RALLYING ROUND THE FLAG

It seems a shame that to sell well, a valiant chapter of American history must feature troubles. But even as “Iwo Jima” exhumes unhappy episodes of the flag-raising saga that soil the glory, the Iwo Jima veterans and the flag photographer continue to honor each other.

San Franciscan Joe Rosenthal, civilian AP photographer and Pulitzer Prize-winner for his 1945 flag shot, has maintained high regard for his Iwo Jima Marine companions ever since World War II. Reciprocally, Joe--who made multiple landings under fire during World War II, in Marine and Army operations-- has been virtually adopted by the Marine Corps Combat Correspondents Assn. The Marine journalists and photographers in San Francisco call themselves the “Joe Rosenthal Chapter.”

JULIAN (BUD) LESSER

Marine Corps

Combat Correspondents Assn.

LOS ANGELES