The Flag That Changed History: Iwo Jima and the Meaning of the American Flag
On February 23, 1945, six United States Marines braved overwhelming odds and relentless enemy fire to raise the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on the island of Iwo Jima. While many believe this moment marked the end of the battle, the fighting would continue for more than 30 brutal days, finally concluding on March 26, 1945.
Iwo Jima itself was a nightmarish battlefield. The island’s terrain was composed of volcanic ash, molten sulfur, and constant steam vents. Beneath the surface lay an extensive network of underground tunnels, while above ground, concealed fighting positions allowed Japanese forces to defend the island with deadly efficiency. Appropriately, the name Iwo Jima translates to “Sulfur Island,” described by an Imperial Japanese staff officer as a place with “no water, no sparrow, no swallow.”¹
Courageous Battle Vows and Uncommon Valor
General Tadamichi Kuribayashi, the commander of Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, designed his defenses to inflict maximum casualties on the invading U.S. Marines. He issued what became known as the “Courageous Battle Vows,” instructing his troops that their battle station would be their grave and instilling the belief that killing ten Americans, even at the cost of their own lives, would bring honor and victory to the Emperor.²
The Raising of the Flag on Mount Suribachi
The moment that would become synonymous not only with the Battle of Iwo Jima but with the entire Pacific Theater of World War II was captured by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal. His iconic image depicts the second flag raising of the day, as a larger American flag replaced an earlier, smaller one. The six Marines in the photograph were Michael Strank, Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, Ira Hayes, Harold Schultz, and Harold Keller. Strank, Block, and Sousley would later lose their lives during the battle.
Rosenthal’s photograph resonated far beyond the battlefield. It became a powerful symbol of unity and resolve for a nation at war, helping raise more than $26 billion in war bonds. Fleet Admiral Chester W. Nimitz famously reflected on the battle, stating, *“Among the men who fought on Iwo Jima, uncommon valor was a common virtue.”*³
Today, the image—and the American flag itself—endures as a lasting symbol of sacrifice, hope, and inspiration. It reminds us that the freedoms represented by the flag were earned at a tremendous cost and honors those who gave everything to defend them.
1 John Curatola, PhD. "Iwo Jima: Sacrifice and Sanctuary" https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/iwo-jima-sacrifice-and-sanctuary. Published February 17, 2025. Accessed January 30, 2026.
2 National Museum of the Pacific War. (2025, February 19). The Battle of Iwo Jima. https://www.pacificwarmuseum.org/learn/articles/battle-of-iwo-jima
3 Nimitz, C. W. (1945, March 16). Famous quotes. Marine Corps University. https://www.usmcu.edu/Research/Marine-Corps-History-Division/Frequently-Requested-Topics/Famous-Quotes/
Photograph of Flag Raising on Iwo Jima; 2/23/1945; General Records of the Department of the Navy, Record Group 80. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/photograph-of-flag-raising-on-iwo-jima/, January 30, 2026]