Iwo Jima Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue. Amanda Lee. Minnesota School of Business

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1 Iwo Jima 1 Running head: IWO JIMA Iwo Jima Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue Amanda Lee Minnesota School of Business Humanities 100 Mr. Don Kirk Macon August 3, 2008

2 Iwo Jima 2 Iwo Jima Uncommon Valor was a Common Virtue When looking at the Iwo Jima Marine Corps War Memorial, it is a symbol of honor and respect for the men and women who have served our country. The basis for the sculpture of Iwo Jima came about the afternoon of February 23, 1945 when five Marines and one Navy Hospital Corpsman raised the second American flag atop Mount Suribachi, Tokyo. A photograph, taken by Joe Rosenthal, serves as the guiding light in creating this astonishing memorial. The erection of the Iwo Jima Memorial began September 1954, with the final dedication ceremony November 10, 1954, led by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on the 179 th anniversary of the United States Marine Corps (U.S.M.C., n.d.). The Iwo Jima Memorial rises 78 feet high as the figures are placed on a rock slope that rises about six feet above a ten foot base made from rough Swedish granite (U.S.M.C., n.d). The sculptor was Felix DeWeldon, who constructed a scale model and then later a life size model of Rosenthal s photograph, with the memorial designed by Horace W. Peaslee. The statues were constructed in a plaster overlay of the steel framework, then disassembled and trucked to Brooklyn, N.Y. to be casted in bronze (U.S.M.C., n.d). The casting in bronze, prepared by experienced artisans, took nearly three years to complete. Once completed, the newly casted bronze sections were transported to Washington, D.C. in a three truck convoy, with the heaviest piece weighing over twenty tons. The statue was then reassembled with a coating of preservatives applied (U.S.M.C., n.d.). Atop the granite base, the statue consists of six figures depicting Sgt. Michael Strank, Cpl. Harlon H. Block, Pfc. Franklin R. Sousley, Pfc. Rene A. Gagnon, Pfc. Ira

3 Iwo Jima 3 Hayes, and PhM. 2/c John H. Bradley, USN, which are thirty-two feet high, erecting a sixty foot bronze flagpole from which an American flag flies freely in the breeze (Bradley, 2008). The statue includes an M-1 rifle and a carbine, carried by two solders, in addition to a canteen, which can carry thirty-two quarts of water (U.S.M.C., n.d.). The statue is made from bronze with the main focal point the American flag which freely sways in the breeze, as it would have atop Mount Suribachi. The figures of the six men are smooth and textured, just like a live human is. The light and darkness of the statue depends on the time of day, or night, you are viewing it. The sun and moon reflect off the bronze, creating a dazzling view. The contrast of light and shadow, and the free form of the flag, can present the illusion of the reality of the day. Sculptor DeWeldon was born April 12, 1907 in Vienna, Austria. Once he reached his tenth birthday, he enrolled in St. Egidius School and attained his first formal art lesson, later receiving four separate bachelor and master degrees by the age of 22 (Felix, n.d.). He is the only artist in the world to have [a] monumental sculpture on all seven continents, including the South Pole (Felix, n.d.). He became a United States citizen in 1954 and served as the artist for Naval Aviation when he was inspired by Rosenthal s photograph. Today, his work is the center of the memorial. DeWeldon made it clear he wanted to honor those who fought and died while fighting for their freedom and he truly succeeded with his aspirations. I feel this memorial of Iwo Jima is a true work of art. The thought, time, dedication, love, and honor that were put into erecting the sculpture are amazing. This is a living monument to help commemorate what the men and women are doing for the price of our freedom. Both of my grandfathers fought in World War II, so this monument

4 Iwo Jima 4 is a tribute to them as well. I think the sculpture is a great way to relive the emotions of February 23, 1945, and to experience the impact of that day on the United States. I truly respect and admire the Iwo Jima Memorial sculpture and would rate it a definite ten. This is an ongoing memorial for families who have lost loved ones in battle. I feel the stunning work from the many hands needed to create this memorial is remarkable. The significance of that February afternoon will replay in many people s lives as they stop and examine the sculpture for many years to come. Thanks to Rosenthal s eye-catching photography and DeWeldon s interpretation of the emotional moment, we have this lasting memorial.

5 Iwo Jima 5 References Bradley, J. (2008). Iwo Jima. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from Felix DeWeldon: A glimpse of his extraordinary life (n.d.). Retrieved August 3, 2008, from U.S.M.C. War Memorial (n.d.). The National Park Service. Retrieved August 3, 2008, from