Synopses & Reviews
A New York Times bestseller, now adapted for young readers, Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima. Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America. In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the island's highest peak. And there, they raised a flag. The son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six very different men who came together in the heroic battle.
Review
"The best battle book I ever read. These stories, from the time the six men who raised the flag at Iwo Jima enlisted, their training, and the landing and subsequent struggle, fill me with awe." Stephen Ambrose
Review
"Unforgettable...one of the most instructive and moving books on war and its aftermath that we are likely to see...its portrayal rivals Saving Private Ryan in its shocking, unvarnished immediacy." The New York Times
Review
"A powerful book whose vivid and horrific images do not easily leave the mind...[Flags of Our Fathers] relates the brutalizing story of Iwo Jima with a fine eye for both the strategic imperative and the telling incident." The Boston Globe
Review
"Brings a heartfelt personal dimension to this penetrating and insightful look at an American icon....Flags of Our Fathers captivates as the story behind a famous photo, a story that lives on in a sons heart." National Review
Synopsis
The New York Times bestselling chronicle of one of the most famous moments in American military history--the raising of the U. S. flag at Iwo Jima during World War II--now adapted for young adults. Read the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and strength of America and its armed forces. This is a penetrating, epic look at a generation at war, told with keen insight and enormous honesty --also a major motion picture directed by Clint Eastwood. In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima-and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire, they battled to the island's highest peak. And there, they raised a flag, signaling a historic step towards the eventual defeat of the Axis powers of World War II.
A powerful account of six very different men--three of which were killed in battle-- who came together in the heroic fight for the Pacific's most crucial island. It is the story of the difference between truth and myth, the legacy of a hero, and the brutal cost of war.
Synopsis
New York Times bestseller, now adapted for young readers, Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima.
Here is the true story behind the immortal photograph that has come to symbolize the courage and indomitable will of America. In February 1945, American Marines plunged into the surf at Iwo Jima-and into history. Through a hail of machine-gun and mortar fire that left the beaches strewn with comrades, they battled to the islands highest peak. And there, they raised a flag. The son of one of the flag raisers has written a powerful account of six very different men who came together in the heroic battle.
About the Author
James Bradley is the son of John "Doc" Bradley, one of the six flag raisers on Iwo Jima. He conducted over 300 interviews with World War II veterans and their families in the course of writing this book.
Reading Group Guide
The Reality of War
Social studies classes study the worlds wars and the impact war has on a global society. Students learn about ancient wars and the more modern wars that have been fought in the name of freedom. They know about the American Revolution, the Civil War, and World Wars I and II. Some students know about the Korean War, the Vietnam Conflict, and the Persian Gulf War. Before the events of September 11, 2001, students in Americas schools knew little about the personal tragedies related to war. War was simply something that happened in books, in another time, and on foreign lands. Now, war surrounds them-on television, radio, and in film. Some know firsthand what it feels like to lose a parent to terrorists, and others wait eagerly in front of the television in hopes of gaining a glimpse of a family member or friend who may be in the Iraqi desert or on the streets of Baghdad. Like the main characters in the novels in this guide, the innocence of Americas children has been marked by violence. A new page of history is being written every day, and it is being done before the eyes of the worlds youngest citizens.
For this reason, it is extremely important that parents and teachers talk with children about war, and offer hope that the world might someday find a peaceful solution to global conflict. Sometimes it is difficult to find the words to explain the complex issues of war, but books are always a good way to spark understanding and conversation. This guide offers discussion for the following books: The Gadget by Paul Zindel; Girl of Kosovo by Alice Mead; Lord of the Nutcracker Men by Iain Lawrence; Flags of our Fathers by James Bradley with Ron Powers, adapted for young people by Michael French; Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian; and For Freedom by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley.
Pre-Reading Activity
Engage students in a discussion about the recent war in Iraq, and how it was reported in the news. Divide the class into three groups, and assign each group one of the major newspapers or magazines to read. Ask that they read a few issues of the publications during the time of the war and take note of the major headlines, the views of the journalists, etc. Allow students time at the end of each week to share their findings. What conclusions can be drawn about the role of journalists in war?
1. Engage the class in a discussion about the meaning of patriotism. What is the relationship between duty and patriotism?
2. Private Tex Stanton, Second Platoon, Easy Company said, “Life was never regular again. We were changed from the day we put our feet in that sand.” (p. 69) Discuss how the Battle of Iwo Jima changed the men who fought there. Compare and contrast how each of the six flag raisers were changed.
3. Discuss the qualities of a hero. Jack Bradley never viewed himself as a hero and felt that the real heroes of the Battle of Iwo Jima were the men who gave their lives. What role did the media play in making the six flag raisers heroes? How might these six men be considered symbols of all the heroic men who fought at Iwo Jima? In the book, James Bradley discusses the difference between a hero and a celebrity. How did President Roosevelt turn these heroes into celebrities?
4. Discuss the meaning of the inscription “Uncommon Valor Was A Common Virtue” that is on the face of the bronze statue of the six flag raisers that was unveiled at Arlington National Cemetery on November 10, 1954. The three surviving flag raisers attended the unveiling ceremony. James Bradley states that after that day, “Never again would they meet, never again would they serve the photograph.” (p. 178) How had these men “served the photograph”? Discuss whether new generations who visit the bronze statue can fully understand the impact the photograph had on the American people when it was first published.
For more activities on Images of War, see these titles: For Freedom by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, Lord of the Nutcracker by Iain Lawrence, Girl of Kosovo by Alice Mead, Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley with Ron Powers adapted for young people by Michael French, The Gadget by Paul Zindel, and Forgotten Fire by Adam Bagdasarian.
Prepared by Pat Scales, Director of Library Services, the South Carolina Governors School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville, SC.
Teacher Guide
NOTE TO TEACHERS
I hope young readers of Flags of Our Fathers will understand that the flag raisers are not the supermen of popular imagination, but ordinary American boys who were called to duty. James Bradley
Flags of Our Fathers: Heroes of Iwo Jima is the compelling adaptation of the New York Times bestsellernow abridged for young people. This book about the valor of teenage soldiers is one that will capture young readers today with its accessible style, riveting battle scenes, and vivid accounts of the courageousand often tragiclives of young soldiers. Drawn from over 300 interviews and extensive research, Flags of Our Fathers is an excellent choice for parallel reading during a study of World War II.
ABOUT THIS BOOK
This is the inspiring true story of six young men who came together in the heroic battle for the Pacifics most crucial island.
On Sunday, February 25, 1945, Americans opened their newspapers to the picture of six soldiers raising the United States flag atop Mount Suribachi on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. They were ordinary young men who responded when their nation called them to duty. Three of them never returned home, and three came home deeply affected by their experience in the Pacific. Their picture became a symbol of glory and valor in the eyes of most Americans, and their heroism was celebrated from coast to coast. This is their story.
The book includes detailed maps and an eight-page photo insert that will help to make World War II history come alive for young-adult readers.
ABOUT THIS AUTHOR
James Bradley is the son of John Doc Bradley, one of the six flag raisers on Iwo Jima. In the course of writing Flags of Our Fathers, James Bradley conducted more than 300 interviews with World War II veterans and their families. He lives in Rye, New York. James Bradley welcomes visitors at www.jamesbradley.com
Ron Powers is a Pulitzer Prizewinning journalist and the author of Dangerous Water: A Biography of the Boy Who Became Mark Twain. He lives in Vermont.
Michael French has several books for young readers to his credit, including Basher Five-Two: The True Story of F-16 Fighter Pilot Captain Scott OGrady, which he cowrote with Scott OGrady. Michael French lives in New Mexico.
TEACHING IDEAS
PRE-READING ACTIVITY
Ask students to use books in the library or to check the Internet site www.iwojima.com to read about the Battle of Iwo Jima. Instruct students to write down important facts about the island and the tactics of the enemy. Then have the class brainstorm disadvantages that the American soldiers faced as they encountered the Japanese. Discuss why the Battle of Iwo Jima is considered one of the most important battles of World War II.
QUESTIONS FOR GROUP DISCUSSION
1. Engage the class in a discussion about the meaning of patriotism. What is the relationship between duty and patriotism?
2. Private Tex Stanton, Second Platoon, Easy Company said, Life was never regular again. We were changed from the day we put our feet in that sand. (p. 69) Ask the class to discuss how the Battle of Iwo Jima changed the men who fought there. Compare and contrast how each of the six flag raisers were changed.
3. John Bradley said, I saw some guys struggling with a pole and I just jumped in to lend them a hand. Its as simple as that. (p. 98) How does this quote symbolize the life of John Bradley? Discuss why he never talked about the flag raising at home. After his death, his family found a box with mementos of the flag raising. Why do you think John Bradley kept this box when he refused to discuss the famous event?
4. Ask the class to discuss the qualities of a hero. John Bradley never viewed himself as a hero and felt that the real heroes of the Battle of Iwo Jima were the men who gave their lives. What role did the media play in making the six flag raisers heroes? How might these six men be considered symbols of all the heroic men who fought at Iwo Jima? In the book, James Bradley discusses the difference between a hero and a celebrity. How did President Roosevelt turn these heroes into celebrities?
5. The statue of the six flag raisers at Arlington National Cemetery reads: uncommon valor was a common virtue. Ask students to discuss this inscription. The three surviving flag raisers attended the unveiling of the statue on November 10, 1954. Of that day, James Bradley writes, Never again would they meet, never again would they serve the photograph. (p. 178) How had these men serve[d] the photograph? Discuss whether or not future generations who visit the statue will fully understand the impact of the original photograph on the American people.
6. Ten years after he helped raise the flag at Iwo Jima, Ira Hayes, the Pima Indian, died from alcohol and overexposure to the freezing weather. Rene Gagnon attended Iras funeral, but John Bradley declined. Discuss why Bradley did not go to the funeral. What did John Bradley mean when he said that Iras death makes him truly a war casualty? (p. 181) Discuss how John Bradley and Rene Gagnon might also be considered war casualties.
7. Discuss why James Bradley and his family wanted to go to Iwo Jima after Johns death. How does this book further immortalize the six flag raisers? Why is it important to immortalize our nations heroes?
CONNECTING TO THE CURRICULUM
LANGUAGE ARTSThe photograph of the six flag raisers was taken by Joe Rosenthal and later served as a model for the bronze statue by Felix de Weldon. De Weldons, however, is the only name on the edifice of the sculpture. Ask students to write a letter to Congress convincing them that the names of the six flag raisers and the photographer should be placed on the edifice of the statue.
What is the difference between a legend and a heroic tale? How might the raising of the flag on Iwo Jima be both? Ask students to pick one of the six flag raisers and write a heroic legend about him.
SOCIAL STUDIESAsk students to use library books or Web sites to research the war in the Pacific. Have them construct a time line of major events from the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, to the surrender of Japan on board the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay on September 2, 1945.
MATHSome of the men who fought in World War II volunteered, but many were drafted immediately following high school. Ask students to research the draft system. When and why did the draft end? Instruct each student to survey at least 10 people in the following age groups about whether the draft should be reinstated in the United States: ages 1619; ages 2035; ages 3550; and ages 5065. Ask students to use the data from their survey and construct a graph that reveals public opinion regarding the draft.
DRAMAMeet the Press began airing on radio in 1945. Ask students to stage a Meet the Press show that includes interviews with John Bradley, Ira Hayes, and Rene Gagnon after they attended the unveiling of the Iwo Jima memorial at Arlington Cemetery. John Bradley died in 1994, and in 1998 some of his family returned to Iwo Jima to place a commemorative plaque atop Mount Suribachi. Stage a Meet the Press television show and interview the Bradley family after they returned from that trip.
VOCABULARY
Instruct students to write down unfamiliar words and try to define them by taking clues from the context of the story. Such words may include armada (p. 5), pragmatist (p. 11), commodity (p. 11), vulnerability (p. 13), cavorted (p. 15), reconnaissance (p. 31), macabre (p. 43), leathernecks (p. 52), desecrated (p. 61), carnage (p. 76), annihilation (p. 78), fusillade (p. 89), galvanic (p. 122), fray (p. 125), iconic (p. 145), surreal (p. 149), stoicism (p. 173), and tableaux (p. 186).
BEYOND THE BOOK
INTERNET RESOURCES
Iwo Jima
www.iwojima.com
Displays the famous picture and covers the battle of Iwo Jima.
Battle of Iwo Jima Anniversary Salute
www.cybertours.com/~awriter/anniversary.html
Provides an anniversary salute to the Battle of Iwo Jima.
Atomic Bomb: Decision
www.dannen.com/decision
Documents on the decision to use atomic bombs on the cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
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COPYRIGHT
Prepared by Pat Scales, Director of Library Services, the South Carolina Governors School for the Arts and Humanities, Greenville, SC.