John Bradley was a real Navy corpsman awarded the Navy Cross for heroism on Iwo Jima. He was identified as one of the second flag raisers and participated in the bond tour, though later analysis (after the film) suggests he wasn't one of the six men lifting the second flag pole.

Rene Gagnon was a real Marine identified as one of the second flag raisers who participated in the bond tour. Later analysis (post-film) suggests Harold Keller was in his position in the photo, but the film reflects the contemporary identification.

Ira Hayes was a real Marine and one of the second flag raisers. The film accurately depicts his heroism, his subsequent struggles with fame, survivor's guilt, alcoholism, and the prejudice he faced.

Mike Strank was the real Marine Sergeant killed on Iwo Jima days after participating in the second flag raising.

Harlon Block was a real Marine killed on Iwo Jima. The film accurately portrays how he was initially misidentified in the photo as Hank Hansen, a fact corrected thanks to his mother's insistence.

Franklin Sousley was a real Marine identified in the second flag-raising photo who was killed on Iwo Jima.

The film accurately portrays the brutal, intense, and costly nature of the Battle of Iwo Jima, reflecting historical accounts of the fighting. A military historian rated the battle sequences highly for accuracy.

It is historically accurate that a smaller, first flag was raised, later replaced by a larger second flag, which was the subject of Joe Rosenthal's famous photograph.

The photograph quickly became famous across the United States and was used extensively for morale and fundraising.

The film accurately portrays the initial misidentification of Harlon Block as Hank Hansen in the photo, and the subsequent correction prompted by Block's family.

At the time, these three men were identified as the surviving second flag raisers and brought home. Later evidence (post-film) revised the identifications of Bradley and Gagnon in the photo itself, but their status as survivors pulled from Iwo Jima for the tour is correct.

Bradley, Gagnon, and Hayes were indeed recalled from the Pacific to participate in a massive war bond drive across the U.S., where they were presented as heroes.

The tour involved staged recreations of the flag raising, often using props like the papier-mâché mountain shown in the film, for publicity and fundraising events.

The film accurately portrays the difficulties the survivors faced readjusting, dealing with survivor's guilt, unwanted fame, and PTSD, particularly Ira Hayes's descent into alcoholism.

As a Native American, Ira Hayes faced discrimination and racist incidents, both during and after the war, which compounded his personal struggles.

The film accurately depicts that Mike Strank, Harlon Block, and Franklin Sousley were all killed in action on Iwo Jima within days or weeks of the flag raising.

The U.S. government and Treasury Department deliberately used the powerful image and the reluctant survivors as propaganda tools to boost morale and sell war bonds, sometimes disregarding the men's discomfort or the precise facts.

John Bradley rarely spoke about his wartime experiences, even to his family, a common trait among many WWII veterans. His son James discovered much of the story only after his father's death.

While the film depicts the second raising accurately, it only briefly touches on the persistent (false) myth that Rosenthal staged the famous photo. It correctly shows Rosenthal did stage a different group photo ("Gung Ho") later.

The film accurately portrays events during the Battle of Iwo Jima in 1945 and the subsequent years concerning the survivors and the bond tour.

Filming in Iceland provided a suitable visual match for the bleak, volcanic landscape of Iwo Jima. The film effectively conveys the island's harsh terrain.

Scenes set in the United States accurately reflect the atmosphere of the wartime home front, including the patriotic fervor and the nature of the bond rallies.

The film features historically accurate depictions of US Marine uniforms, weaponry, landing craft, ships, and other military hardware relevant to the Battle of Iwo Jima.

The film realistically portrays the chaos, intensity, and brutality of the combat on Iwo Jima, reflecting the high casualty rates and ferocious fighting.

The film shows the extensive network of tunnels and fortifications used by the Japanese defenders, accurately reflecting the difficulty faced by the attacking Marines.

Details like cars, civilian clothing, and social settings accurately reflect the period in the United States during and immediately after World War II.

The film accurately notes the US military was segregated in WWII and the flag raisers were white. It omits depicting the roles African American Marines played on Iwo Jima (mainly support roles), which director Eastwood stated was outside the specific scope of the flag raisers' story.