Rating: 
Summary: Powerful!
Review: I thought this was an excellent book. It was the first book I had ever read on Iwo Jima and I never knew anything about these six flag raisers. These were men who were glorified because of a single picture of the American flag being planted atop Mount Suribachi and hardly recognized or remembered because of the amazing bravery and courage they displayed in 36 days of fighting at Iwo Jima. Planting the flag was hardly a heroic act, they were just doing what they were told and a photographer just happened to catch that momement in time. The Picture, as it came to be known, proved to be a symbol of American tenacity and heroism and ironically, a nightmare to the three surviving flag raisers.At times savage, heartfelt and always powerful, Flags of our Fathers is a must read for everyone.
Rating:
Summary: A poignant reminder of the costs of war
Review: Flags of our Fathers is as timely a book as ever now. In describing the incredible heroism of a small group of men immortalized in Rosenthal's photograph, along with other combatants on Iwo Jima, what Bradley really accomplishes is bringing home the costs which war imposes on those asked to fight in them. Not only the casualties suffered on the battlefield, which in the case of Iwo Jima were enormous, but the psychological suffering of the survivors, brilliantly catalogued by Bradley, the son of one of the flag raisers, whose father was the only one of the six men pictured in the most famous photograph of the last century to both survive the conflagration and return to a semblance of normalcy in civilian life. Flags of our Fathers captures the ambiguity of conflict; while appreciating the neccessity of opposing a brutal agressor, Bradley constantly reminds us of the grave costs associated, and quietly creates an inner dialog leading the reader to question whether the suffering could have been alleviated both in the course of the campaign and after. This generation has witnessed another flag raising, and the parallels between the use of the flag and the image of its raising in 1945 and 2001 is worthy of reflection. If one takes a lesson from this book, it should be that we ignore the toll imposed on those whom we ask to fight our conflicts, and fail in our obligations to offer them succor for all the wounds they suffer, only at a greater cost to ourselves.
Rating:
Summary: Flags of our Fathers
Review: Flag of our Fathers by James Bradley is about the flag raising on Iwo Jima.
It is a very good book. My favorite part was learning about the history behind the raising of the flag.
My favorite person from the book is John Bradley. The book had maps about the island. I would recommend this book to anyone.
Rating:
Summary: You Learn Something on Every Page
Review: This is just an all around good book. The author was the son of one the American solders picture in the famous flag-raising picture from World War Two. I do not think I can add much additional to the actual details of the book that are spelled out here in other reviews, but I do want to add my comments on the book. It was so interesting, because you hardly ever get such a look into the people from a particular event before, during and after the event took place. The book offered a wonderful recap of the event and the actions of the solders during that battle. It also gave a review of their service after the picture and their lives after the war. The book was written by one of the sons so you get a great deal of warmth for the subjects in the book that you would not get if an investigative reporter or historian wrote the book. The writing is very earthly; it is almost like you are having a conversation with the author. It is an all around good, interesting and entraining book that is not just for the World War 2 junky.
Rating:
Summary: Human Stories
Review: Great writing. Great reading. The book is about the landing at Iwo Jima but the real story, sensitively told, is the lives of the men who planted the flag there. Bradley and Powers spin a yarn of the larger-than-life scenarios that create heros and the lives that those heros return to when those scenarios go away. Every veteran's child should read it.
Rating:
Summary: Awe-inspiring tribute to those who have fought for freedom
Review: I am a person who hates to read, but this book captivated me! After the in-depth descriptions of each of the flag-raisers, I felt as though I knew each one of them personally. As they marched into battle, I felt that I was there with them, praying for their protection. This book displays the true and undying courage of these men. After reading about the hell that they endured on that tiny island, I appreciate my freedom even more. The author has obviously done a lot of extensive researching. There are many personal stories and interviews which strike the reader's heart.
This was a wonderful tribute to these men! It was very well written! It is an easy reader! I would recommend it to anyone, even if they aren't a "military buff." It was great!
Rating:
Summary: A fitting tribute...
Review: If you are looking for a sanitized version of wartime bravado, this book is not for you. But if you are willing to undergo an intense, messy, emotional journey into the minds of the young Marines who played an integral role in the Pacific theater, this is your book.
"Flags" tells the stories of the young men forever immortalized in the famous flagraising photo, which incidentally, was an "accidental" snapshot by a war photographer. The author, son of one of the flagraisers, propels the reader through these boys' pre-war civilian lives, enlistment and training, right into the thick of the brutal struggle for Iwo Jima and the heartbreaking aftermath of the war for the surviving young men.
Although the writing tends to be rather choppy at times, it is easy to overlook as the reader is swept up in this powerful narrative. The images created are graphic, vivid and not easily dismissed.
This book is a fitting tribute from a son trying to understand and come to terms with his beloved, honored, and respected father's traumatic wartime past, as well as to honor the valiant Marines who fought in the Second World War.
Rating:
Summary: Ordinary people doing their duty in extraordinary times
Review: This book is easily one of the best books I ever read. I especially recommend it to anyone who is interested in wars and the men who fight them. Bradley's personal and passionate account of arguably the toughest, bloodiest, and most highly decorated battle our nation ever fought is simply remarkable. By the end of the book you will long remember and appreciate the sacrifice and significance of the U.S. Marines' WWII Battle of Iwo Jima and the lives and deaths of the six flag raisers (Harlon Block, John Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Franklin Sousley, and Mike Strank) forever immortalized in Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal's prize-winning photo atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, and in the world's largest bronze statue, the United States Marine Corps War Memorial. Shortly after the tragic events of September 11, 2001, an e-mail I will never forget arrived at my work computer. Attached to the e-mail was an image, actually two images side-by-side. No words were needed. On one side was the Rosenthal Iwo Jima flag-raising picture, and next to it was the New York City firemen flag-raising at "Ground Zero" picture. Reading this book helped me to fully understand the old adage, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
Rating: 
Summary: This book is almost too realistic
Review: Flags of Our Fathers gives so much justice to the men who fought on Iwo Jima. The book starts off kind of dry (which is why I gave it 4 stars). The book includes a short biography of each man who raised the flag on Iwo Jima, then goes into their training and how each one eventually crossed paths. The book then explains the whole battle of Iwo Jima from start to finish; revealing the heroic acts, and the terrible slaughter. After explaining the battle, the book goes into what happened to the three surviving flag raisers. I loved this book because I simply love to learn about America's history. This book can be overwhelming due to the detail it goes into surrounding the battle. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to appreciate what our previous generations have done to preserve our freedom.
Rating:
Summary: Perhaps the Best
Review: When I found this book I was instantly intrigued. I had always seen the famous Iwo Jima picture on books of WWII, but alas never knew the true history of the flag raising and the stories of the mortal men whose picture is immortal. This story was told as only a son could do it, with love and a sense of purpose. James Bradley's quest to uncover the truth of his father's war time exploits became the core of this terrific book. From birth to death, Bradley tells of the lives of the six men whose picture graced the houses of millions of Americans during and after WWII. Perhaps it is the greatest picture of our indomitable spirit our county has ever seen, truly striking an emotional chord with all that see it. This book is so excellently written, it is most surprising that this is James Bradley's first book. Most authors would consider it a masterpiece. I reccommend this book to anyone, whether they are enamored with military history or want just a tale of a strong family. I have read this book several times just because it is that good. Without a douby it is one book that I will always remember and look to for inspiration. Thank you John Bradley, Ira Hayes, Mike Strank, Rene Gagnon, Franklin Sousley, and Harlon Block. Thank you for your sacrifices.
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