For nearly 50 years myth has surrounded the American flag raisings on Suribachi. This book presents the first complete and accurate account of those controversial events. The battle for Iwo Jima was a classic, seminal event of World War II, and Joe Rosenthal's photograph of the second flag raising on Mt. Suribachi remains the war's most famous icon. On February 23, 1945, an Associated Press photographer captured the image of six brave men raising the American flag at the windy peak of Mount Suribachi on the coveted island of Iwo Jima.