James R. Michels was a United States Marine corporal who served in World War II. He was part of the combat patrol that climbed up Mount Suribachi and raised the first American flag during the Battle of Iwo Jima, on February 23, 1945.
Michels, in foreground with rifle, after the first flag raising at Iwo Jima (February 23, 1945)
Marine Staff Sergeant Louis Lowery's most widely circulated picture of the first American flag on Mount Suribachi (after the flag was raised): Left to right: 1st Lt. Harold G. Schrier (kneeling beside radioman), Pfc. Raymond Jacobs (radioman), Sgt. Henry Hansen (soft cap, holding flagstaff), Pvt. Phil Ward (holding lower flagstaff), Plt. Sgt. Ernest I. Thomas, Jr. (seated), Phm2c. John Bradley, USN (holding flagstaff above Ward), Pfc. James Michels (in foreground with
Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph of six United States Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in the final stages of the Pacific War. The photograph, taken by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press on February 23, 1945, was published in Sunday newspapers two days later and reprinted in thousands of publications. It won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography and was the model for the Marine Corps War Memorial in 1954, dedicated to honor all Marines who died in service since 1775. The memorial, sculpted by Felix de Weldon, is located in Arlington Ridge Park, near the Ord-Weitzel Gate to Arlington National Cemetery and the Netherlands Carillon. The photograph has come to be regarded in the United States as one of the most recognizable images of World War II.
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, by Joe Rosenthal of the Associated Press
Mount Suribachi (pictured in 2001) is the dominant geographical feature of the island of Iwo Jima.
Raising the First Flag on Iwo Jima by SSgt. Louis R. Lowery, USMC, is the most widely circulated photograph of the first flag flown on Mt. Suribachi.[citation needed] Left to right: 1st Lt. Harold Schrier (kneeling behind radioman's legs), Pfc. Raymond Jacobs (radioman reassigned from F Company), Sgt. Henry "Hank" Hansen wearing cap, holding flagstaff with left hand), Platoon Sgt. Ernest "Boots" Thomas (seated), Pvt. Phil Ward (holding lower flagstaff with his right hand),
The flags from the first and second flag-raisings are preserved in the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia. The second flag, pictured here, was damaged by the high winds at the peak of Suribachi.