Flags of Our Fathers父辈的旗帜

InthisunforgettablechronicleofperhapsthemostfamousmomentinAmericanmilitaryhistory,JamesBradleyhascapturedtheglory,thetriumph,theheartbreak,andthelegacyofthesixmenwhoraisedtheflagatIwoJima.HereisthetruestorybehindtheimmortalphotographthathascometosymbolizethecourageandindomitablewillofAmerica.InFebruary1945,AmericanMarinesplungedintothesurfatIwoJima—andintohistory.Throughahailofmachine-gunandmortarfirethatleftthebeachesstrewnwithcomrades,theybattledtotheisland'shighestpeak.Andafterclimbingthroughalandscapeofhellitself,theyraisedaflag.Nowthesonofoneoftheflagraisershaswrittenapowerfulaccountofsixverydifferentyoungmenwhocametogetherinamomentthatwillliveforever.Tohisfamily,JohnBradleyneverspokeofthephotographorthewar.Butafterhisdeathatageseventy,hisfamilydiscoveredclosedboxesoflettersandphotos.InFlagsofOurFathers,JamesBradleydrawsonthosedocumentstoretracethelivesofhisfatherandthemenofEasyCompany.Followingthesemen'spathstoIwoJima,JamesBradleyhaswrittenaclassicstoryoftheheroicbattleforthePacific'smostcrucialisland—anislandriddledwithJapanesetunnelsand22,000fanaticdefenderswhowouldfighttothelastman.Butperhapsthemostinterestingpartofthestoryiswhathappenedafterthevictory.Themeninthephoto—threewerekilledduringthebattle—wereproclaimedheroesandflownhome,tobecomereluctantsymbols.Fortwoofthem,theadulationwasshattering.OnlyJamesBradley'sfathertrulysurvived,displayingnocopyofthefamousphotographinhishome,tellinghissononly:"TherealheroesofIwoJimaweretheguyswhodidn'tcomeback."FewbookseverhavecapturedthecomplexityandfurorofwaranditsaftermathaswellasFlagsofOurFathers.Apenetrating,epiclookatagenerationatwar,thisishistorytoldwithkeeninsight,enormoushonesty,andthepassionofasonpayinghomagetohisfather.Itisthestoryofthedifferencebetweentruthandmyth,themeaningofbeingahero,andtheessenceofthehumanexperienceofwar.FromtheHardcoveredition.