The iconic photograph of six U.S. Marines raising the American flag atop Mount Suribachi during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 captured the fighting spirit and patriotism of American forces during World War II. The photograph by Joe Rosenthal became one of the most reproduced and widely recognized images in history, symbolizing the courage and sacrifice of American troops who fought in the Pacific theater of the war. While the battle resulted in over 6,800 American deaths, the flag-raising boosted American morale and demonstrated that U.S. forces were gaining the upper hand in the fight against Japan.