United States
On February 23, 1945, five U.S. Marines and a Navy corpsman raised the American flag atop Mount Suribachi on Iwo Jima during one of the bloodiest battles of World War II. Photographer Joe Rosenthal captured the image, which became an enduring symbol of American courage and sacrifice. The battle lasted 36 days and resulted in over 26,000 American casualties. The flag-raising inspired the Marine Corps War Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
