Pulitzer Prize winner Joe Rosenthal dies, the man behind the pic. Iwo Jima

[madokie]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060821/ap_on_re_us/obit_rosenthal

SAN FRANCISCO - Photographer Joe Rosenthal, who won a Pulitzer Prize for his immortal image of six World War II servicemen raising an American flag over battle-scarred Iwo Jima, died Sunday. He was 94.

Rosenthal died of natural causes at an assisted living facility in the San Francisco suburb of Novato, said his daughter, Anne Rosenthal.

"He was a good and honest man, he had real integrity," Anne Rosenthal said.

His photo, taken for The Associated Press on Feb. 23, 1945, became the model for the Iwo Jima Memorial near Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia. The memorial, dedicated in 1954 and known officially as the Marine Corps War Memorial, commemorates the Marines who died taking the Pacific island in World War II.

[Greeby]

1. Rest In Peace, Joe

:patriot:

[madokie]

2. thank you

[calico1]

3. RIP, Mr. Rosenthal.

An amazing life.

[dipsydoodle]

4. The price that was paid for Iwo Jima

This tiny island, about 1/3 the size of Manhattan, for 36 days from the 19th. of February 1945 became the scene of one of the bloodiest and most costly battles of the Pacific war. 70,000 US Marines were involved, as 110 bombers added their bomb loads to the ever falling Naval bombardment. Lookouts in ships scanned the horizon for the approach of the dreaded Kamikaze which had made its debut at Leyte in October of 1944.Sailors skilled in radar were glued to their scopes for any sign of approaching Zombies, the nick name given to Kamikaze's by those in the Navy.Ashore, 21,000 Japanese had burrowed themselves below the volcanic rock into caves below ground. For each Marine carrying a 100 pound pack, the volcanic ash made any forward movement a nightmare, it was well nigh impossible to cope.

snip

A Dreadful Death Toll.

Death took a frightful toll at Iwo Jima, the Japanese suffered a 95% death rate here, of 21,000 defenders, only 1,083 became Prisoners of War. For the US, 6,821 dead, 19,213 wounded, thus almost 1/3 of US personnel involved in this invasion were to wind up dead or wounded.

What a dreadful price to pay for a small volcanic outcrop stuck out in the Western Pacific. One must ask "Was this invasion really worth the paid price?" and most likely respond with " NO!"

http://member.melbpc.org.au/~macden/news%20articles.htm

[Akim]

5. The most iconic photograph in history. n/t

[newyawker99]

6. Rest in peace Mr Rosenthal.

[Kurovski]

7. ...

:patriot:

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

8. He'd be the last one, then.

Those other soldiers died later in the battle.

[wicket]

9. kick

:kick: