Anyway, a certain requirement of the course is to read three assigned books, one a week, for tests. My book for week 2 turned out to be a surprise - because I really enjoyed it.
Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley. A look at the six men who are responsible for raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima in WWII. A look at their lives before the War and their motives for going, as well as the lives of the only three in the group who came back.
The entire book gained its inspiration from a single photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal. A photographer who had attempted to enlist to be an army photographer, but didn't make it due to his eyesight and joined the AP instead to follow the troops through the War.
In Flags, it is made clear that this picture taken during the worst Marine battle in history, was of a second flag-raising, the first was taken down because it was too small and it was wanted for a souvenir. Rosenthal made it to the top of the mountain upon hearing of a flag-raising of some sort, but made it in time to see only the second go up. But it was this image that became a national icon.
I can't begin to imagine trying to take photos on a live battlefield. Trying to concentrate on a scene while the odds of your own death are at their highest. I know that once I'm onto a scent I can hardly cross a street safely.
Rosenthal snapped other shots besides the flag-raising, such as Marines spilling onto the beaches of Iwo with no where to hide. How does anyone survive that much less a guy with a Speed Graphic in his hands in place of a rifle. I think Mr. Rosenthal's words about his Pulitzer-winning photograph are enough:
"I took the picture, the Marines took Iwo Jima."
The photo: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a1/WW2_Iwo_Jima_flag_raising.jpg
Joe: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d2/Rosenthal_J.jpg
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