The Bloody Battle for Suribachi: The Amazing Story of Iwo Jima that Inspired Flags of Our Fathers [Paperback]

Richard Wheeler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 2007

The classic first-hand WWII narrative that chronicles the Marines’ savage five-day struggle to wrest Mount Suribachi from its tenacious Japanese defenders during their 35 day battle for Iwo Jima in 1945.  Revised with a new introduction by the author and recently discovered photos, this book served as invaluable source material both for James Bradley’s bestseller Flags of Our Fathers as well as Clint Eastwood’s acclaimed film of the same name.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“It is perhaps the most descriptive and informative retelling of the flag-raising story that exists.”— Robert Lorenz, Producer, Flags of our Fathers
“The best book on the battle for Mount Suribachi.”—James Bradley, author of Flags of Our Fathers and Flyboys
“Grips the reader from the first paragraph…an outstanding piece of war literature.”—New Orleans Times-Picayune

About the Author

Richard Wheeler is a contributor for Skyhorse Publishing Inc. titles including: "The Bloody Battle for Suribachi".

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing (October 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1602391807
• ISBN-13: 978-1602391802
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #770,494 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars review from a friend of author, February 8, 2008

By 

Steven M. Krott (Reading, PA.USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Bloody Battle for Suribachi: The Amazing Story of Iwo Jima that Inspired Flags of Our Fathers (Paperback)

The re-release of "the Bloody Battle for Suribachi" is a wonderful edition to the collection of books written by Richard Wheeler. I know Wheeler personally, and at his age he has worked hard along with his 2nd cousin Jackie Russel. It is enlightening to see what inspiration can do for an aging Iwo Jima vet. He autographed a copy for my son. The inscription goes,"I hope that you cheerish your life the way I have cheerished mine." My son is 15 years old, it will be given to him at his high school graduation! Wheeler is finally getting the recognition that he so deserves!!
Steve Krott
PS.He is a hero to me and my family!!!!!!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent, first hand, account of the opening phase of the battle of Iwo Jima, March 29, 2010

By 

Metallurgist (USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Bloody Battle for Suribachi: The Amazing Story of Iwo Jima that Inspired Flags of Our Fathers (Paperback)

This is a re-release of a book originally written in 1965. This review is based on my hardcopy version of this first hand account of the actions of 3rd Platoon, Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 28th Marine Regiment fighting as part of the 5th Marine Division, who raised the first US flag over Mount Suribachi. The author was a member of this platoon and participated in the actions that are described, until being wounded before the flag raising itself. The book details the fighting of his unit during the first four days of fighting on Iwo Jima, culminating with the flag raising. This, the first of two flag raisings, has been overshadowed by the more famous second one because of the iconic photograph taken of the second flag raising. Half of the members of the platoon were present at the second flag raising and one man, John Bradley a Navy Corpsman assigned to the platoon, was one of the second flag raisers and, although not mentioned in this book, but mentioned in Wheeler's more comprehensive book on the fighting on Iwo Jima, the rest of the second flag raisers were also from Easy Company, but not from the third Platoon. While both flag raisings were important because they gave heart to the Marines and the nation, they only marked the end of the first phase of the battle, with much more fighting yet to come. In fact, most of the casualties of the Iwo Jima fighting occurred after the flag raisings.

The book gives an excellent picture of what it was to be a Marine fighting on Iwo Jima, containing photographs and very useful maps. It is a personal story of only one part of the battle, and as such it does not cover everything, but what it does cover it does well. Being a personal account, it does not have any details of the planning before the invasion of Iwo Jima, of naval actions before or after the fighting, or of the fighting of other units or even of his own unit after the flag raising. These details are covered in Richard Wheeler more comprehensive account about the battle for Iwo Jima, "Iwo", and I also recommend that book.