In the midst of World War II, one of the fiercest battles unfolds on the Japanese island of Iwo Jima. American soldiers are thrown into the heart of conflict, fighting not only for their country's victory but also for their survival. Amidst the chaos of combat, a group of Marines and a Navy Corpsman carry out a mission to raise an American flag atop Mount Suribachi. This moment, captured in a photograph, becomes a powerful symbol of hope and courage back home, unaware of the true cost paid by those in the picture.

As the image of the flag-raising electrifies a war-weary America, the men in the photograph are heralded as heroes. They are brought back to the United States to bolster the war effort, participating in a nationwide bond tour. Meanwhile, the reality of their experiences on Iwo Jima, the bonds formed, and the sacrifices made, contrast sharply with the public's perception of them as heroes. Through their eyes, the film delves into themes of heroism, the brutality of war, and the complex nature of fame, as they grapple with their roles in the machinery of wartime propaganda and the personal implications of being immortalized as symbols of a battle far removed from the public's understanding.