Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima

Photography captures and preserves the significant and insignificant moments in life enabling mankind to broaden its understanding in a world where man regularly interacts with one another thousands of miles across an ocean. Nothing, however, can replicate the unfiltered, first-hand experience one undergoes, yet many forms of art, including photography, are conduits through which man may attempt to share such an experience. Each medium of art, consequently, is subject to the natural biases with…

After witnessing the raising of the American Flag by Marines on the Japanese island stronghold of Iwo Jima in 1945, Secretary of the Navy James Forrestal turned to Marine General Holland “Howling Mad” Smith to exclaim, “The raising of the flag on Iwo Jima guarantees the Marine Corps for the next 500 years.” Unfortunately, Secretary Forrestal was unaware of another battle that had already begun in the halls of the Pentagon, the committee rooms of Congress, and in the court of public opinion that…

At first glance, the 1929 novel All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Ramarque and the 2000 novel Flags of Our Fathers by James Bradley and Ron Powers may seem to have little in common other than the fact they are about war. The two books do contain accounts from soldiers in different wars, Remarque 's the events of World War I from the perspective of a German soldier and Bradley and Powers’ the lives of three U.S. soldiers fighting in World War II. However, a longer glance at the two…

World War II: The Four Freedoms Because the United States had been supporting isolationism and were creating and supporting non-interventionist groups, such as the America First Committee, President Franklin D. Roosevelt felt it was time for a change in America's stance on the involvement of war. To do so, he delivered the Four Freedoms Speech on January 6, 1941. The Four Freedom Speech had been addressed to Congress in effort to move the nation away from the foreign policy of neutrality.…

The Strength to Overcome Perseverance is defined as the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult (Perseverance, 2016). The theme of perseverance is shown a variety of ways in literature and art, including through image, text, and through context. Of all of the themes relevant to the selected works from Literature: A World of Writing, perseverance has by far had the greatest impact on the development of the pieces. The speaker, in Annabel Lee, a…

Face it, Art is Art To be considered an artist is debatable. If one can be considered an artist, and if their work should even be considered as art, is argued constantly, but the truth is, no one can define an artist as one solid definition. The exact definition of art is considered: a wide variety of possessions and effects a person can show, create or capture. So, when it comes to photography, it shouldn 't be questionable if the photos themselves are art or not. They should be, because of…

What does it mean to be an American? This is a complicated question only because there are so many aspects involved in being American. There is the hope of fulfilling an American dream and the patriotism felt towards America. There are prejudices and discrimination toward those who are different and rights and freedoms in abundance. There is the innovation of Americans and the diversity seen here. To be an American means to fight for the freedom and protection of not only oneself, but for…

have a great amount of VALOR to stay strong even though their family members could die at any time. The struggles that people face in everyday life needs that same VALOR. The Marine Corps War Memorial is a sculpture of U.S soldiers raising the American flag at Iwo Jima (Washington D.C.). This memorial shows the struggle that American soldiers had to go through during the battle and how much VALOR they needed to make it through until the end. They needed a great amount of VALOR to face an…

3.2. A study of Native American troops in war movies. Windtalkers (2002) by Chinese film director John Woo is an excellent example of a clichéd war movie with its authentic looking war scenes, non-stop action and heroic American soldiers. Marine Stg. Joe Enders (Nicolas Cage), during the mission on Soloman Islands, loses all his troops. He receives the medal but still suffers from emotional problems and he feels guilty. There are two Native American characters: Private Ben Yahzee (Adam Beach)…

54-hour training exercise that tests and challenges the recruits physical, moral, and mental training they have received so far since they have been at training. “The final stage of the Crucible is a 9-mile hike from the training grounds to the Iwo Jima flag raising statue at Peatross Parade Deck. Upon completing this challenge, the recruits are handed their Eagle, Globe and Anchors, symbolizing the completion of their arduous journey to become U.S. Marines (The Crucible).” In Marine basic the…