By James Bradley (Bantam: 2000)

How do you turn one-fourth of a second into a 562 page book? James Bradley did it by exhaustively investigating the events around the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima. The WWII flag-raising image has become an icon that

never fails to instill awe and reverence. It symbolizes so much of our military efforts—in WWII and in all wars.
The author’s father was one of the six men who actually did the raising. He was a medic in the Marines and just happened to be one of the group of men sent to the top of Mt. Suribachi to replace a smaller flag that was raised some time before. It was chance that brought the six men together at that place and time and chance that the photographer snapped the picture at the single instant when it would be most gripping.
Bradley researched the life stories of each of the six, where they came from, their military training, and where they went after the flag raising. Each tiny detail is skillfully worked into a gripping book that should be mandatory reading.
I came away from the reading with an understanding of the Marines’ “Semper Fi” attitude and how important it was to the success of our efforts to oust the Japanese from the strategic island. The American military is truly amazing, and the men who participate in it are all heroes.

[Editor's note: For you Central Illinois readers, Robert McEldowney of Roanoke, IL, was one of the Marines watching from down below, according to the author.]