Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima: The Story of the One of the Most Famous Photos of All Time. Public perception of the famed Rosenthal photo depicting marines raising the flag on Iwo Jima … DES MOINES - Six Marines raised the U.S. flag atop Mount Suribachi to let enemies and allies alike know the island of Iwo Jima was won on Feb. … Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, by Joe Rosenthal. This iconic photo, taken February 23, 1945, by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, shows six US Marines raising the American flag over the battle-scarred Japanese island of Iwo Jima. This iconic photo, taken February 23, 1945, by Associated Press photographer Joe Rosenthal, shows six US Marines raising the American flag over the battle-scarred Japanese island of Iwo Jima. This photo documents the second U.S. flag to be planted atop Mount Suribachi on Feb. 23, 1945, during the Battle of Iwo Jima.