The black-and-white photograph depicting the second American flag-raising atop Mount Suribachi on February 23, 1945, remains the defining achievement of Joe Rosenthal. Captured during the Battle of Iwo Jima, this single frame resonated globally, eventually securing a Pulitzer Prize for Photography and serving as the primary visual reference for the United States Marine Corps War Memorial.
Early Development and War Correspondence
Born in Washington, D.C. in 1911, Rosenthal developed his initial interest in photography as a hobby during the Great Depression. After graduating from McKinley Technology High School in 1929, he relocated to San Francisco. By 1932, he was employed as a reporter-photographer for The San Francisco News. Despite an early rejection from the U.S. Army due to poor eyesight, he contributed to the war effort by joining the United States Maritime Service in 1943. He later joined the Associated Press, which stationed him in the Pacific Theater to document combat operations in New Guinea, Guam, Peleliu, Angaur, and Iwo Jima.
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Upon arriving at Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945, Rosenthal ascended Mount Suribachi with his Speed Graphic camera. After learning from another photographer that an initial flag had already been raised, he proceeded to the summit. He witnessed a second, larger flag being raised while Marines secured the staff. Standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall, he positioned himself on a makeshift platform of stones and sandbags. He set his camera to a shutter speed of 1/400th of a second and an aperture between f/8 and f/11 to capture the moment of the flag's ascent.
Post-War Career and Legacy
Following the conclusion of World War II, Rosenthal left the Associated Press to serve as a manager for Times Wide World Photos. He subsequently joined the San Francisco Chronicle, where he worked for 35 years until his retirement in 1981. Throughout his life, he received various honors, including the Pulitzer Prize in 1945 and being named a Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres in 1993. In 1996, he was designated an honorary Marine by General Charles C. Krulak. Rosenthal died in Novato, California, in 2006 at the age of 94.
Fast facts
- Born: 1911, Washington, D.C.
- Died: 2006, Novato
- Education: McKinley Technology High School, University of San Francisco
- Notable Work: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
- Primary Employer: Associated Press
- Award: Pulitzer Prize for Photography (1945)
- Award: Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres (1993)
- Nationality: United States
Questions readers ask
Did Rosenthal pose the Iwo Jima flag-raising photograph?
No. The photograph was a candid shot of the second flag-raising. Rosenthal did take a staged group photo, sometimes called the 'Gung Ho' photo, after the flag was secured.
What did Rosenthal say about his famous image?
He famously remarked: 'I took the picture; the Marines took Iwo Jima.'
Achievements
- Pulitzer Prize for Photography — 1945
- Notable work: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
- Affiliated with Associated Press
- Educated at University of San Francisco and McKinley Technology High School
- Worked as photographer, war photographer and photojournalist
