Chapter 12: Myths Summary and Analysis

Rosenthal's film pack was tossed into a mail plane headed for Guam. The process to develop and publish photos from the war was a long and convoluted one. Many film packs wound up in the trash can. Technicians developed the photos. If mistakes were made, the film was trashed. The censors would then scrutinize the finished photos and finally a pool chief would decide which photos were worthy of being published. Of Rosenthal's twelve pack that contained the iconic photograph, two photographs that were adjacent to it were overexposed. Jack Bradley wrote his parents on February 26, 1945, telling them he was in good health and that he took part in a flag raising on Iwo Jima. Franklin wrote his mother to watch for a picture of him raising the flag. Rene wrote to Pauline but didn't mention the flag raising...