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Book Review of Contrary to Popular Belief : More than 250 False Facts Revealed

Contrary to Popular Belief : More than 250 False Facts Revealed
hardtack avatar reviewed on + 2701 more book reviews


This was an interesting book, but the problem this book shares with many like it, it had some 'facts' in which the author had to stretch to fill up the pages. There were many I recognized as true, due to my extensive readings in history, but some others I had doubts about, and at least one I know to be false.

The false 'fact' was the second raising of the U.S. flag over Mt. Suribachi on Iwo Jima was simply a 'reeanctment.' This so-called fact has risen many times over the years, and has always been proven false. The second, larger flag was raised as the first was small and couldn't be seen by many of the men fighting on the island or on the ships offshore. Plus, the author states the Japanese recaptured Suribachi. This is not true. Once the Marines got to the top, they held it. Several attacks from Japanese troops from caves within the mountain all resulted with the Japanese troops being killed.