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Artist: Joe Rosenthal
Title: Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima
Year created: 1945
Medium: Black & White Photograph
Edition: Historic Photograph, Made One-of-a-Kind Through Signature and Inscription
Height (inches): 28-3/4
Width (inches): 28-1/4
Depth (inches): 1-1/4
This piece is framed.
Includes a certificate of authenticity.
Description of piece:
Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima is an iconic photograph taken on February 23, 1945 by photographer Joe Rosenthal. Depicting six United States Marines raising a U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi during the battle of Iwo Jima in World War II, it stands as one of the most recognizable images of war. Joe Rosenthal received a Pulitzer Prize for his historic and resonant photograph.
This historic, large format photograph measures 16” x 20” and comes custom framed in a powerful and stately display measuring 28-3/4” in height x 28-1/4” depth x 1-1/4" depth. In its lustrous black frame with rope detailing, the photograph’s presentation is completed with a custom multi-layer mat in black, white and charcoal grey.
It is but a speck of an island 760 miles south of Tokyo, a volcanic pile that blocked the Allies’ march toward Japan. The Americans needed Iwo Jima as an air base, but the Japanese had dug in. U.S. troops landed on February 19, 1945, beginning a month of fighting that claimed the lives of 6,800 Americans and 21,000 Japanese. On the fifth day of battle, the Marines captured Mount Suribachi. An American flag was quickly raised, but a commander called for a bigger one, in part to inspire his men and demoralize his opponents. Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal lugged his bulky Speed Graphic camera to the top, and as five Marines and a Navy corpsman prepared to hoist the Stars and Stripes, Rosenthal stepped back to get a better frame—and almost missed the shot.
“The sky was overcast,” Rosenthal later wrote of what has become one of the most iconic, historic and instantly recognized images of war. “The wind just whipped the flag out over the heads of the group, and at their feet the disrupted terrain and the broken stalks of the shrubbery exemplified the turbulence of war.”
Two days later Rosenthal’s photo was splashed on front pages across the U.S., where it was quickly embraced as a symbol of unity in the long-fought war. The picture so resonated that it was made into a postage stamp and cast as a 100-ton bronze memorial.
This historic, Pulitzer Prize-winning image has been hand-signed and inscribed by Iwo Jima veteran and Medal of Honor Recipient Herschel Williams. In clear black felt tip, he has written: “Herschel Williams / Medal of Honor / Iwo Jima”.
Born in 1923, Hershel Williams served as a Corporal in the U.S. Marine Corps, and received a Congressional Medal of Honor on October 5, 1945 for his service on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, February 23, 1945.
The full Citation reads: “For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty as demolition sergeant serving with the 21st Marines, 3d Marine Division, in action against enemy Japanese forces on Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, 23 February 1945. Quick to volunteer his services when our tanks were maneuvering vainly to open a lane for the infantry through the network of reinforced concrete pillboxes, buried mines, and black volcanic sands, Cpl. Williams daringly went forward alone to attempt the reduction of devastating machine gun fire from the unyielding positions. Covered only by 4 riflemen, he fought desperately for 4 hours under terrific enemy small-arms fire and repeatedly returned to his own lines to prepare demolition charges and obtain serviced flamethrowers, struggling back, frequently to the rear of hostile emplacements, to wipe out 1 position after another. On 1 occasion, he daringly mounted a pillbox to insert the nozzle of his flamethrower through the air vent, killing the occupants and silencing the gun; on another he grimly charged enemy riflemen who attempted to stop him with bayonets and destroyed them with a burst of flame from his weapon. His unyielding determination and extraordinary heroism in the face of ruthless enemy resistance were directly instrumental in neutralizing one of the most fanatically defended Japanese strong points encountered by his regiment and aided vitally in enabling his company to reach its objective. Cpl. Williams' aggressive fighting spirit and valiant devotion to duty throughout this fiercely contested action sustain and enhance the highest traditions of the U.S. Naval Service.”
Corporal Williams’ signature has been examined and determined to be authentic, and the image is accompanied by a certificate of authenticity with a unique alphanumeric certification number corresponding the certification label affixed to the photograph.
