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Summary: A Marine Corps family
Review: I was privileged to see the survivors of the flag raising at the Washington Monument in 1945 never dreaming that someday I would be the wife and mother of Marines. It's a proud, special organization but this is a book for every American. I hope it will be read by a good many of them.
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Summary: Great Story...needs editing
Review: This book slogs along until page 75, when it transforms into a absorbing tale of courage, valor, duty....and aftermath.Katie Hall edited this book, so she needs to take the responsibility for this book's opening weakness. The first three chapters are lumbering and ponderous with way too many cliches. But starting on chapter 4, Flags of Our Fathers becomes one of the more compelling books I've read in years. The battle, the photograph and the aftermath are told in a very engaging way. James Bradley and Ron Powers did an excellent job of bringing a humanizing touch to the characters involved.
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Summary: Required reading for all U.S. citizens
Review: This description of war is the best I have ever read. It should be required reading for all U.S. citizens. Even the brief biographies of each of the participants are interesting. The description of the battle on the island ranks with the first twenty minutes of the movie, "Saving Private Ryan".
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Summary: Who raised the flag at Iwo Jima?
Review: Mr. Mcnamee wrote a fine review with one exception: The flag was raised by Marines and a Corpsman, not soldiers (the latter serving with the Army, not the Marine Corps).
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Summary: My son is a Marine...
Review: As a mother of a new Marine, I found myself reading all I could about the history of war and about the USMC so that I could be as knowledgable as I could. I read this book and have sent my son a copy as well. I also sent my father in law, a world war II retired Air Force lt. the audio cassette as well. It was one of the very best books that I have read. It was shocking and I found myself crying alot due to the real life events that were discribed in great detail. I would highly recommend this book.
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Summary: Stunning View of History
Review: I saw the recommendation for this book on Amazon and decided after reading the first chapter on-line that it was a book I wanted to read and to own (I get a lot of my reading material from the library - that way if I don't like it, I haven't wasted any money). This book was a stunning view of the history of the Pacific War, with facts interspersed with personal information about the men who fought there for our freedom. For me it brought home how precious life is, and how much we take our luxurious lives for granted here in the United States. The life we lead came at such a cost.
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Summary: Definetely Not a Slice of Bologne
Review: As a young adult and frequent war history reader I found Flags of Our Fathers to be one of the most moving pieces of media I have every experienced. The hardship that these soldiers faced on that small island dwarf those of my own short life. This book has fully convinced me as to why I should worship these and other war heroes for sparing me an experience such as theirs. Today, in a world of few heroes, a book such as this is quite a relief. I anticipate the day I can pass this book on to a young son and have him find and understand real heroism (despite what John Bradley said). What a model! Any man who could just sit back as his, at that time unenlightened son, fed him that garbage line must have been through some you know what. Thank you John Bradley, all war vets, and James.
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Summary: The Debt We Owe
Review: Reading Flags of Our Fathers made me nostalgic for a time I never lived through. I was born well after the events described in the book, and sometimes it's hard to separate the truth of World War II from the versions I've seen in movies. Though other books (like Brokaw's Great Generation) examine the time period, the beauty of Bradley's work is the specificity. We get to know these young soldiers intimately. Their heroism was that of ordinary men forced to do extraordinary things, and the debt we owe them, as free citizens, is monumental. I look forward to the day when my children are old enough to read this book. It's vital that they understand what a gift we've all received from these brave and modest men. In an era of incessant self-promotion, an era when brand loyalty is more pervasive than flag loyalty, it helps to read about a hero who never once boasted of his heroism.
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Summary: Truth Is Far More Revealing Than Myth
Review: If you are like me, you have a whole story built up in your mind around one of the most famous photographs in American history -- the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. If you are also like me, there is little reality behind that story in your mind. Written by the son of one flag-raising Marine, this amazing story should be read by everyone. It tells a tale of heroism, horrible circumstances, and the lasting consequences of an unexpected event in a compelling, unforgettable way. This book rivals All Quiet on the Western Front for its revealing insights into the nature of war, comradeship, and courage. To set the stage, Iwo Jima was the first Japanese soil the Marines invaded. The Emperor had issued orders that the ground was to be defended to the last man. Iwo Jima was filled with tunnels that harbored over 20,000 Japanese troops who could shoot from relative safety while Americans were out in the open. The tunnel system was so extensive that Marines would literally be kidnapped while standing next to their buddies, and no one would know where they had gone. Rocks would suddenly open up to reveal mortars. Tough fighting went on for days. The Marines lost 7,000 dead and had another 15,000 or more wounded out of 70,000 men. Ironically, the worst of the fighting came after the flag photograph, and three of the six Marines in the photograph died in this later action. As tough as Iwo Jima was, living with the aftermath of the photograph was even harder in many ways. Two of the three survivors had their lives deeply affected in negative ways. The story of all three riveted me more than anything I have read in years. I read fairly few books about war, but I cannot recommend this book enough to you. As Americans we owe it to those who fought in this battle to remember what actually happened and what the repercussions are. You will be moved at a deeper level than you can possibly imagine by this outstanding book. Seriously, five stars are just too few for a monumental book like this one. This book is an instant classic that should live for all time!
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Summary: Brings Tears to my eyes
Review: This book is a must read for everyone. As a US Marine, I am a little biased, but everyone should understand what the Marines went through. The sight and meaning of the Iwo Jima memorial should mean something to everyone as it does me. This book will give you a great description of the hard times and triumph these marines endured. We owe our veterans, now learn why.
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