Two Flags Over Iwo Jima: Solving the Mystery of the U.S. Marine Corps' Proudest Moment

Description

The full story of the lead up to and aftermath of the iconic raising of the American flag on Iwo Jima in 1945. The saga of the flags on Iwo Jima has fascinated America for decades. But the story of how the flags got there, and even the identity of the soldiers in the photos, has been muddied by history. Eric Hammel here sets the record straight, viewing complex events through the lens of the story of the infantry company in which all the flag raisers served. Two Flags over Iwo Jima reveals the all-but forgotten first flag raising, and the aftermath of the popularisation campaign undertaken by the post- WWII Marine Corps and national press. Not only is the full story behind the photograph revealed, but also the real heroism of the men behind this most fervent expression of American patriotism. AUTHOR: Eric Hammel is a renowned military historian who focuses on the military campaigns of the United States Marine Corps and military action in WWII. He has over 50 military history books and 70 magazine articles to his credit, alongside appearances at military education seminars and in television documentaries on Marine Corps operations. He also has his own military history publishing firm, Pacifica Press. Recent books include Always Faithful: U.S. Marines in World War II Combat (Osprey, 2011) and War in the Western Pacific (Zenith Press, 2014). 96 b/w photographs

Eric Hammel's passion for writing military history books began when he was twelve years old. He has established a formidable reputation as an author and journalist, with forty books and nearly seventy magazine articles to his name. A particular specialty is the U.S. Marine Corps at war, and he has appeared in numerous television documentaries on Marine Corps operations in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and Beirut.

This is a great book that was genuinely interesting. It's not just a book about the Marines on Iwo Jima (although it's very good for that) but a fascinating description of how 'truth' can be established (accidentally in this case) and the efforts that are needed to correct this. * Army Rumour Service 26/02/2019 *