The first flag raised over Mount Suribachi at the south end of Iwo Jima was deemed too small. Later that day, Gagnon, a runner in the 5th Marine Division, was given a larger flag to take up the mountain. As there was no photograph of the first flag-raising, the second flag-raising photograph became famous and was widely reproduced. After the battle, Gagnon and two other men were identified as surviving second flag-raisers and were reassigned to help raise funds for the Seventh War Loan drive.