SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A new block in downtown San Francisco will be dedicated to Joe Rosenthal on Thursday, the photojournalist famous for one of the most iconic images of World War II: the U.S. Marines raising the American flag on Iwo Jima. This moment, captured in 1945, earned him a Pulitzer Prize and has remained etched in history.
Rosenthal, who passed away in 2006 at the age of 94, was working for The Associated Press when he took the renowned photograph. After serving in the war, he continued his photography career as a staff photographer for the San Francisco Chronicle, where he vividly documented everyday life in the city and special events for over three decades until his retirement in 1981.
Throughout his career, Rosenthal took remarkable photographs of both celebrities and ordinary citizens. Notable moments include a young Willie Mays having his hat fitted as a new San Francisco Giant in 1957, and the joyful faces of children sprinting for freedom on the last day of school in 1965. His ability to capture the essence of the city reflected his talent as the “hometown photographer,” according to Tom Graves, a historian for the USMC Combat Correspondents Association, which advocated for the street naming.
Graves expressed regret that Rosenthal is often primarily recognized for his famous war photograph. “From kindergarten to parades, to professional and amateur sports games, he was the hometown photographer,” he shared with the Chronicle. “I think that’s something that San Francisco should recognize and cherish.”
The new street name, Joe Rosenthal Way, will be designated for the 600 block of Sutter Street, a location adjacent to the Marines Memorial Club, which is enthusiastic about the honor. Rosenthal himself, however, never considered his achievements as heroic but merely as the work of a photographer fortunate enough to document the bravery of soldiers during a pivotal time in history.
When praised for his award-winning photograph of the flag raising, Rosenthal humbly remarked, “Sure, I took the photo. But the Marines took Iwo Jima.” His dedication to his craft and humility continue to inspire future generations of photographers.
