Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima (Young Reader's Abridged Edition)

Book Description

New York Times bestseller, now adapted for young readers, Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima.
Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America. In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima–and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the island’s highest peak. And there, they raised a flag. The son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six very different men who came together in the heroic battle.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent insight into our Fathers.......2007-01-03

Great book showing how a major world event shaped the lives of a whole generation. I gained a lot of insight from reading this book.

A real eye-opener!.......2006-10-24

I consider myself knowledgeable about history, especially WW2. After reading just half of "Flags of our Fathers'" I realize how much I 'didn't' know about this part of the war. Most of my research was of the european theatre.
I am so glad I purchased this book. It makes me feel so humble as to my own time spent in uniform for I never had to endure or sacrifice what these young men did.
Anyone thinking of not voting should read this and be sure to vote for these young men gave everything so that we could have that right. Even more they went through hell before they did it.
Do yourself a favor and get this book.
Richard Neal Huffman - Author of Dreams In Blue: The Real Police

"Flags of Our Fathers" - A Timely Look at a Bloody Battle in Our History .......2006-10-20

Quite a while ago, Nick Olmsted, a graduate of the U. S. Naval Academy, recommended that I read "Flags of Our Fathers." I am glad that I finally got around to taking his advice. This story struck me on many levels at once, and this seems to be an opportune time to share some of my thoughts about this remarkable book, written by James Bradley, the son of one of the six Marines whose iconic picture of the raising of the flag over Iwo Jima riveted a war-weary nation.

The film based on this book is due to be released tomorrow. My friend, Nate Fick, former Marines Corps officer and author of "One Bullet Away," had invited me to attend a special screening of the film tomorrow evening in Boston. There will be many Marines present for this gala event to raise funds for a scholarship program for the families of Marines who have fallen in combat. Here is how Nate described to me the work of the scholarship committee:

The Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation will be showing a benefit premier of "Flags of Our Fathers" at the AMC Theater on Boston Common on Friday 20 October. Military guests of honor will include BGen John Kelly, legislative assistant to CMC, former ACMC's Generals Nyland and Neal, and perhaps others.

For those who don't know, the MCSF is committed to funding higher education for the children of Marines and Navy Corpsmen, especiallythose killed in action. It's a wonderful organization, and one I've been proud to be involved with during the past several years.

So, before I am influenced by the film's portrayal of the events on Iwo Jima and the stories of the six men - Harlon Block, James Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hayes, Frank Sousley, Mike Strank - whose picture became symbolic of a nation at war, I will share my take on the book. A review of the film will follow in a few days.

James Bradley was motivated to write "Flags of Our Fathers" after the death of his father. As the family sorted through the papers that John Bradley left behind, they found three cardboard boxes full of photos and documents related to Iwo Jima. Finding this secret stash shocked the Bradleys, since James had refused to discuss his role as a famous flagraiser.

"I hungered to know the heroic part of my dad. Try as I might I could never get him to tell me about it.

`The real heroes of Iwo Jima,' he said once, coming as close as he ever would, `are the guys who didn't come back.'" (Page 4)

My siblings and I had a similar experience. My father, who served in India with the U.S. Army Air Corps, hardly ever talked about his years of service that cost him four years of his life and compromised his health until he died at the relatively young age of 65. It was as if he had locked that part of his life away in some inaccessible vault. The closest he came to revealing that chapter of his life was to lead us in singing Army marching songs that seemed to play in his head like a continuous loop. Our frequent family drives in the country were filled with many hours of such songs. We whiled away the hours and the miles by singing "Someone's in the Kitchen with Dinah," "Alice Blue Gown," "Off We Go Into the Wild Blue Yonder," and "I've Been Working on the Railroad." I felt as if Bradley had touched a special rewind button when he wrote these words about the memorial service the family held when they were able to visit Iwo Jima in 1998:

"When I was finished with my talk, I couldn't look up at the faces in front of me. I sensed the strong emotion in the air. Quietly, I suggested that in honor of my dad, we all sing the only two songs John Bradley ever admitted to knowing: `Home on the Range' and `I've Been Working on the Railroad.'" (page 14)

Bradley chose an epigraph for the second chapter of the book that is timeless and haunting:

"All wars are boyish, and are fought by boys." Herman Melville (Page 17)

Bradley lays out in clear terms why he chose to undertake the project of writing the book and sharing the stories of the Iwo Jima flagraisers:

"That was the point, I reminded myself, the point of my quest: to bring these boys back to life, or a kind of life, to let them live again in the country's memory. Starting with my father, and continuing with the other five.

That is how we always keep our beloved dead alive, isn't it? By telling stories abut them; true stories. It works that way with our national past as well. Keeping it alive by telling stories." (Page 17)

I have long been a strong believer in the power of narrative to capture our imaginations and our hearts. The job that James Bradley and Ron Powers have done in this book reaffirms my faith in the power of a well-told story. By Bradley bringing back to life the six Iwo Jima flagraisers and their comrades who fell in battle there, I felt as if he were also connecting me to a piece of my father's history and bringing him back to life, as well. As you can imagine, reading this book evoked powerful emotions.

This book does a very effect job of contrasting the sanitized view that civilians have of war with the messy reality experienced by those in the midst of the fighting:

"To the civilian noncombatants, war was `knowable' and `understandable.' Orderly files of men and machines marching off to war, flags waving, patriotic songs playing. War could be clear and logical to those who had not touched its barb.

But battle veterans quickly lost a sense of war's certitude. Images of horror they could scarcely comprehend invaded their thoughts tortured their minds. Bewildered and numbed, they cold not unburden themselves to their civilian counterparts, who could never comprehend through mere words.

Mike, Ira, and Harlon - these three boys back from the Pacific Heart of Darkness - now embraced death. Two were convinced that their next battle would be their last. And one lingered on for ten years before he was consumed by a living nightmare." (Page 90)

"Today, a battle-scarred Ira Hayes would be diagnosed with post-traumatic stress syndrome, and there would be understanding and treatment available to him. But in the late forties and early fifties, Ira had to suffer alone. Suffer daily with images of and misplaced guilt over his 'good buddies who didn't come back.'" (Page 333)

Post traumatic stress disorder - or PTSD - reared its ugly head over Iwo Jima and planted its flag in the hearts of those who fought there - and who have fought in every subsequent battle from Pusan and Pork Chop Hill to Khe Sahn and Hamburger Hill to Tikrit and Falujah. (I will return to the topic of PTSD in a series of articles in the coming weeks.)

Throughout the book, Bradley does justice to the legacy of the Iwo Jima flagraisers by addressing an issue that haunted each of them - the question of what it truly means to be a hero. The flagraisers felt that fate had singled them out for notoriety and the label of "hero," but each man felt in his heart that the real heroes were the ones who did not live to see the flag raised or the parades planned or the War Bond rallies held.

"And finally, I found a full-page newspaper ad from the Seventh Bond Tour, which he had participated in. It screamed: `You've seen the photo, you've heard him on radio, now in person in Milwaukee County Stadium, see Iwo Jima hero John H. Bradley!'

Hero. In that misunderstood and corrupted word, I think lay the final reason for John Bradley's silence.

Today the word `hero' has been diminished, confused with `celebrity.' But in my father's generation the word meant something.

Celebrities seek fame. They take actions to get attention. Most often, the actions they take have no particular moral content. Heroes are heroes because they have risked something to help others. Their actions involve courage. Often, those heroes have been indifferent to the public's attention. But at least, the hero could understand the focus of the emotion. However he valued or devalued his own achievement, it did stand as an accomplishment.

The moment that saddled my father with the label of `hero' contained no action worthy of remembering. When he was shown the photo for the first time, he had no idea what he was looking at. He did not recognize himself or any of the others. The raising of that pole was as forgettable as tying the laces of his boots.

The irony, of course, was that Doc Bradley was indeed a hero on Iwo Jima - many times over. The flagraising, in fact, might be seen as one of the few moments in which he was not acting heroically. In 1998 Dr. James Wittmeier, my father's medical supervisor in Iwo, sat beside me silently contemplating my request for him to explain, or speculate on, why my dad never talked about that time. Finally, after many long minutes, he turned to me and softly said, `You ever hold a broken raw egg in your hands? Well, that's how your father and I help young men's heads.' The heads of real heroes, dying in my father's arms.

So, he knew real heroism. He could separate the real thing from the image, the fluff. And no matter how many millions of people thought otherwise, he understood that this image of heroism was not the real thing." (Pages 260-261)

"Flags of Our Fathers" is a moving and loving tribute to heroes - real and perceived. I am glad that Nick Olmsted pointed the way to it. I hope that Clint Eastwood and Stephen Spielberg's translation of the story to the screen will honor the spirit of the men who fought on Iwo Jima.

Al

1/400th of a second in time.......2006-10-19

"It's funny what a picture can do": 1/400th of a second in time.

I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. Will Eastwood respect the book?, I believe it is in his nature to do so.

The true story surrounding the flag raising on Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima. Well written, with tales of heroism; hard not to shed a tear.

We will learn the names of the marines who made famous that one day in time; who they were, their hometowns, their progression from training, to individual deployment, to the forming of the squad. Finally progressing to the day they meet and each individuals final fate.

The Japanese were as phantoms, fighting to the very last man. Our marines had to fight for every square inch on a volcanic wasteland. The initial fight was for Mt. Suribachi. But at the raising of the flag (the second one to be raised) the battle was not over. The horrific losses were just beginning. Why could they have not just starved the island out?

"The heroes of Iwo Jima are the guys who didn't come back"

Lets thank those who were "just doing their duty".

Wish you well
Scott

The real story of Iwo Jima.......2006-09-20

A remarkable tribute to ordinary soldiers accidentally thrust into an extraordinary situation by one of the best known wartime photographs in WW 2 history. A loving tribute from a son to his humble father, a young man who did his duty as he had been trained, and who came back home to do what thousands of servicemen did-try to pick up 'normal' lives and put the horrors of war behind them.
This book in paperback is an important read for everyone who questions the decisions made by soldiers and their commanders under fire, against an enemy with no real regard for human life and dignity as Americans have come to expect. Especially now, as our troops are involved in an effort to keep the enemy from bringing terror to our homeland, just as they did back in 1945. In every generation, there are ordinary people who are called upon to do extraordinary things, as we witnessed on 9/11/01 (this generations 'Pearl Harbor'). Bradley has done an excellent job, both with this book and 'Flyboys' to describe the Pacific war effort and to make it very real to the reader. I hope that his research and writing with regard to what is now termed 'the Greatest Generation' continues.

Heroes of the Dawn: Celtic Myth (Myth and Mankind)

Average customer rating:

Wow!
An Excellent Overview of Celtic Mythology

Heroes of the Dawn: Celtic Myth (Myth and Mankind)
Time-Life Books , and Time-Life
Manufacturer: Time-Life Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Medieval | World | History | Subjects | Books

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ASIN: 0705421716

Customer Reviews:

Wow!.......2005-08-25

After purchasing this book for a dollar, I was expecting its information to be poorly researched and oversimplified. True, it isn't a long book, but this suited my purposes well-- it's a great introduction to the Celtic people and their mythological cycles and known religious practices. It's very well-organized, and the facts are accurate and up-to-date with current historical findings. A great bargain.

An Excellent Overview of Celtic Mythology.......2000-06-05

Heroes of the Dawn from Time Life's Myth & Mankind series is a lavishly illustrated and comprehensive overview of ancient celtic beliefs.

Faces of Courage: Young Heroes of World War II

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Faces of Courage: Young Heroes of World War II
Sally Rogow
Manufacturer: Granville Island Publishing
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1894694201

Book Description

Faces of Courage: Young Heroes of World War II is an inspiring compilation of twelve stories of courageous teenagers from all across Europe who resisted the Nazis.

There is Kirsten, a Danish girl who helped save a group of Jewish children from the Nazis. Jacob, a young Pole, survived the Holocaust by concealing his Jewish identity and working in a German armament factory. Jacques Lusseyran, a blind French boy, organized a student resistance group called the Volunteers of Liberty. The Edelweiss Pirates were a group of German teenagers who opposed The Hitler Youth and aided homeless runaways from reform schools and labor camps.

Customer Reviews:

Examines the heroic efforts of both Jews and non-Jews.......2001-05-28

Ted Gottfried's Heroes Of The Holocaust (1717-1) and Children Of The Slaughter (1716-3, $28.90 Each) provide insights on the Holocaust, continuing his prior books on the topic. Heroes Of The Holocaust examines the heroic efforts of both Jews and non-Jews against Hitler; Children Of The Slaughter focuses on the young victims of the Nazis. Both are excellent.

Heroes of the Holocaust.......2001-04-07

This book tells the story of the true tales of treachery and brutality that so many victims experienced at the hands of the Nazis. The horrors that happened to the Jews could almost convince one that evil can win out over good in the the souls of human beings. This book gives us a closer look at the tragedies that happened and at the heorism and bravery carried out by others. This is the story of the underground groups who stage rescues. Readers age 12 and up will read with interest of the citizens who risked thier lives to save other human beings from the hatred and genocide that swept Europe during World War II. This is the story of that liitle spark of goodness in our human nature that offers us a little hope that such horrors will never happen again.

Average customer rating:

Very Satisfying
Hard to Put Down!
Out of the Horrors, Came Triumphant Heroes

Heroes of the Holocaust
Arnold Geier
Manufacturer: Berkley Trade
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0425160297

Book Description

"...of undeniable importance, movingly described." -Elie Wiesel, Nobel Laureate A book of scope and power, Heroes of the Holocaust tells of ordinary people who confronted the brutality of the holocaust with acts of unselfish courage. Among these are: a Jewish family saved by personal intervention by a German general; a ship's captain who dumped his cargo to make room for 600 Jews; and a father, grieving over the sudden death of his only son, who gave his child's name and identity papers to a Jewish boy in order to save the child's life. These moving stories reveal points of light amidst the horror of the Holocaust, to offer tales of inspiration and hope.

Customer Reviews:

Very Satisfying.......2000-07-08

An uplifting read that shows how humanity's darkest hour brought immeasurable good out of so many ordinary citizens. These courageous individuals risked everything to save the lives, in most cases, of complete strangers. Among the heroes profiled are a high-ranking nazi (at least in title if not in spirit), a guard dog, and several would-be-victims whose God-given ingenuity manifested itself at the right time and enabled them to outwit Hitler's storm troopers.

As remnants of nazism are staging a comeback--the tragic Elian Gonzales raid and kidnapping proves that it has usurped a bridgehead within the highest ranks of the U.S. federal government-- these inspirational souls will forever stand as exemplary beacons for us to assiduously strive to emulate.

Hard to Put Down!.......2000-06-27

This book kept me riveted to the page. I just couldn't put it down! There's been so much written about the horror of the Holocaust- it was great to see true, touching human-interest stories with happy endings, considering the historical circumstances. The writing is excellent and consistent, the book is very well-edited, and the stories are just plain moving. Some of them are amazing beyond what any Hollywood screenwriter could concoct- and these are all factual, having come from direct interviews with the survivors themselves. This book would be great for older kids, too, as it explores some valuable moral territory, without any particular religious or social agenda. These are simply stories that needed to be told, and they are well-told indeed! Great book.

Out of the Horrors, Came Triumphant Heroes.......1999-07-09

Before I read this book, the Holocaust suggested to me a time of darkness and suffering. These stories have showed me that the darkness was sometimes illuminated by works of mercy and the suffering occasionally alleviated by works of charity. It was uplifting to read these true accounts of human love and brotherhood.

The Tuskegee Airmen: Black Heroes of World War II

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The Tuskegee Airmen

The Tuskegee Airmen: Black Heroes of World War II
Jacqueline L. Harris
Manufacturer: Dillon Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0382392159

Customer Reviews:

The Tuskegee Airmen.......2004-06-01

The Tuskegee Airmen
Jacqueline L. Harris

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