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Summary: To Mr. Bradley
Review: I had the pleasure of hearing Mr. Bradley speak at a memeorial service for all the marines that served on Iwo. Not only was I impressed by the presentation, but the content and compassion he illustrated as a speaker was awesome. I purchased two copies of this book; I got one for my grandfather (2nd Lieutenant USMC)and one for myself. To Mr. Bradley... thank you and thank your father.
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Summary: Adding to the Record
Review: Bradley and Powers have done an excellent job of adding good detail to the often reported stories of Iwo Jima, the flag raising, and the men involved. "Filling in the blanks" can help our younger citizens particularly more fully relate to the terrible conflicts worldwide from the 1930s to the 1950s. As a killing ground, Iwo Jima should be remembered and those who gave their lives there respected. The authors bring this across very well. I would rate this book and Richmond's "My Father's War" as two valuable recent contributions to the personal stories behind the battles and the headlines. War should not be seen solely through obscure lenses, and these books help to make it more personal. Good work, authors....
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Summary: Required Reading
Review: James Bradley's poetically written account of the battle of Iwo Jima should be required reading for everyone. It corrects many misconceptions I had about the flag raising and the horrendous battle that took place afterwards. Once I started the book I could not put it down. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for every Marine you know.
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Summary: Raising our Sprits as Well
Review: As a reader of historical literature, no book quite as touched me as much as "Flags of Our Fathers", the stirring and wonderfully written recount of the men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima. James Bradley manages in his excellent work to take us not only behind the scenes of one of the most famous photographs in history, but also behind the scenes of the workings of a father/son relationship. After having just recently lost my own father to cancer, it somehow in a reflective way brought me closer to him. A perfect gift, not only for Memorial Day, but also for Father's Day. Even if you are not a big reader of war literature, I cannot recommend "Flags of Our Fathers" highly enough.
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Summary: Flags of Our Fathers - a national treasure
Review: Bradley and Powers have combined to bring back to life one of the most memorable photos in our national heritage. They do so in a way that honors the participants, as well as factually documents and corrects some historical accidents. They also tell the story in a readable manner that is interesting and engaging. This is a great read! Put Flags of Our Fathers in your shopping cart now.
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Summary: Labor of Love
Review: Clearly this book was written as only a son could write a book about his father. While the author writes about all 6 of the flag raisers, it is clear from the beginning that his motivation is to create a lasting tribute to his father and the others who sacrificed. A great book that should be required reading in High Schools across the country.
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Summary: Wonderfully written book
Review: I found this book to be most enjoyable, however, I am nagged by simple mistakes for a subject that was obviously so well researched. For instance, not knowing what kind of ship an LST is. My Father served in World War Two, and as a matter of fact was at the Iwo Jima landings. An LST is not a ship which took the troops to the beach. I am sure the author meant to say the LCI, or the Landing, Craft Infantry. The LST stands for Landing, Ship Tank. The LST was a much bigger ship which hauled not only the troops, but also their equipment including motorized vehicles. While it is true the LST could drive right up onto a beach, this was only done if the beach was secure, and was not usually done on a hot beach. This is not meant to be a critical review of this particular book, but rather an observation made by myself of other books of this genre. I must honestly say this is the most enjoyable book written on the subject of Iwo Jima that I have read in quite awhile. I enjoyed it from front to back, and will probably read it again.
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Summary: 27 Publishers are wondering what happened!
Review: That is the number of publishers that said no to publishing one of the better works I have read. This book (as I write) has been available for 4 days, is number 8 on Amazon, and has nothing but 5 star reviews. These men often did not get the respect they deserved once those with an interest in them finish using them for War-Bond drives, or as publicity for a movie. Per Oxford, hill-billy is a derogative term comparable to hick. So not only is one of the commercial reviews above offensive, the writer cannot spell. There are no definitions that are remotely positive. Ira Hamilton Hayes was a member of the Pimwa Tribe, or perhaps a Native American Pimwa. To sum up his life as, "an Arizona Indian who would die in an alcohol-soaked brawl" is offensive, obnoxious, and a fact the Author would not leap to, so how a person who "read" the book could state that is remarkable. The misnomer "Indian" came about from a sailor who was not the first to reach this continent, and when he did he was so lost he called the people he found "Indians". It's the 21st century, can we start demonstrating basic respect? Especially for those who either did or were willing to lay down their lives for those of us writing these reviews, and reading their stories? This is not being politically correct, it's about respect. After you read the stories of these men, you, like I would follow; United States Marine Franklin Sousley of Kentucky, or United States Marine Ira Hamilton Hayes where they dared to go and know you were being led by the best. Iwo Jima killed Mr. Hayes, he died later in Arizona. Mr. Hayes hitchhiked 2600 miles so a Mother knew she was right, he went even when the government didn't want to bother making the correction because it was "too late", and he was told to drop it. PLEASE do not pass this book by because you believe it is a "War Story". This is a tribute to a Father, a group of six men of which he was a part, as well as the tens of thousands who served in the Pacific Theater. This is a tribute to The United States Marine Corps, which is the branch of the service that this book focuses upon. Who will enjoy this, if any of the following appeals or applies to you buy the book. 1. "The Greatest Generation" by Tom Brokaw 2. "The Greatest Generation Speaks" by Tom Brokaw 3. "Angela's Ashes" by Frank McCourt, I'm very serious, as this book starts with the primary subjects of this book as very young children. And to say some of their childhoods were hard would be an understatement. One of the men was an immigrant who was not required to serve, and two others were not required to either. 4. If true stories about the human spirit interest you, what it can endure, what it can give, and what an individual will sacrifice for another, you will love this book. 5. If you like anything written by Stephen Ambrose, Martin Gilbert, Ron Chernow, or Amanda Foreman order this now. These authors profiled a wide range of people, from Eisenhower, Winston Churchill, James Rockefeller, and The Duchess Of Devonshire. They all brought their subjects to life in the present, as you were reading. This book is primarily about the six men who raised the second flag on Iwo Jima. But to confine this to the category of a "War" book is not only a disservice it's wrong. This is a book about Mothers, one of who maintained against the world the identity of her son. She had changed "too many diapers" to not know whom her boy was. The man who hitchhiked 2600 miles so that Mother knew she was correct and then did what was necessary so it was recorded accurately for History. A wife who fought the government when she was told her husband, who was one of the six men, did not qualify for burial in The Arlington National Cemetery. Guess who won that argument? The Author James Bradley could have written a book only in tribute to his Father, he did not, and if he had his Father would not have been happy. And that for me was the key to this majestic tale. This was not just about a man, six men, or The United States Marine Corps. This was about what thousands upon thousands did not for themselves but for each other. This is about the Families that raised the individuals you will see in their First Communion photograph, who became exceptional individuals, leaders, and above all team members. The battle for Iwo Jima is nearly beyond imagining. I found myself reading and then reading again the statistics, as they are overwhelming. If you have read about the invasion of Normandy, or watched the Movie "Saving Private Ryan", the comparisons with Iwo Jima will startle you. If the issue regarding the decision to use Atomic weapons at Hiroshima and Nagasaki is still a question in your mind, I believe this book will put an end to that debate. This book is deserving of a very wide audience, I certainly hope people embrace it. "Many people go through life wondering if they have made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem" President Ronald Reagan.
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Summary: Real American Heros
Review: Without question this is one of the best battle books of WWII. I think it can be compared with "D-Day" by Stephen Ambrose for its depth and the amount of research done by Bradley on the battle and the men who fought there. I was barely four years old when the famous photo was taken and therefore grew up with the image firmly planted in my mind. What Bradley has done is put face on each of the six men who raised that flag. At the heart of the story is the savagery of the battle, the courage and sacrafice of the men who fought the battle and the fact that no one questioned why they were there and for what they were fighting. In my mind every man who stepped off a landing craft to fight on the beaches of Iwo Jima was a hero. Unfortunatly, those who came home probably didn't think so and had to fight a different kind of battle which Mr. Bradley describes in detail. This is a book I found hard to put down. And like the Rosenthal photo, the images created by James Bradley will stay with me.
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Summary: A deeply moving story of courage and honor
Review: The photograph of the raising of the American Flag on the island of Iwo Jima is one of the most famous pictures ever taken. Rarely in history has there been such an enduring symbol of valiant courage and honor. In "Flags Of Our Fathers", the true story of that transcendent moment in time is brought to life. The life stories of the six men that raised the flag on Iwo Jima are told; as well as the story of the ferocious battle of Iwo Jima in February 1945. The story of the six men is told in a very moving way, by describing much of what happened in their lives both before and after Iwo Jima. After reading about the lives of these men, they are no longer distant figures in a photograph from a far away time. They are very real men that went through struggle and tragedy, and were all brought together for that supreme moment on Iwo Jima. The author of the book is the son of the last surviving member of the six. When his father died in 1994, he wanted to understand and to tell his story; and the story of all the men of Iwo Jima. Beyond the story of battle and courage, this is also the story of the love between a father and his son. This is one of the most inspiring books that you will ever read, and it is highly recommended.
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