Flags of Our Fathers

By: James Bradley, Ron Powers

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Now abridged for young people, 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. 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

“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

“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

“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

“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 son’s heart.”—National Review

Must not be forgotten

I now have some idea of why the flag raisers didn’t want to be seen as heroes or to talk about Iwo Jima.
The nation should be grateful to James Bradley for keeping this piece of history alive.
Hopefully future generations can learn the many lessons the book holds.

What can I say, Old glory is the greatest flag.

My grandfather shot to pieces there, his identical twin KIA on Iwo. loved the book

Wonderful book

This was an amazing book with tremendous details of each of their lives! The orator was superb!

Great book of truth

Slow to start, yet hard to put down as you finish. The last few chapters make it all worthwhile.

Well written, touching

Easy to follow story of Iwo Jima, coming from someone who knows very little about the war in the Pacific.