Flags Of Our Fathers Summary

The Flags of Our Fathers
In Flags of our Fathers, by James Bradley, the author researches about the lives and backgrounds of the six veterans that lifted the American flag on Iwo Jima suspecting his father participated in that historic moment. The six seniors just finished high school and later enlisted in the armed forces. They came from diverse backgrounds and held different positions in the military but later fought together as a group and defeated the Japanese troops in the most famous US military victory in the Pacific during World War ll. The summary of this book is simple but there are several main ideas in this bestseller of which one important message is that the writer targeted this book towards Americans to persuade them that people

of diverse backgrounds have been and should be patriots and believe in war heroism. First, the author is trying to find out about the veteran’s lives to show that the Marines came from various backgrounds, then, the writer describes how the six Marines showed a good attitude in assisting their country, finally, he shows a warrior’s perspective, and what true heroism looks like during the battle.

Initially, the author explores the backgrounds of the six veterans that lifted the American flag in Iwo Jima in order to show us the diversity of American soldiers.

For example, the author stated that “At birth Ira was already ‘apart,’ separated from other Americans by law and custom.’ Arizona, the state of Ira’s birth, ‘did not recognize Pima Indians as citizens.’” (20) This shows that even people who have suffered from discrimination and racism have shown their loyalty to their nation by joining the Marines to help a country that doesn’t recognize them as citizens. In addition, Rene Gagnon, a US marine who was “ the only child of the French Canadian mill workers, Henry and Irene Gagnon’ from ‘a ‘Little Canada,’ in which French was the language and Catholicism the religion.'” (22) This piece of evidence supports the fact that patriots with foreign ancestors could enlist in the Marines. Then, there was a Czechoslovakian marine who was called Mike Strenk who “was born into a poor family in a small farm town in Czechoslovakia. The following year his father, Vasil, immigrated to America. Seeking a decent salary, he settled in the small Pennsylvania steel town of Franklin Borough. ” (25) This means that even immigrants who had left their country because of financial and economic problems could assist and support the U.S army--a truly diverse military. Overall, this shows the diversity of the US

Marines.

Second, the writer describes how the six Marines showed a patriotic attitude in assisting their country.

For instance, the author describes that “Ira enlisted in the Marines nine months after Pearl Harbor, when he’ was ‘nineteen. The Pima disliked war and all its brutality, but in this’ situation, ‘the elders agreed, it was necessary.’” (22) This supports the fact that people who have different traditions or religious beliefs about war and combat could join their nation’s troops in extreme situations. In addition, the writer talked about Mike Strank who “decided to join the Marines’ even though ‘he didn’t have to do it. He could have avoided military service altogether, given his Czech citizenship.’” (28) This piece of evidence shows that foreigners were patriotic Americans who could join their host country’s army even if military conscription is not mandatory for them. Similarly, the author talked about Franklin Sousley who, “was drafted. On that day, rather than accept his fate as an Army infantryman,’ he ‘made up his mind to become a U.S Marine’”. (15) This shows that a lot of Americans wanted to become patriotic during war time. In general, this shows that Americans were very enthusiastic in serving their

nation.

Last, the author showed a warrior’s perspective, and what true heroism looks like during the battle. For example, the author described during the battle that “The almost unnoticed blockhouses on the flat ground facing the ocean began’ shooting at ‘the exposed troops with machine-gun bullets. The Americans became targets in a shooting gallery.’” (75) This shows how courageously the American soldiers acted even if they knew they could die. In addition, a Corpsman named Robert De Geus said that during the battle “It wasn’t a matter of living or dying or fighting. It was a matter of helping your friends.” (99) This supports the fact that Marines who fought during the battle didn’t only care about surviving but mainly cared about helping and assisting their fellow soldiers. Then the author said that during the battle “The American’ soldiers had eliminated ‘about twenty-one thousand Japanese but suffered more than twenty-six thousand casualties in the process.’” (138) This shows how a lot of US Marines sacrificed their lives for their motherland. Overall, this shows how patriotically the American soldiers acted during the battle.

In conclusion, the writer directed this book towards Americans to persuade them that citizens of various backgrounds have been and should be patriots and believe in war. Initially, the author researches about the veteran’s lives to show that, though the Marines came from diverse backgrounds, they could be fierce patriots. Secondly, the writer expresses how the six Marines showed a good attitude in helping their nation. Lastly, he shows a warrior’s point of view, and what true fearlessness looks like during the battle. Ronald Reagan once said that “Some people wonder all their lives if they’ve made a difference. The Marines don’t have that problem.” James Bradley reminds readers what true patriotism looked like, as well as its bloody consequences.