't many people who can do that. Beethoven and Chopin in classical or romantic music were able to simultaneously tell many stories - it's usually called Creative Genius, Nearness to God, Esprit De Corps. It helps to be tremendously moved and motivated, as Bradley was by his father and his father's friends. It helps to walk among the Pima Indians as Bradley did to learn about Ira Hayes (one of the six) and the families and the coal mines and the Catholic and Adventist and Presbyterian Churches (surprising how many Catholics were among the six) and the hills of Daniel Boone and the coal mines of Pennsylvania and the textile mills of New Hampshire where the six flag-raisers grew up (among other places). If you are lucky and have lived long and deeply no matter what your physical age, you will come close to James Bradley's story of the men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima.
Rating:
Summary: The nature of heroism
Review: Flags of Our Fathers is the story of the six Iwo Jima flagraisers, written by the son of John "Doc" Bradley, the longest-lived of the six. It is also a history of the hellish battle that took place for over thirty days in 1945 for a worthless island in the Pacific that had become the linchpin in American efforts to drive ever closer to invasion of the Japanese mainland. Finally, it is a son's attempt to understand his father, an almost universal quest. In this instance the father had closed off a vital and formative part of his life to everyone, including his family, who were left after his death to ponder his motivation for doing so.... The Japanese fortified Iwo Jima, which held two vitally important airstrips 600 miles from the Japanese mainland, in a manner that made the tiny island an underground stronghold. Miles of tunnels connected numerous concrete and steel pillboxes, as well as living quarters for over 20,000 troops. By the time of the American onslaught, the Japanese knew they could not hold Iwo Jima, and its commander prepared his troops to die to the last man in the defense of the island. It was this unseen enemy that raked murderous fire on the huge invading force that landed on the island in February 1945. Casualties were horrifically high-in many units over 50% casualties. The Americans suffered 26,000 casualties and 6,800 deaths; in almost four years of fighting, the Marines suffered one-third of their total deaths on Iwo Jima. In the early days of the invasion, resistance was fierce on Mount Suribachi, a 550-foot hill at the southern end of the island. On February 23, the men of Easy Company were sent up the mountain, many expecting to die on the way. After reaching the top with little or no resistance, one of the men had a flag and the idea was conceived to attach it to a pole and raise it, which was done. Shortly thereafter, a larger flag was sent up the mountain, and a much longer pole was found, which weighed about 100 pounds. The first flag was then brought down, and the second flag was almost simultaneously raised. An AP photographer named Joe Rosenthal took The Photograph which earned him the Pulitzer Prize and became perhaps the most famous photograph in history. The participants gave it no further thought and almost forgot the incident, especially in the light of the hellish days to come. Rene Gagnon later characterized the event as no more remarkable than going to the mailbox. The flagraisers had created an image that will forever characterize American valor and bravery in World War II, created by a chance photograph with a 1/400 second exposure that would change many lives. Mike and Harlon had premonitions on their last visits home that they would not return alive. In succeeding days they were tragically proved right. Mike was universally revered by his men, so much so that over 50 years later one of them would call Mike the best Marine he ever knew and that if he could have died in his place, he would have gladly done so. Doc Bradley served heroically as a corpsman, no doubt saving numerous lives. He was awarded the Navy Cross for one particularly brave episode, a fact he never revealed to his family, who were stunned to find the medal after his death. Hundreds of men died in the fierce fighting that ended only after 36 days of arguably the worst American combat experience since the Civil War. When The Photograph appeared in American newspapers, it created an immediate sensation. It was soon reproduced on a massive scale and was adopted as the symbol of the Seventh Bond Drive, the last effort to persuade the public to purchase the war bonds that would enable the country to finally end the war. Doc, Rene, and Ira were made the centerpieces of that tour, an experience that proved too much for Ira Hayes. The taciturn Marine turned increasingly to the bottle for solace, and was finally sent back to his unit. All of the surviving flagraisers, particularly Ira, felt guilt for being considered a hero, when the act of raising a flag involved no heroism at all. It was merely lifting a pole. At the same time, they felt, as Doc once confided to his son in a rare conversation about the war, that "The heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who didn't come back." With the knowledge that they weren't heroes, while constantly being hailed as heroes, they had to live with the guilt of surviving while so many good men died. Doc Bradley chose to cope with that situation by throwing himself into his funeral home business, which he developed into one of the largest in Wisconsin, and devoting himself to his large family and his community. Early on, he determined that he would give no interviews and make no public appearances as an Iwo Jima flagraiser. He didn't talk about Iwo Jima, either to his family or others. He talked to his wife about Iwo on their first date, for perhaps ten minutes, and did not speak of it again, even after frequently weeping in his sleep for four years afterward. Rene Gagnon tried to parlay his fame into material success, but was never able to do so. Pushed by his wife, who enjoyed his notoriety far more than he did, he returned to his home town to do menial work for the rest of his life and died of a heart attack in 1979. Ira's story, often told in news accounts and later in movies, was the most tragic of all. His escape into alcoholism was the only way he could deal with his fame and the guilt of the survivor. A couple of years after the war, he hitchhiked 1,300 miles to the Texas home of Harlon Block, to tell Harlon's father that his son was in The Photograph, not another Marine who had mistakenly been identified as the man at the base of the flag. Harlon's mother recognized her son as soon as she saw the picture, although his face was not visible, and Ira confirmed her belief. Ira's drinking put him in jail on numerous occasions for ten years, and he was finally was found dead in 1955 at the age of 32. His funeral is remembered as the largest ever held in Arizona. The nature of heroism is a difficult thing to define. In the end, James Bradley accepts what his father insisted, that Doc, Harlon, Mike, Rene, Franklin, and Ira were not heroes. They were men of common virtue, who performed with uncommon valor. All they did was raise a pole, but that action created an icon that symbolized the incredible feats of heroism and sacrifices made by the men on Iwo Jima. Again and again, survivors of combat say that they fought for their buddies, the guys alongside them who shared their joys, hopes, and horrors. This battlefield bond is something so strong that men will die for one another without a second thought. The image of the flagraising on Iwo Jima is a symbol of that bond that will last as long as the United States Marine Corps.
Rating:
Summary: Tribute to the Marines of Iwo Jima
Review: "Flags of Our Fathers" is a compelling book! Every American is duty-bound to read the stories of these Marines and the cost of freedom of our country during World War II. As a graduate of the USMC Command & General Staff Course, I would strongly recommend this book's addition to the mandatory reading list for the school. As I read Chapter 1, I sat with tears streaming down, shaking, anxious for the next sentence, paragraph, and page. This is not a book I could put down! James Braldley's story of his father and the men of Iwo Jima moved me. This book is a lasting tribute to the sacrifices of these brave and noble men who I will only come to know through the eyes of Mr. Braldley.
Rating:
Summary: Exceptional Book
Review: I think that people of my generation and later don't really understand the sacrifices made by Americans during World War II. This book puts everything in perspective. I already had great respect and admiration for these young men and women, and what they accomplished, and thhis book served to deepen that respect. The author describes those days on Iwo Jima and the events leading up to and after the battle eloquently and with great insight. I highly recommend that everyone read this book.
Rating:
Summary: Heroes, all.
Review: I believe that if the entire population of the world were to read this book, there would never be another war. "Flags of Our Fathers" reveals the stories of simple, every day American boys who became men before their time in choosing to fight for our country. It tells of their loyalty, dedication and ultimately, their sacrifice. The men who fought in WWII claim that the only heroes were those who did not return. I believe all who served became heroes the day they signed up to fight for our freedom. In addition to the poignant stories, many of the myths that followed the famous flagraising image are dispelled and the truth is told by survivors of the battle of Iwo Jima. An easy read, written by the son of the only flagraiser to survive into old age.
Rating:
Summary: Very moving book...
Review: I was only seven years old when Easy company landed on Iwo Jima and my memories of the war are limited. I'm glad I was able to read this book and be reminded of the sacrifices our Fathers and Uncles made for all Americans of my generation and for generations to come. James Bradley's writing takes you along with these brave men from the time they are working on their farms, playing high school football, and working in mills - Through their training and into the hell of Iwo Jima. You feel as if you know them. I figure I'm as tough as the next guy but there are parts of this book that brought tears to my eyes.
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