Feb

U.S. FLAG WAS RAISED ON THIS DAY IN 1945

The iconic Pulitzer Prize winning photo by AP photographer
Joe Rosenthal was actually the second flag raised on Feb.
23, 1945 during the battle for Iwo Jima.

February 23, 1945: During the bloody Battle for Iwo Jima, U.S.
Marines from the 3rd Platoon, E Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th
Regiment of the 5th Division took the crest of Mount Suribachi,
the island’s highest peak and most strategic position, and raised
the U.S. flag. Marine photographer Louis Lowery was with them
and recorded the event.

Americans fighting for control of Suribachi’s slopes cheered the
raising of the flag, and several hours later more Marines headed
up to the crest with a larger flag.

Joe Rosenthal, a photographer with the Associated Press, met
them along the way and recorded the raising of the second flag
along with a Marine still photographer and a motion-picture
cameraman.

Rosenthal took three photographs atop Suribachi. The first,
which showed six Marines struggling to hoist the heavy flag
pole, became the most reproduced photograph in history and
won him a Pulitzer Prize.

U.S. Marines stand nearby the first flag raised
on Feb. 23, 1945 in Iwo Jima.