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Today in History: Joe Rosenthal captures iconic Iwo Jima photograph

2/23/2026

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Summary

Story summary

On February 23, 1945, American photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the iconic image "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" during the Battle of Iwo Jima. This photograph, depicting six Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi, won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography and became a symbol of American resilience in World War II, later inspiring the Marine Corps War Memorial.

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Story summary

On February 23, 1945, American photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the iconic image "Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" during the Battle of Iwo Jima. This photograph, depicting six Marines raising the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi, won the Pulitzer Prize for Photography and became a symbol of American resilience in World War II, later inspiring the Marine Corps War Memorial.