Born in 1923 on the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona, Ira Hamilton Hayes, a member of the Pima Native American nation, was a quiet young boy who grew up to be a quiet young man. Enlisting in the Marine Corps at the age of eighteen, after Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese, he fought in the Pacific theater during World War II, and was one of a group of men who helped raise the American flag on Mount Suribachi, on the island of Iwo Jima. This action was forever captured in a photograph by photojournalist Joe Rosenthal, a photograph that would become a sensation back home in America, and around the world, a photograph that would come to symbolize American resolve and heroism:



"Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima" won Rosenthal a Pulitzer Prize, and went on to become one of the most reproduced images in the world. To Ira Hayes and the other surviving Marines of the group in the photograph, it brought fame and adulation back home. Despite this, Hayes struggled after the war with his loneliness, and with alcoholism, dying of alcohol poisoning at the age of thirty-two...

Although familiar with the work of Lakota artist and children's author S.D. Nelson, largely through his illustrations for other writers' books, Quiet Hero: The Ira Hayes Story is the first of his own books that I have picked up. I found it engaging and informative, well told and beautifully illustrated. Ira Hayes' story was already familiar to me, but I learned some additional details here, and I thought that Nelson captured his subject's troubled emotional state with sensitivity. I am always amazed and humbled by the patriotism of our Native brothers and sisters who, despite the troubled history between their tribal nations and the United States, continue to this day to volunteer for military service at higher numbers than any other demographic group. This wonderful picture-book captures the quiet heroism of its eponymous subject quite well, and could be used in educational units on WWII (particularly in the Pacific), as well as to open discussions about Native American military service, patriotism, veterans, PTSD, and substance abuse. ( )

The book Quiet Hero The Ira Hayes Story, depicts the life of a young Prima Native American who joined the United States Marine Corps. Hayes joined the service during WWII to serve as his country. Although he was a shy young man, he thrived in the military. Ira felt he found his place in the Marine Corps, and men he fought beside became his brothers in arms. On February 23, 1945, Ira was one of the six men photographed raising the American flag at Iwo Jima. This iconic photo brought unwanted fame to Ira, who did not consider him self a hero. Ira lost many friends during war, and due to this sorrow he turned to alcoholism. This book, shines the light on PTSD and other mental disorders our soldier's suffer from. Although this book saddens me, I really enjoyed learning about the man in that unforgettable photograph. ( )

Ira Haynes grew up on the Gile River Indian Reserve in Arizona, they were known as the Pima Indians. He was a quiet and shy boy. His family was poor and did not have electricity or running water. His mother taught him to read and was sent off to a government run boarding school as a teen. His life here was very different then home because they had running water, a toilet that flushes and electricity. He was not allowed to visit home and became very lonely and felt out of place. When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor the young men at Phoenix Indian School wanted to do something. He enlisted in the Marines at the age of 19. He visited home before he left and was praised for being so brave. In boot camp he was allowed to train with the white soldiers because he was an Indian and they were thought of as fierce fighters. In 1943, the Marines boarded a ship to go fight in the pacific and fought for two years. In 1945, Ira was sent to Iwo Jima, a small island the Americans were trying to take control of from the Japanese. On the fifth day of battle Ira and 6 other Marines got to the top of the mountain and put up an American flag taking control of the island. A news photographer was there to capture a photo of the men raising the flag and many were awestruck. After 36 days of fighting the battle was won and Ira returned home and was praised. An artist turned the photo into a statue and then a monument that stand in Washington D.C. Ira found it hard to adjust back to live and soon fell lonely again and drank a lot and soon died on January 24, 1955, on the tenth anniversary of the flag being raised at Iwo Jima. He is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. This is an inspiring story of a soldier who fought for his country and worked hard for us today. ( )

Quiet Hero is a story about a young man named Ira Hayes that fought for America during World War II. I really enjoyed the story because of the realistic aspects to it. The author did not try to cover up the violence of the war, but the author did share the amount courage and strength the men who fought in this war had. The men in this story were proud to fight for freedom in our country and did everything they could in order to win the fight. This story also teaches children about places such as the Arlington Cemetery in D.C. where many military men and women are buried. I think this is a great non-fiction picture book to share with children when they are learning about World War II. ( )

This is a biography about Ira Hayes and how he became an American hero. The biography covers the early life of Hayes growing up on the Gila River Indian Reservation with his people, the Pima Indians. Ira was sent to Phoenix Indian School where he was very shy. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor all of the young men at Ira's school wanted to join the military. At age nineteen Hayes joing the United States Marine Corps. Ira was sent to boot camp for two years. After completeion of basic training Ira fought in three major battles during WWII. The battle of Iwo Jima is where Ira Hayes became an American hero. He and five other placed an American flag on top of Mount Surilachic to let everyone know that America had taken control over the Island. During the placement of the flag a picture was taken and eventually that picture turned into a momument that is in Washington D.C.

I really enjoyed this biography. The illustrations were beautiful and would really capture student's attention. However, I do not like how they included Ira Hayes drinking to cope with life after war. It could send the wrong message to a child. I would use this book when talking about Native Americans or use it when teaching about WWII. ( )