Was the Iwo Jima flag raising photo staged?
Following the second flag raising, Rosenthal had the Marines of Easy Company pose for a group shot, which he called the “gung-ho” shot. A few days later he was asked if he had posed the photo. Thinking the questioner was referring to the ‘gung-ho’ picture, he replied “Sure.” As a result of this , Rosenthal has repeatedly been accused of having staged the picture, or covering up the first flag raising. One New York Times book reviewer even went so far as to suggest revoking his Pulitzer Prize Over the decades that have followed, Rosenthal has repeatedly and vociferously refuted claims that the flag raising was staged.
