James Bradley, renowned for his best-selling book about the servicemen in the iconic Iwo Jima flag-raising photograph, passed away on June 5 at the age of 72. His daughter, Alison Cinnamond, confirmed his death but withheld further details.
The photograph at the center of Bradley’s work, long believed to feature his father, a Navy medic, was a subject of both personal and historical significance. Although it was later revealed his father was not in the famous image, the exploration of this connection inspired his book, “Flags of Our Fathers.”
Published in 2000, Bradley’s book, co-authored with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ron Powers, remained on the New York Times best-seller list for 46 weeks, reaching the No. 1 spot. In 2006, Clint Eastwood adapted the book into a film, with Ryan Phillippe portraying Bradley’s father.
“Flags of Our Fathers” recounts the experiences of the six servicemen, including John (Doc) Bradley and five Marines, during the grueling five-week battle against Japanese forces on Iwo Jima. This battle led to the deaths of approximately 6,800 American servicemen, three of whom were flag raisers. The narrative also follows the surviving members — Doc Bradley, Rene Gagnon, and Ira Hayes — as they participate in a national war bonds tour and navigate their postwar lives.
James Bradley’s father, Doc Bradley, later became a funeral director in Antigo, Wisconsin. He rarely spoke about his combat experiences or the Navy Cross he received for his valor in treating and rescuing a wounded Marine under enemy fire on Iwo Jima.
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