On Feb. 23, 1945, an American flag was raised over the Japanese island of Iwo Jima, and AP photographer Joe Rosenthal was there to capture the now-iconic moment.
In Rosenthal's famous photo -- which served as the model for a massive bronze statue that now serves as the Marine Corps memorial in Washington, D.C. -- soldiers can be seen raising a massive American flag. But the award-winning image actually shows the second flag raised that day; the soldiers had initially raised a smaller flag that a U.S. commander thought looked too small when viewed from a distance.
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Below, a series of images of the soldiers raising both flags:
Louis Lowery / US Navy / Getty Images
U.S. Marines raise the first U.S. flag on Iwo Jima in this photo by Navy photography Louis Lowery.
Louis Lowery / US Navy / AP
U.S. Marines stand nearby the first flag raised on Feb. 23, 1945 in Iwo Jima.
Bob Campbell / U.S. Marine Corp History Division
U.S. Marines switch out the smaller flag for a larger one during the battle at Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945.
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Joe Rosenthal / AP
The iconic Pulitzer Prize winning photo by AP photographer Joe Rosenthal was actually the second flag raised on Feb. 23, 1945 during the battle for Iwo Jima.
Joe Rosenthal / AP
U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment of the Fifth Division raise the American flag after capturing the 550-foot Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945.
Bob Campbell / U.S. Marine Corp History Division
Preparing to take a group photo in front of the flag atop Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima.
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Getty Images
U.S. Marines gathered around the flag on Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945.
Bettman / Corbis
Joe Rosenthal, a veteran AP photographer, who took the famous picture of the flag raising at Iwo Jima, holding camera.
Bob Campbell / U.S. Marine Corp History Division
Photographer Joe Rosenthal, left, takes a group shot of U.S. Marines after raising the flag on Mt. Suribachi in Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 194.
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Joe Rosenthal / AP
U.S. Marines of the 28th Regiment, fifth division, cheer and hold up their rifles after raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima on Feb. 23, 1945.
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