Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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.

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.

I am writing this review on the day Joe Rosenthal died. Joe Rosenthal was the photographer who took one of the most famous photos of all time, the picture of the Marines raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi in the Pacific island of Iwo Jima where one of the war's key and most bloodly battles was fought in 1945. Afterwards there was a controvery and accusations that he had staged this. This present book provides overwhelming evidence of the falsity of the claim. It also provides a detailed recounting of the story of the battle of Iwo Jima.

Rosenthal who was by all accounts a modest man said , once 'What difference does it make who took the photograph? I took it. But what is important is that the Marines took Iwo Jima.' Six thousand Americans lost their lives in that battle.

In this book Tedd Thomey who was a Marine wounded in the battle of Iwo Jima, tells the story of the two ' raisings of the flag' He also tells of the military photographer William Genaust whose photographs and words corroborated Rosenthal's claim that the photo was not staged.

The photo itself is of course a legenday one. I remember seeing it as a child and being struck by it without really knowing why. The effort, the leaning forward of the Marines, the struggle, the aspiration, the flag blowing in the wind, all seemed to express together a picture of American patriotic dedication and greatness, and something too about the human spirit in fighting for what it really believes in.

Rosenthal, again , was a modest man, and according to Thomey, a great patriot. In an instant he gave America a picture of one of its finest moments, and truest meanings.