Joe Rosenthal: The Man Behind the Iwo Jima Flag Raising Photograph

On February 23, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima, six men—five U.S. Marines and a U.S. Navy corpsman—raised an American flag atop Mount Suribachi. Joe Rosenthal, a photographer with the Associated Press, happened to put himself in the right place at the right time. With one click of the shutter, he captured a fleeting moment of unity and grit that would echo far beyond the war: the raising of the U.S. flag on Iwo Jima.

The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from February 19 to March 26, 1945, was a pivotal World War II conflict between the United States and Japan. U.S. Marines faced fierce resistance as they captured the small island, which was strategically vital for launching air raids on Japan. The battle became iconic for the photograph of Marines raising the American flag on Mount Suribachi, symbolizing bravery and sacrifice.

The photo, known as "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima," became an instant symbol—not just of victory, but of sacrifice, of struggle, of something solid in a world that often feels like it’s falling apart. What makes it powerful isn’t just the flag—it’s the posture, the effort, the way their bodies lean into something greater than themselves.

There was a smaller flag raised earlier that morning, but it was hard to see. Commanders wanted something more visible, so a second flag went up—and that’s the one Rosenthal captured. Contrary to some early rumors, the moment wasn’t staged. It was real, and maybe that’s why it still speaks to people today.

Rosenthal won the Pulitzer Prize for the image, and it became the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial. But more than any award or monument, what lasts is the feeling the photo gives off: determination, resilience, and the quiet courage of ordinary people in an extraordinary moment.

Despite initial controversies over whether the image was staged, Rosenthal always maintained that the moment was spontaneous. Over the years, his photograph has endured as a timeless representation of courage and unity. Joe Rosenthal passed away in 2006, but his legacy lives on through the iconic image that continues to resonate with Americans and people worldwide. In the above video from Dark Footage, the story of this iconic photograph is told in greater detail with footage of the harrowing day in history.