A note about the Iwo Jima Flag raising photograph(s):
Navy Corpsman, John Bradley assisted in the 1st flag raising (the smaller 2nd Battalion/28th Regiment/5th Division flag) filmed by Bill Genaust.
The second flag raising was by order of LTC Chandler Johnson to save the Battalion flag. The Brass wanted it as a souvenir but Colonel Johnson would have none of that…he ordered a second (larger) flag replacement so everyone on the island could see it and in the process saved the Battalion’s flag from some Admiral’s office.
Hank Hansen was misidentified as the second flag raiser at the base of the pole. Hank Hansen participated in the first flag raising.
Ira Hayes after the war, found the family of Harlon Block and told them their son was in the famous photograph; it was Harlon at the base of the pole in that famous photo (his mother knew her baby's butt.)
John Bradley was also misidentified as one of the second flag raisers. It wasn’t until 2016, that the Marine Corps finally found the evidence to prove the rumors that is was Harold Schultz who was in the second flag raising photograph taken by Joe Rosenthal.
Joe Rosenthal stood next to Bill Genaust and they both captured footage of the second (larger flag) raising.
A group photo was taken of all the men on top of Mt Suribachi…that WAS posed. Miscommunication led to many people back home to believe the second flag raising photo he took was posed/staged and it was not. Bill Genaust’s film proved that Joe Rosenthal’s “famous” photo was not staged.
Keep in mind, all these flag raisers were still facing another month of fierce fighting. There were no front lines…the Marines were fighting above ground while the Japanese were in bunkers and tunnels and caves.
Bill Genaust had his film taken to the ship offshore and he continued recording the battle. Bill Genaust was captured by the Japanese soldiers and his body was never found…LTC Chandler Johnson was killed from a direct hit by an artillery shell. I highly recommend reading James Bradley’s excellent book “Flags of Our Fathers” to understand the battle and what happened to the men who fought there.
My Dad was attached to the 2/28 and wounded the first day. He was not evac’d until the beaches were reopened. The wounded lay on the beaches and were hit an additional two or three times from artillery raining down on the landings…he would never talk to me about it.