Flags Of Our Fathers Essay

Flags of our Fathers, written by James Bradley, is a World War II novel portraying the true story behind the six courageous soldiers who raised the American flag on Mount Suribachi, Japan. James Bradley wrote this story on behalf of his father, John Bradley who was a Marine stationed at Iwo Jima and also one of the flag raisers. In order to complete this book, James Bradley had to search for information about the lives of the other five flag raisers who were Rene Gagnon, Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, Ira Hayes, and Mike Strank. Rene Gagnon grew up in Manchester, New Hampshire, Harlon Block was from the Grande Valley of Texas, Franklin Sousley grew up on a farm in Hilltop, Kentucky, Ira Hayes was a Pima Indian from Phoenix, Arizona and Mike Strank was born in Czechoslovakia. After the United States entered the war due to the attack on Pearl Harbor by Japan, many U.S. citizens flocked to join the army in order to make their country proud. Rene Gagnon joined the army at the age of seventeen in May 1943. Harlon Block decided to enlist in the army
Flags of our Fathers was a very intriguing and insightful book that displayed the true hardships of the soldiers battling on Iwo Jima. In addition, it thoroughly explained the life of six courageous and brave soldiers who raised the flag on Mount Suribachi. I enjoyed the in-depth research that James Bradley did on the six soldiers from that famous picture. I prefer to read novels that are true stories where its characters are actual, and the events real. I was shocked to learn that the New York Times published the picture with erroneous “facts” in order to raise money for the war. I wish that the U.S. could have honored every soldier and marine fighting hard on Iwo Jima during the Seventh Day Bond instead of just the six soldiers who raised the flag. I would recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys war novels, and to anyone who enjoys reading true, nonfictional