Iwo Jima

King of the Hill

This animated gif was created from a video that was taken of United States soldiers raising an American flag on Mount Suribachi, Iwo Jima, a Japanese Island towards the south. Most people are familiar with the picture of the flag being raised by all the guys together, taken by Joe Rosenthal. There was a statue dedicated to the event, and the soldiers involved were called heroes. Later it was learned that the whole event was staged.

In the picture are 5 Marines: Harlon Block, Franklin Sousley, Michael Strank, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes. John Bradley, a navy sailor is also in the picture.

There is some controversy however as to if these names are really the people in the picture. The flag raising is remembered every 4th of July and Memorial Day as a patriotic symbol of American bravery, but as details emerge it's becoming the symbol of America's hidden truths and propaganda.

What's your opinion? Is the image real or just propaganda? I think either way... it's inspirational. Which I think was the intent in the first place.