Istoriya of a Photograph | 02
Written by Yusif Babayev
The year was 1945, and the Pacific was a cauldron of fire and death. On the tiny, sulfurous island of Iwo Jima, one of the most savage battles of World War II raged. For days, U.S. Marines fought yard by bloody yard to take Mount Suribachi, the dormant volcano at the island’s southern tip, which served as a crucial observation point for the Japanese forces.
On February 23rd, a small patrol finally reached the summit and raised a small American flag. It was a moment of victory, but it was quickly decided that a larger, more visible flag was needed to boost morale for the Marines still fighting below and for the sailors watching from ships offshore.
As the second, larger flag was hauled up, Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, who had raced to the summit, captured the moment. The photograph he took was not the first flag raising, but of this second one, a more powerful image of six men straining together to lift the heavy steel pole. In the photo, the men are anonymous, their faces hidden by the immense effort, their figures silhouetted against a chaotic, war-torn backdrop.
Click.
The shutter snapped, freezing a moment of pure, unadulterated heroism. It wasn’t just a photograph of six men raising a flag; it was a testament to the collective struggle and sacrifice of all who fought. The image, published just two days later, instantly became a symbol of national pride, inspiring a nation weary of war and providing a visual representation of the courage required for victory. It would go on to win a Pulitzer Prize and serve as the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial, forever etching the heroism of Iwo Jima into the American memory.