Iwo Jima photographer dies

[WateringHole]

Joe Rosenthal, the Associated Press photographer who took the photo of the Marines of the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Division rasing the U.S. Flag on Iwo Jima Feb. 23, 1945 passed away this past Sunday. He was 94.

[DMZ-LT]

Rest in Peace Joe. Just finished a book called Flag Of Our Fathers , about Iwo.. Written by the son of one of the flag raisers. Very good read. Fifth Marine Division was formed for this battle and 3 out of 5 Marines were killed or wounded during the battle

[WateringHole]

In 1961, Tony Curtis made a movie named the "Outsider". The movie was about an Indian from Arizona named Ira Hayes who was one of the Marines that is seen in that famous photo hoisting the American Flag.
I don't know if anyone ever seen the movie, but I thought it was pretty good. Couple of good co stairs at that time who was in the movie was James Franciscus and Gregory Walcott. Walcott plays the Marine Drill Sergeant at Camp Pendleton which he did a real good job of portraying.
The movie mostly leads up to Hayes not being able to handle being looked upon as a hero by the American Public.

[DMZ-LT]

The book says Ira was an alcoholic even before he joined the service. He was airborne qualified to.

[Jerry D]

Thanks Joe Rosenthal and Rest in Peace, You treated the military soldier with Dignity and Honor. Todays Reporters could take a few lessons from men like Joe Rosenthal.

[WateringHole]

DMZ-LT

From what I can reall about Ira Hayes, he was every Marine Corp Genaral's ideal of fighting Marine. But when things didn't go his way in civilian life, he would hit the bottle.
He was very upset and had good reasons on account of the govertment cutting off the Pima Indian water and forcing them to rely on the Govertment for just about all their necessities.
Back in those days, the govertment tried to keep all Native Americans confined to their tribes, didn't like them roaming around too much. They probably thought another Geronimo would spring up somewhere.

[DMZ-LT]

Alcoholism is a terrible disease. You either quit or you die. Ira died.

[WateringHole]

You're right DMZ-LT

If Ira would have used his Marine Corp way of thinking after he got discharged towards getting things accomplished, he might still be living today. That is "never give up, try another way and another way until you accomplish your objective.

[Boats]

Nice thread on those who raised the flag during those hard days.

http://www.iwojima.com/raising/raisingc.htm

[Boats]

Found this photo of his most famous photo.