Immortal Images: A Personal History of Two Photographers and the Flag-raising on Iwo Jima [Paperback]

Tedd Thomey (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 2008

Award-winning journalist Tedd Thomey tells the poignant stories of the two photographers who took the pictures of the flag-raising sent around the world in 1945. Joe Rosenthal, a combat photographer for the Associated Press, became well known for his work, but when accusations surfaced that his famous photo was staged, he endured years of abuse and humiliation. Thomey also highlights the tragic story of the second photographer, Sgt. Bill Genaust, a Marine killed in battle just nine days after the flag went up. Genaust was not acknowledged for his immortal motion picture until a fellow cameraman mounted a decades-long campaign that resulted in a plaque in his honor being placed atop Mount Suribachi in 1995.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tedd Thomey served with the 28th Regiment, 5th Marine Division in the Pacific throughout World War II and went on to become a journalist, playwright, and author of twenty books. He lives in Long Beach, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 247 pages
• Publisher: Naval Institute Press (March 21, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591148545
• ISBN-13: 978-1591148548
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,343,105 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In "Immortal Images," the truth prevails., April 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Immortal Images: A Personal History of Two Photographers and the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima (Hardcover)

A superbly written book which refutes the minsinformation (both intentional and untentional) surrounding the two flag raisings atop Suribachi Yama on Iwo Jima. The facts are so well proven and documented, the reader will be left with no doubt as to the true course of events.

The author vividly recounts the negative effects these fallacious facts wrought on the men and families of those participating in this historic event.

Although Tedd Thomey was wounded and evacuated on D Day, February 19, 1945, he successfuly recreated much of the 36 day battle. This reader, also, a member of the First Battalion, 28th Marines, found himself completely spellbound as Thomey's narration traveled from the foot of Suribachi north to Hill 362A, over Nishi Ridge into the Badlands, and finally to Bloody Gorge.

Only a true journalist with a passion for the truth could have written this book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, well-written, sensitive and factual documentary., October 19, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Immortal Images: A Personal History of Two Photographers and the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima (Hardcover)

If you have ever wondered who Joe Rosenthal was, read this book. If you wish to know about the photographers who took the images of the Flag Raisings on Iwo Jima, then read this book. If you have ever wondered about what is the true story of the Iwo Jima Flag Raisings by the US Marines on Mount Suribachi, read this book. If you have ever wanted to learn about why there could have been so much controversy surrounding the Iwo Jima Flag Raisings in February, 1945, read this book. Tedd Thomey has put an exhorbitant amount of research and details, some never before known, in the story of two photographers, who by chance, happened to be in the same place at the same time, capturing one of the most famous and widely reproduced images of all time. The book covers a wide range of stories on the people, places, graphic battlefield portrayals surrounding the Joe Rosenthal, Lou Lowery photographs and Bill Genaust 16mm filming of the event. I highly recommend this book for any World War II, Marine Corp, Photojournalism or history lover. Great human drama.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent and utterly original, December 23, 1999

By 

"doghouseriley" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Immortal Images: A Personal History of Two Photographers and the Flag Raising on Iwo Jima (Hardcover)

In the interests of full disclosure I must confess that Tedd Thomey is an old pal. But never mind about that. Tedd would be the first to agree that I must not allow sentiment to compromise my opinions. So let me be brutally honest here: Immortal Images is a brilliant and unique and moving book, the capstone to the author's long and colorful career. Uncovering the--sometimes startling, always intriguing--hidden history behind the iconic photos of the flag-raising at the battle of Iwo Jima, Thomey is part reporter, part private eye, part crusader and part soldier with the insider's viewpoint only a veteran of battle could have brought to the page. How wonderful to find that at this late date, fifty-plus years after the events in question took place, great new books on WWII are still being created by men who actually experienced and survived and won that long-ago conflict. Read it. Know what it was like. This is history you can taste brought to you by a man who was there.