Flags of Our Fathers

By: James Bradley, Ron Powers

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Length: 13 hrs and 23 mins

Publisher's summary

Flags of Our Fathers is the unforgettable chronicle of perhaps the most famous moment in American military history: the raising of the US 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. 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 for the Pacific’s most crucial island.

©2000 James Bradley and Ron Powers (P)2006 Books on Tape

Critic reviews

• Alex Award Winner, 2001

"Voluminous and memorable.... No reader will forget the lesson." (Publishers Weekly)

"Flags of Our Fathers is one of the most instructive and moving books on war and its aftermath that we are likely to see, in part because it is instructive and moving in unexpected ways." (The New York Times)

Love this story

As a history major I found this story absolutely wonderful that gave a vivid picture what it was like on that island

cut out words to start paragraphs

loved it however the starting or lots of paragraphs were cut out. The story was amazing

"Uncommon valor was a common virtue."

"Uncommon valor was a common virtue." This quote is engraved on the US Marine Corps War Memorial, but it is much more than just a tag line for the Devil Dogs.

James Bradley, the son of Navy Corpsman John Bradley who was one of the six flag raisers, does an excellent job of not only giving a detailed account of the battle for Iwo Jima, but in pulling back the curtain on the ordinary lives of the 6 men who were immortalized in "the photograph".

The author doesn't hold back in giving graphic eye-witness accounts of the horrors of war, including the many PTSD-inducing scenes that his father witnessed as a Corpsman. But more than that, James Bradley went to exhaustive efforts to learn about the men behind the photo - their childhood, their personalities, their pre-war relationships with parents and sweethearts, and their lives as Leathernecks before, during, and after the taking of Mount Suribachi.

Although there's been continued speculation about the true identities of the flag raisers (including the author's father), by the time you finish reading this book, you'll realize that this book isn't so much about the specific men who may or may not have had their hands on the flagpole. You see, those six men could have been any six of the roughly 60,000 marines who landed on that small, volcanic island in 1945. Without exception, they were all selfless, courageous, and willing to put their brothers in arms before their own safety and well-being.

If you want to gain a renewed appreciation and respect for our nation's veterans (both past and present), read this book.

So much more

I didn't realize how much of a story the flag raising had. like more than the battle itself but the lives each individual had after it. I'm glad to learn more about their pasts too. will be occasionally relistening and rewriting.

WOW

Interesting from start to finish and I haven't seen the movie yet.Things that I really wasn't aware of and a look at how the govt likes to create it's own PR for historical events by missing the actual story.....Makes you wonder how long the govt has lied about everything to "raise Moral' at the cost of the individuals actually involved..ala Pat Tillman. The Best thing is that it does a good job of covering the actual battle and not the ceremonial Flag "posing" letting you know the true heroics of those involved in the battle that cost so many lives.

Our Father's

After reading all the publicity regarding this book, I decided to purchase before listening. I am not disappointed! This historic rendering of the events leading up to the planting of the FLAG on Iwo and the controversy surrounding the participants in that event are brought to the fore by the author. Being a former Marine, I was delighted to see the views of others and disappointed in the outcome of several of the lives of those heros of such a tragic battle in our nation's history. I recommend this title to any and all war history buffs and give it two thumbs-up.

One of the best books I've ever read

What made the experience of listening to Flags of Our Fathers the most enjoyable?

The narrator's voice was perfect for this story. A story that most of us thought we knew, some of us probably thought we knew it well. I had no idea of the hell that was Iwo Jima. This story told me for the first time who I really am as an American who has been so richly endowed with Freedom that others would have viciously taken from me if they had the chance. EVERY American needs to read this book before they open their mouth about World War II, and the bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. I had no idea of the slaughter of Chinese before we entered the war, but it gave me an idea of our fate had it not been for the brave Marines and Marine Corpsmen of Iwo. Semper Fi!

What did you like best about this story?

The personal introduction to each of the flag bearers.

Have you listened to any of Stephen Hoye’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, but he was PERFECT for this book.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me very solemn for days. I don't have the right to cry, for I wasn't there, but I will always have a place of honor for those that have served and serve today because of this book.

Any additional comments?

Thank you Mr. Bradley for writing this book. Thank you for your careful research, and the respectful way that you told this story. Your father would have been proud.

So moving.

Such a beautiful, sad and inspiring book. I think I'll start it over right now.

Outstanding

If you could sum up Flags of Our Fathers in three words, what would they be?

This is an awesome book about some of Americas hero's. The story of the flag raisers was great ,a lot of research on their personal lives. I loved it

What was one of the most memorable moments of Flags of Our Fathers?

The experience on Iwo Jima

Any additional comments?

A great read that every young person should read. To understand the great sacrifice that men have made without habitation for out country.

Great insight into the lives of young men

Would you listen to Flags of Our Fathers again? Why?

Yes, the story is very good. We have all met these types of people, and to know how they made it through such an unbelievable endeavor, and their perspective on what they and their comrades did, is very interesting.

What other book might you compare Flags of Our Fathers to and why?

Not sure I have read one quite like it.

Would you listen to another book narrated by Stephen Hoye?

Not sure, very sappy. Perhaps this is the author's intent, but very sappy.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

I have been to Iwo Jima, and have felt the presence of ghosts on that island. When he read about the flag raising, and talked about the young men who raised it, the Marines and Civilians were wet eyed. The story was great, but the presence in that place, who could stay dry eyed. It is an amazing place.

Any additional comments?

A great read, though the perception of boy's is somewhat misleading and overplayed. While young and innocent in many ways, these are young men. The situation in the world, at the time they lived is tragic in many ways. The things they endured were superhuman, but that does not make them "boys". They are young men, and as stupid and foolish as young men can be, it is a testament to each of them that they continued to do what they do, when asked to do so by their country. I love the men, I spent time with them as a young man, and I hope we never have to endure this type of conflict again.