As an avid WWII history buff and movie viewer, I was very moved and inspired after reading this account of the Iwo Jima campaign. As I read more and more and got to know the real characters, I was reminded of the 1949 movie, "The Sands of Iwo Jima" , and saw the similarity …more between the movie characters and the actual men that fought there. Curious, I wandered if any of the surviving flag raisers were portrayed in the movie (it has been some time since I last saw it on the movie channels) and about how close it followed the action as depicted in the book. I did some quick minor research on the internet and I was surprised to see that the three surviving flag raisers were actually in the movie and, by the credits listed, portrayed themselves. I thought the book definitely rendered a more realistic image of the dilemma and conflict that combat must have on a man's internal self, but also felt that the movie, as best as a Hollywood drama can, fairly depicted the realities as well. I was most impressed by the biographical information on the flag raisers. I have not seen the movie by the same name but will now seek it out and see how closely it compares to the book. A very good read and most inspiring. (less)