The story follows the lives of Bradley, Rene Gagnon, Ira Hamilton Hayes, Michael Strank, Harlon Henry Block, and Franklin Runyon Sousley.

Whilst the battle was still raging Rosenthal's photograph of the Marines was released and overnight gained the attention of the whole nation.

Following an investigation, in 2016 the Marine Corps announced that the man previously identified as John Bradley had in fact been (then Private First Class) Harold Schultz, and in 2019, the Corps announced that the man previously identified as Rene Gagnon had in fact been Marine Corporal Harold Keller.

[2] James Bradley was initially surprised to hear that the Marine Corps had started an investigation into the identities of the men in the flag-raising photo, but said "I'm interested in facts and truths, so that’s fine, but I don’t know what’s happening.

"[3] Soon after the announcement of the investigation, Bradley said he no longer believed his father had been in the photograph, citing research originally published in the Omaha World-Herald in 2014.