My brother told me this was "the best book he'd ever read" so I went into reading it expecting that. I was fooled by the first two chapters or so and thought "Wow, this is going to be a great book!"

And then the military propaganda started. And then the "Japan was such a terrible country ... here's what it did to it's people..." The first portion of the book I have "Bullshit" and other harsh comments written along the margin because it is such bullshit and crap propaganda.

Before I was even half way done with the book I stopped reading it because I was enjoying it (there was nothing about this book to enjoy) and was just "hate reading it" -- hoping/believing it has to get better (my brother said it was the best book he'd ever read!) ... and also really curious how things turned out once the guys get home.

Unsurprisingly, the US Government and Military so the flag raising and the flag raisers as cash cows and IMMEDIATELY sent them on tour to sell war bonds to make money for the military so they could continue to go to battle and kill people. The boy did not even have an opportunity to get treated for the war wounds! They were immediately sent on tour.

The surprising part for me was when I eventually did a Google search to get a better idea of what happened to the guys that survived after the war, specifically the father of the author. The author had made his dad out to be this amazing man who only did right for the remainder of his life -- he served his city and his town and was on all the boards and never did anything wrong the remainder of his life. He praised his father so highly I was, like, "Surely, after this man died it came out that he was a pedophile or a serial killer."

What I found is that the father, that the book is mainly about, who was such an upright and noble man, that never wanted to discuss his role in raising the flag ... was such a humble man and his family didn't even know he was a flag raiser until after he died and they were going through his things ... was NEVER one of the flag raisers. He played the part and took all the glory that was sent his way when he was alive -- staring in two movies and going on the government funded tour, sitting to he sculpted to be depicted in the monument that was eventually made off the photo ... WAS NEVER ONE OF THE FLAG RAISERS!

This was a horrible book and is going straight into my recycling bin. If I had a fireplace or a fire pit I would use it as kindling.

Adrianne ( )

Only got about 50 pages in. Not my kind of book. Also, I gather from Wikipedia that it turns out the author’s father wasn’t really in the famous photo, although that shouldnt really matter I guess.

The book was itself a gripping page turner, but as you will see from the end of this review, there is more to my emotions connected with its reading. I was going to write "immensely enjoyable" concerning the book, but there was way too much gore for that. And warning, it's not bedtime reading. However, aside from the battlefield scenes it is a book that needs to be read.

The protagonist, the author's father, john or "Jack" Bradley was one of six that were in the iconic picture of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. As it happens the flag raising was one of the few relatively mellow interludes at Iwo Jima. Thus Jack Bradley did not regard himself as a hero. Nor did all but one of the flag raisers.

The military aspect is important; if not for the soldiers who fought, died and faced indescribable brutality we might not be blessed with the freedoms we take too much for granted. Freedom isn't free. The next time anyone tells you that America is not a great country, though with blemishes, or you think that yourself, do yourself a favor; read this book or, as applicable, hand someone a copy.

The subtext of the book consists of the core American values it describes; the simple decency that helps make our nation great. After the war ended he avoided publicity, shunned the inevitable hero worship, and spent his time concentrating on running a business and raising a family based on integrity and kindness.

Back in what must have been late 2006 I took my stepfather of more than 30 years out to see the movie "Flags of Our Father." He had fought in WW II, in North Africa and I believe Europe. That was a major part in our almost lifelong bond. I believe, but am not certain, that I got the book from his shelf. I may have purchased it as a holiday or birthday gift. His life in many respects echoed that mantra of decency, integrity and kindness that I have cherished while he was alive and for the more than six years since his passing. ( )

Great war story by son of one of the flag raisers at Iwo Jima. The father was a medic there. Pretty good film by Eastwood also. (First read in 2003).

I read it again in 2014 and it still is one of the best ever. ( )

James Bradley is the son of John Bradley, one of the six Marines who raised the flag on Iwo Jima. The Marines and the Japanese were in a fight to the death with no quarter given. The fighting on this island was one of the decisive factors in the decision to drop the atomic bomb. There were many instances of outstanding courage, but the picture set these six men apart forever. Great book, about ordinary men doing great things. ( )