European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - December 29, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Iwo Jima photo unworthy of men who died in fight this pulitzer prize winning photograph was staged after the Battle on two Jima. By Richard sever0 the new York times to Jima examines what its authors claim is the justifiable purging of a National icon one that is probably the most powerful patriotic Symbol to come out of world War ii. The icon Joe Rosenthal s pulitzer prize winning photograph and later Felix de Weldon a Gigantic statue derived from the photo is marines raising the american Flag atop mount Suribachi on the South Pacific Island of iwo Jima. The statue much copied Over the years was born of one of the bloodiest Battles in the military history of the United states. But karal Ann Marling and John act Cohall assert that the birth was illegitimate a fraud a dark hoax unworthy of the men who died in that Battle. The Battle of iwo Jima was no Small Victory a third of All marines who died during world War ii died there. And so it seemed reasonable that when a Marine corps War memorial was created in 1954, just West of Arlington National cemetery the moment memorialized was the Flag raising on Suribachi. But the authors say the photo was staged by the marines and not candidly shot during Battle conditions As americans were led to believe in 1945. A picture of the real Flag raising was taken but the marines did not use it. The reasons for the subsequent Sanctis Licarion of the staged Flag raising the authors say is nothing More Titan a mating of a virtuous photojournalism with an insatiable desire on the part of Marine officers to enhance a history that needed no enhancement. Iwo Jima is not revelatory of something totally new there were published reports 46 years ago questioning the honesty of circumstances surrounding the original photograph reports of which Many readers nowadays May not be aware. But the books greater Mission is to Trace the legacy of the hoax Over the years for those who participated in it. The hoax seems to have occurred in a Jumble of events in late february 1945 when marines worked their Way up the North face of Suribachi four Days alter they had invaded the Island. In the bravado of the moment some men of the 3rd platoon co a 28th regt 5th Marine div planted a Small american Flag atop the Mountain. Their deed was photographed As it happened by Louis a Lowery a Marine combat photographer. When the Flag went up Secretary of the Navy James v. Forrestal reportedly said a the raising of that Flag on Suribachi Means a Marine corps for the next 5 h  but the Lowery photograph although of excellent Quality was not printed. Top Navy and Marine of Licals including Forrestal decided that an a Zolli Ciali Flag raising should take place in the interests of enhancing Marine Public relations. It took place hours alter the original event was Saler and had no military value but it employed a larger Flag a % by 56 inches. Hie Flag used earlier was Only 54 by 28 inches. Rosenthal who had not risked danger with the original group and who knew he was not photo graphing the real event simply took 18 shots of the staged affair and sent them Back to his employer the associated press. Trouble surfaced almost immediately after Rosenthals photograph was published. It. Harold g. Schrier who led a 40-Man patrol up the Mountain for the first Flag raising won the Navy Cross for a courageous conduct Quot but was never identified in All the Praise that went to those who participated in the later and safer official Flag raising. Quot confusion embarrassment then much pain flowed from the misrepresentation. Rosenthal won the most coveted prize in journalism and was hailed As a hero. Lowery who made the ascent up Suribachi when the going was dangerous was ail but forgotten. The marines who had been corralled into the official Flag raising were made to lie repeatedly about their exploits. One of them Ira h. Hayes a Pima Indian was told to keep quiet about what he knew the authors say. He was unable to reconcile the play acting he was required to do Back Home with what he knew to be the truth about that Day in february. Hayes was quoted As saying on one occasion a i guess i w As about to crack up thinking of those Guys who were belter men than me not coming Back at All. Much less to the while House. On the reservation i got hundreds of letters and i got sick of hearing about the Flag raising and sometimes 1 wished that Guy had never made the Pic  Rosenthal said Quot he told me he was getting credit for a lot of things that other men  Hayes became an alcoholic who could not support himself and died in 1955. There is a certain resonance in iwo Jima Harvard University press 300 pages. Some of the rhetoric reported from the waning Days of world War ii will sound familiar to anyone who has listened to the patriotic declarations in the decades since from those who fee that whatever else the first amendment allows it should not be construed to allow attacks on the symbols americans hold dear. And so the people who cannot under any circumstances accept the burning of the Flag the evisceration of the Eagle or the application of Graffiti to the statue of Liberty will find iwo Jima a most painful Book to read. That does no to mean they should not read itt however. With All the books research it does not cover a i the questions that arise from the Rosenthal photo. The most conspicuous Gap is the question of whether the pulitzer committee Ever reconsidered the award it gave to Rosenthal since the circumstances surrounding the taking of the photograph in 1945 Are clearly not those for which pulitzer Are usually Given. If no reconsideration was Ever made Why not ants Borok Stor fsrlt3es Blok c,0partment says iwo Jima is available sunday december 29, 1991