James Bradley’s Legacy and the Story of ‘Flags of Our Fathers’

James Bradley, an author who explored his father’s World War II experiences, passed away on June 5 at the age of 72. His book “Flags of Our Fathers,” co-written with journalist Ron Powers, transformed his curiosity about his father’s naval service during the Battle of Iwo Jima into a narrative that many came to know and respect.

The book highlighted the story behind the iconic photograph of six servicemen raising the American flag on Iwo Jima. Initially, there was a mistaken belief that Bradley’s father, a Navy medic named John (Doc) Bradley, was in the photograph. The reality, however, was different. Nonetheless, James Bradley honored his father’s valor and the actions that earned his father the Navy Cross.

Published in 2000, “Flags of Our Fathers” remained on the New York Times best-seller list for 46 weeks and was later adapted into a movie in 2006, directed by Clint Eastwood. In the film, actor Ryan Phillippe portrayed Doc Bradley, bringing the story to the big screen.

The book delves deep into the experiences of the six flag-raisers, including John Bradley and five Marines, during the intense, five-week-long battle against Japanese forces on Iwo Jima. The battle resulted in the deaths of approximately 6,800 American servicemen, including three of the flag-raisers. James Bradley captured the survivors’ lives, focusing on his father, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes, as they participated in a national war bonds tour upon their return to the United States, facing various postwar challenges.

Doc Bradley later became a funeral director in Antigo, Wisconsin. Despite his heroic actions, which included rescuing a wounded Marine under heavy fire, he rarely spoke of his combat experiences, choosing a quiet life after the war.