Heroes of Iwo Jima

Heroes of Iwo Jima The image of US marines raising the flag over Iwo Jima is the most reproduced photograph in history. The image became an icon and a symbol for the American commitment and fighting spirit. It lifted the morale of a home front whose sons were sacrificing their lives in the killing fields of the Pacific, and a rallying point for sustained economic and spiritual support. The image anchored war bond drives and American tenacity. But what is behind the image? Who were the men who fought to wrest the rocky island from the Japanese, inch by inch? Who were the men who sacrificed their youth, peace of mind, and all too frequently, their lives to obtain the strategic island? This History Channel presentation takes a look at the men and the battle behind the flag and the photograph. Heroes of Iwo Jima would be useful for classes on American History, American Culture, world History, Media Studies, Geography and Military History. It is appropriate for middle school and high school. OBJECTIVES Students will learn about the battle for Iwo Jima and the Pacific Theater in World War II. They will explore the costs and consequences of the battle and the role of imagery in wartime America. They will examine how the controversy of the photograph has reached almost mythic portions, and how a culture chooses what it will accept and reject. NATIONAL HISTORY STANDARDS Heroes of Iwo Jima fulfills the following National Standards for History for grades 5-12: Chronological thinking, historical comprehension, historical analysis and interpretation, historical research capabilities, historical issues-analysis and decision-making for Eras 8 and 9 Vocabulary • Amphibious • Armaments • Camaraderie • Clamor • Controversy • Disperse • Elaborate • Elusive • Furor • Indelible • Initiate • Myth • Notoriety • Phenomenal • Premonition • Somber Discussion Questions 1. The image of the marines raising the flag over Iwo Jima is the most reproduced photograph in history. Why is this image so famous? Why did it become so popular so quickly? 2. The Iwo Jima image is one of the many images of history that are part of the world' s collective photo album. What other images of history are famous and easily recognizable? Why have these images become part of the collective photo album? 3. How did Americans react when they first saw the picture? Why did the picture have such a