Book Portfolio - Quarter 3

Life was never regular again. We were changed from the day we put our feet in that sand.

-Private Tex Stanton, Second Platoon, Easy Company

The book that I read for Quarter three book portfolio is Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley. The basic premise of the book is to display the incredible (if not seemingly normal like any other) lives of the men who are responsible for the flag raising at the Battle of Iwo Jima on February 23, 1945. The photo is one of the most prominent in American U.S. history, but the stories and lives of the men in the photo are not known. The bravery that these men had to be the ones to display the American flag at that battle is not widely known, either, but this book helps to dive into the historical as well as personal tributes to these people. This book and these stories show how this battle, this day, changed these mens lives and how they looked at and dealt with their family there afterwards.

While there are indeed many learnings of what happened at the Battle of Iwo Jima as well as an incredible amount of historical facts, there is also an emotional and sentimental side to that period for six incredibly brave men who served their country to their fullest on that day in February 1945. Focusing more on the emotional and life changing aspect of that day, for the most part only for these men (and later on their families), to truly enjoy and absorb. In some instances, though, these men did not want to be recognized for what they did for the most part; not even to talk about what they did and what happened with their own children. John Bradley, as being stated in the book, was one of these men. He did not want to share his stories with his family in the slightest; they finally found out what did happen after he died while going through his things. Though he seemingly had nothing to hide because in a letter written to his parents during that time he says "You know all about our battle out here. I was with the victorious [Company E], who reached the top of Mt. Suribachi first. I had a little to do with raising the American flag and it was the happiest moment of my life." This book serves as a platform to let these men have their stories told by the people who knew them best in their lives; their families.

The obvious historical context of this book is about the Battle on the island of Iwo Jima and, mostly, the raising of the American flag by the six men who made it to the top of the island's highest peak to do so. Historical events need to have stories told about them by the people who live through them, it's just how the world works, and this book shows new themes in historical context for these men and their legacy. Even if they don't think that they want to share what happened, the world wants to know; the world always wants to know. Sometimes, men who have been in battle and gone through combat don't want to share their stories because of the number of deaths they have seen or the shock and stress of possibly re-living it for the rest of their lives it too much to handle. These men of Iwo Jima have a unique story to tell and still want to seemingly keep the details to themselves. Maybe because they believe that they will not be able to explain it fully and it would lack the immense importance that it should have? Or maybe because they thought they would leave something important out, or possibly, they would add something in that didn't happen, but that they made up in their minds? But the truth remains, history needs to be told, and the people who lived it are the best resource.

Many different people have different perspectives on what happened, or what should have happened, in historical instances. Just as well, people who lived through such historical things have their own different perspectives on what happened. Depending upon what stage in life they were in at the time, or what things were going on that would influence their views of the world as a whole, people would have different opinions on many things.

This book, Flags of Our Fathers, is a good book for the 21st century generation to read. It puts into perspective what happened during that time and why it was such a historical event, and why it was such a life changing event for these six men who made the journey that did ultimately (even if they did not want to admit it) did change their lives. As well, I would expect, it changed their views on the world around them and other historical events they may, and very well did, live through as well and apply it to their own situation. Such historical importance put onto one moment in time, one flag representing one country, and the six men who were able to make it possible to think broader and think more of yourself, in the end.